Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition (90 page)

Z
oran’s hunger
for his wife was insatiable. She could walk across the room and he would want to make love to her. Each and every time he went to her, she would blink in surprise that he could want her again. But he did want her and he took her. After stiffening, followed by a moment of weak incoherent protest, Pia melted easily into his arms each time.

When Zoran left for work in the morning, she was almost relieved, ready for the break. However, when he came back in the evening, she was eager to discover what new delights her husband had to teach her.

He was gentle each time and Pia wondered at the restraint. She saw the eagerness in him, tempered back. That first time on the couch had been wild and rough. He’d been almost crazed. She wanted to try that. She was too embarrassed to ask.

He made love to her on the couch, in front of the fire, with the flames turning their skin a golden hue. He caught her in the exercise room, swept her sweat-laden body into his arms and claimed her in the hot spring, teaching her to ride him astride, controlling her hips with his large, strong hands. Mostly, he took her to his bed. He didn’t bind her again, didn’t drip wax, keeping his love play tender and sweet. He treated her like a delicate flower.

It was wonderful, but Pia was no delicate flower.

During the day, Pia spent time with the other princesses, excluding Olena, who spent every moment caring for Yusef. Pia even started to like Queen Mede some, though she was still hesitant around the woman. She took her meals in the common hall along with the rest of the family. A high alert had been set on the kitchen and staff after Morrigan’s poisoning, so it was a little more tense than usual when they gathered together. The men didn’t join them often, taking their meals wherever they practiced and strategized.

When Nadja mentioned how Pia was training her to fight, Morrigan had been only too happy to join in the lessons. So, when they weren’t roaming about the village with the queen—during which time, Pia noticed they were always followed at a distance by a Draig guard—they were self-defense training in Pia’s home.

Pia frowned, eyeing the punching bag in anger. Her muscles were sore, but it felt good. Pia was secretly glad Morrigan hadn’t showed up for her knife throwing lesson. She was in no mood to be pleasant. She wanted blood.

Pia was kicking the punching bag, pretending it was her husband’s face. She’d told Zoran everything about her, but he still didn’t confide about what was going on. They were lying in bed, their bodies sated, when she’d asked him, “Have you found the men who attacked Yusef?”

“No,” had been his answer. “But we will.”

“Do you suspect a threat?” she’d asked, snuggling trustingly into his warmth. She’d traced patterns over his chest with her fingers. “Do they plan something?”

“No, they merely took an opportunity to strike,” he’d murmured into her hair, giving her temple a light kiss. “We have nothing to fear from the Var.”

And she had believed him,

She should have detected his lie, if not for her being distracted by his warm kisses on her neck and the erotically bold hand on her hip.

“No threat, huh?” She kicked the bag in quick succession until her leg hurt so badly she had to stop before falling over.

Pia had tried to go out to the forest for a jog by herself, only to be stopped by the same Draig guard who had been following them for the last several days. When she tried to skirt past him, demanding he step out of her way, he’d told her that the colossal forest was off limits and he wasn’t to allow her entry. When she’d asked why, he’d told her that the Var enemy had been sensed within the trees and it wasn’t safe.

The princesses, it seemed, were not to go anywhere alone. The castle security was on the highest alert and it was suspected another attack would undoubtedly befall the royal family. Her life, along with the other princesses, was in danger.

When she’d tried to go anyway, the Draig warrior had called out an order and she was surrounded by an entire battalion of soldiers—they just popped out of the trees like they’d been watching her all along. She hadn’t even suspected they were there. Then she was informed that she would be subdued by any means necessary if she persisted in trying to defy the—oh, and this was the best part—the Captain of the Guard’s order.

“Nothing to worry about,” she growled, kicking with her other leg. “I’ll show that overbearing, lying barbarian Zoran nothing to worry about. When I’m through with him he’ll wish the Var had attacked!”

Pia continued to mutter under her breath. She couldn’t believe she’d trusted him and he was treating her like dainty little housewife. How dare he patronize her! She’d faced worse threats than a savage Var king bent on taking over a rival kingdom. And even if she hadn’t, there was no reason why he shouldn’t trust her enough to tell her what was happening.

Honesty and trust, she thought bitterly. That’s what he’d said he wanted between them. Obviously, what he’d meant was
her
honesty and
her
trust, oh, and her complete and utter submission to him.

Pia wailed on the bag, denting it with her fists and feet. This time she didn’t stop until her body collapsed on the floor, her heart thundered so hard it nearly exploded from her chest, and her lungs burned with the need for air that couldn’t be gasped fast enough.

“
M
y lord
, your presence is requested in communications.”

Zoran turned around from where he watched a hand-to-hand combat training on the practice field. The young soldier who spoke was looking at his brother, Ualan.

At the soldier’s words, Ualan looked up from where he held his knife to a young warrior’s throat. Sighing, he tapped the man’s neck, indicating the kill shot. Standing, he nodded at Zoran before tossing the blade to him. Zoran caught it with one hand, barely blinking as he turned back around to watch a practice fight.

Ualan had been in a bitter, dark mood since before they’d left to reclaim Princess Olena. The soldiers had tried to avoid the future king as if he carried the blue plague.

Zoran couldn’t have been more opposite in temperament. His body sung with pleasure each time he thought of his beautiful, passionate wife—which was about every three minutes. He’d even commanded the men with a small smile on his face, which surely the whole military had noticed. He still was hard, pushing the men to be the best, but there was a gaiety to him that the men had never seen before.

Zoran wanted to make love to his wife almost every waking moment. Even after he’d claimed her and his body was well spent, a small part of him wanted to do it again. He couldn’t get enough of her. He wanted to feel her beneath him, wanted to taste her lips with his. He was addicted. He wanted more of her, wanting to explore the wild untamed depths of her passion.

In the past, he’d never restrained himself when it came to seeking physical pleasures. But the whores he’d been with had been experienced and understood what he wanted. Pia was still innocent. He’d seen the way she reacted that first time, running away crying into the bathroom. Now that she trusted him, he didn’t want to risk sending her off just because he had the urge to bend her over the dining room table and take her wildly from behind. Or because he wanted her to tie him up blindfolded, and dominate his flesh into a pleasure-pain frenzy.

No, he had to be gentle. Not that gentle was bad—he just knew the other, rougher play could hold amazing climatic rewards. However, faced with the prospect of some or nothing, he would gladly take the some without complaint.

Glancing over his shoulder, Zoran watched as Ualan walked off. Nodding to the out of breath soldier his brother had just knocked down, he motioned to him to rise and join the others in hand-to-hand combat.

Zoran looked to the sky, detecting the blue sun’s position. He’d have to wait about another hour before he could knock off early for the day and give the men a break. Thinking of Pia, he smiled, suddenly having the strangest urge to run home.

Z
oran rushed home
. The last hour of practice had been torment as his body stirred with the excitement and promise of his desire. The training session was nearing its end and Zoran would be given a long break while the soldiers went home to visit their families. He planned on spending it with his wife, as long as war did not break out. He was happy to report to his father that nearly a quarter of the men were ready for their final testing. It was an impressive group that would be moving on, joining the official ranks of the army.

The training session had lasted three years. Those who were not ready for final testing went on for another three years—though that wasn’t unusual. It was normal for the Draig warriors to spend twelve or more years mastering their basic skills before moving to a more specialized field.

Instantly, his dragon senses detected Pia in the exercise room. Envisioning her skin glistening with sweat, his desires surged. He placed his sword on the table and went to join her.

Pia rammed her fist into the punching bag and didn’t appear to hear him approach. Between strikes she mumbled to herself, but he couldn’t make out the words. A smile spread across his face as he watched her ass flex with a high kick. She’d been exercising quite a lot lately and he could definitely see a difference from when she’d first arrived.

“Hello, Pia,” he said softly, his voice automatically dipping into the low, come-hither tone that usually sent chills along her spine.

Pia stiffened. Her arms dropped and she didn’t turn to him. Looking down, she slowly unwound the protective bandages from her hands.

Zoran’s smile deepened and he took a step forward.

“Dare to touch me, dragon,” she said in a hard tone, before turning to glare at him, “and I promise to send your nose into the back of your skull.”

Zoran’s smiled faltered. He was surprised by the darkness in her tone.

Her expression dared him to try to touch her. He didn’t move as she came toward him. Was this a new game? But, then, to his surprise, she continued past. Without a backwards glance she went into the bathroom, shut the door on him, and turned on the shower.

Zoran followed her. Sliding open the door, he stepped into the bathroom. Her clothes were stripped from her body, piled on the floor, and she was scrubbing her skin with an incensed fury.

“Pia?” he questioned, worried.

“I’m warning you, Zoran, get away from me.” She lathered her hair with the same angry attention she’d given her skin before quickly rinsing it. “If you take a step closer, one of us won’t be leaving this bathroom alive.”

“Pia,” Zoran said darkly. She put conditioner in her hair and quickly rinsed it. “What goes on here?”

Pia threw open the door, glorious in her wet nakedness. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body.

“Out of my way, Zoran.” Her expression spoke volumes.

“Not until you tell me what’s going on,” he countered, crossing his arms over his chest.

Pia dropped the towel and strode toward him. Zoran’s eyes automatically dipped down her body to watch it. His mouth became dry. She stopped before him.

“According to you,” she stated with false sweetness. “Nothing goes on here at the palace. Everything is fine.”

Her lips curled into an instant snarl and she gave him a mighty shove. Zoran, who had been staring at her heaving breasts, thinking how much he wanted to push her up against the counter and rough ride her, was taken off guard. He lost his balance. His arms flailed as he tumbled backwards into the hot spring.

P
ia didn’t turn back
as she heard her husband’s splash. His dark curses followed. A smile of shallow victory came to her face as she went to the bedroom and shut the door. Taking the dresser, she pushed it in front of the screen to block him from entering. Then, she donned comfortable cotton drawstring pants and a loose shirt, before crawling into bed.

“
N
one of the
men will fight us,” Zoran said irritably to his brothers. He glanced from Ualan to Olek and then back again. He’d just spent one very long and uncomfortable night on the couch. Pia had locked him out of his own room. When he ordered her to let him in, she’d just laughed and told him to get lost. Then, that morning when he said he needed to get a change of clothes, she’d stuffed his tunic through a shallow opening between the sliding door and the top of the dresser. Snarling to his brother, he growled in irritation. “They say our mood is too black. They are frightened we will kill them.”

Zoran looked over at the men who had carefully edged across the exercise field to get away from the angry princes. He couldn’t say he blamed them, but it didn’t mean he had to like it. His frown deepened. With the only outlet for their rage quickly retreating, they were forced to simmer in their ill tempers.

“What the hell are we supposed to do now?” Olek growled, voicing their sentiments as he stormed away to the palace. Zoran and Ualan were quickly behind him.

O
lek and Nadja’s
home was filled with lush plant life and giant fish tanks that took up an entire two walls. In the center of the front hall was a natural water fountain, relaxing and calm in its resplendent beauty. It did nothing to soothe the sour temperaments of the four princesses.

Looking around at the other high-backed chairs, Pia noticed the other women looked as dismal as she felt, especially Morrigan whose unusually pale face and red eyes screamed that she was hung-over. Stretching her arms over her head, Morrigan yawned. It was the most movement she’d made in a while.

“Heinrich is now training as a soldier. I released him from his duty to us,” Pia said in answer to a question about the boy.

Olena looked confused, but the others nodded in understanding.

“So, have any of your husbands lied to you about who they are?” the dejected Princess Olena asked. She was the newest member to their miserable ranks. Her red hair was pulled back into a bun and her green eyes normally flashed with continuous mischief, even when she wasn’t up to something. She looked none the worse for wear after her ordeal with the Var kidnappers, but she also wasn’t speaking of it.

“I thought mine was a prison guard,” Pia chuckled to herself, unamused. Just another one of Zoran’s lies.

“I used to call mine a barbarian,” Morrigan mused, tucking her hand beneath her head on the high-backed chair. Mumbling softly she said, so as not to disturb her delicate head, “And a caveman.”

The women chuckled. Nadja just blushed shyly, and admitted, “I call mine a dragon.”

“They’re all dragons, if you ask me.” Morrigan winked at Nadja.

Nadja halfheartedly laughed as she rose to answer a summons from the door. Blinking in surprise to see the queen, she allowed her in.

Queen Mede stepped into the intimate circle of women and nodded. “I heard you were all hiding out here.”

Pia turned her eyes down, not wanting the woman to try and cheer them from their mutual sulk. Misery loves company and the princesses were beyond miserable.

“How’s Yusef?” Olena asked, trying to pretend like she wasn’t concerned with the answer.

“Still awake,” the queen said. “And still with his brothers. They speak of fighting, and fighting always makes warriors happy, for it is something they know how to do.”

Olena nodded, leaning back in her chair and trying to pretend like she didn’t care either way. No one was fooled.

Queen Mede glanced at the hung-over Morrigan and raised her delicate brow slightly. Morrigan had to turn away. To her credit, the queen said nothing.

Nadja suddenly asked if anyone wanted something to drink. Morrigan balked and instantly declined, turning a shade paler. They all laughed, despite their mood.

“No, dear, we’re fine,” the queen answered. A long silence followed. As if she could no longer take it, Queen Mede loudly said, “My sons are great men, but they are sometimes too stubborn for their own good.”

The princesses looked at her expectantly. Pia’s eyes narrowed as she studied the woman. Queen Mede came forward and took a seat amongst them, looking them over in turn.

“Enough of this wallowing. This planet is in desperate need of more women and I intend to see that each one of you explore the powers you possess,” the queen said.

Pia sat forward in curiosity to hear the woman out.

“Your husbands are warriors,” Queen Mede stated. “I expect each of you has a clear idea now of what that means. But just because they made the rules, doesn’t mean you can’t use them. You have more power than you think. I’m going to tell you something my mother said to me before I married the king. I never forgot it. She said, ‘Medellyn, men like to be men. Let them think they are in charge of everything. It’s a happy delusion. If you act like they do, you will only have male tools at your disposal—and let’s face facts, men’s natural abilities do not rest in their common sense. They need women to help them. They don’t always admit it, especially these alpha dragon types, but in many ways a woman’s gifts are so much more powerful than brute strength.’”

Pia lowered her eyes, thinking about the advice. She’d never had a mother to say those kinds of things to her.

“I like your mother,” Olena said.

“She was an amazing mother and I was such a hardheaded daughter,” the queen said. “I used to think she was so weak for never standing up to anyone, until the day she manipulated me into going to the wedding ceremony. That’s when I knew her real strength came in her gentle ways.”

“I don’t mean to interrupt,” Morrigan said, “but is there any chance you have more of those sugar cookie biscuit things lying around? I ate all of the ones you left with me.”

Pia automatically turned, interested in that answer as well. Those things had been delightful.

Queen Mede gave a small chuckle. “That was my mother’s recipe.”

Morrigan nestled her head against her arm. “Mmm, I like your mother, too.”

“Will we meet her?” Nadja asked.

The queen shook her head in denial. “No. She has long passed.”

“I’m sorry,” Nadja said.

“So, daughters,” the queen paused, eyeing each one, “tell me your problems with my sons and I will give you the Qurilixian solution. I think it’s time that the royal women had the upper hand for once. I have waited too many years to see my sons married to let them ruin my plans now.”

If Pia gave the queen a chance it was possible she could have a very powerful ally. It was time she got the upper hand against Zoran. No more of this sulking. She was going to beat the warrior at his own game.

Slowly, one by one, the women smiled. The queen nodded, happy.

“Pia,” the queen began, looking pointedly at the woman. In that moment, Pia was well aware the queen knew her hesitance for her, but was being patient. “Why don’t you go first?”

Pia sat up, looking around at her new family. Something struck inside of her. This was exactly what she wanted. It’s what her life had been missing ever since her world exploded that night all those years ago. She wanted a home. She wanted a place to belong and to fight for. And—to steal one of Zoran’s phrases—
by all that was sacred
, she was going to have it, whether her commander of a husband liked it or not.