Rise of the Shadow Warriors (13 page)

One hand left his hair to cup his jaw. Argan stiffened and eyed her warily. “I want to sleep with my husband. There’s a sense of comfort and warmth when your arms hold me.”

Sincerity and hesitation met his gaze.

Argan loosened his grip. Could he believe her? How could he not when Vaan had said something similar. He inhaled deeply and took a step he never thought he’d take. “We shall try it your way.”

She beamed and something tightened in his chest at her pleasure. He was the cause of the look and it filled him with pride.

Shaina leaned forward and wiggled. “Less talk and more sex.”

Sex
. The word filled his head with erotic images. Flashes of her accepting his toqa in her mouth.
Sex
. Yes, this was better than bed play and much preferred.

***

Shaina held her breath as her heart slowed to find its normal rhythm. Argan’s arms fell slack at her waist as he finally succumbed to sleep. Sex with her husband was better than she could have ever imagined. A grin stretched her lips as she snuggled closer to his heat in the early morning chill. Uncertainty had plagued her when she awakened to his bewildered expression. During the night she’d rolled over to find herself alone in bed. Her heart had leaped in her throat fearful he’d left her. Worried that she’d not satisfied him or perhaps he’d returned to his warrior brothers.

She’d taken one step from the bed when her toe bumped his large form on the floor. Why he’d moved there confused her but with a jaw cracking yawn, Shaina had joined him and returned to deep slumber. At some point he curled around her, his breath light against her ear as he slept on undisturbed by her presence.

Something about their conversation this morning hinted that perhaps this was a Kabanian thing. Easing away from the covers, she rose to her feet and cracked her back in a full stretch. Shaina grimaced as she entered the bathroom to clean. At least she’d convinced him to sleep in their bed. No more cold, hard floors.

She cleaned herself quietly and had almost finished dressing when a deep voice asked, “Where do you seek to go?”

Shaina jerked, her head turning. Argan leaned against the wall, hip cocked, wearing only his leathers. Her gaze latched on his magnificent frame before drifting to the now folded blankets on the floor where his sword and two knives rested.

“I thought to bring back something to eat.”

Right on target her stomach chose to growl. Argan’s brown eyes lightened, though his lips remained pressed tight together. She wished he’d smile to see if the gesture enhanced his already attractive features. Shaina blushed and busied herself with strapping her two swords around her waist. Falling for him was too easy.

“I must return to Raasa.”

Shaina paused, her fingers fumbling on the last buckle at his announcement. She finished before facing him fully. Had she expected that he’d actually want to stay with the Olak’din when it would mean leaving behind all he knew?

“Did you hear me, Shaina?”

Ice erupted in her chest and her appetite vanished. Pain stabbed her with dagger like efficiency. He’d done what he promised. Keeping a bland expression on her face, Shaina nodded. “Yes, I expected that. Staying here wouldn’t benefit you. The Overlord needs you.”

A dark frown pierced his brows as Argan crossed the room toward her. His hands grasped her shoulders and while she expected rough his hold stayed careful of her. Shaina’s breath caught in her throat at his intensity when he glowered down at her. “I plan to stay here with you but first must speak with Vaan of my intentions. Why would you think otherwise, bride?”

Her eyes shifted to the side. Shaina swallowed and turned back to force the words out. “Because there is nothing between us.”

His hands fell from her and she missed their touch immediately. “Nothing? What would you have me make of…” Argan faltered. The bright light in his eyes when he’d greeted her faded. The corners of his mouth turned down as he took a step back from her and Shaina longed to close the gap.

He shook his dark head and glared. “I
am
returning. The Overlord will understand once I explain.
You
need me, Shaina and my first duty is to you now or did you not mean the claiming.”

Her heart thumped hard against her chest. She dared not hope. “What claiming?”

His cheeks turned red and Shaina had the pleasure of noting he was embarrassed. The innocent expression warmed the chill that had spread through her at his initial words.

“You claimed you belonged to me.” He paused but met her stare before continuing. “And I to you.”

Forget worry and fear. Shaina leaped across the space separating them, her arms snaring around his waist as she leaned into him and laid her head on his chest. “Yes. I meant it. You’re the Shadow King, Argan. None can come between us.”

He gripped her hips and growled under his breath as his mouth slanted over hers with bruising force. Shaina slid her hands into the shortened strands of his black hair and held tight. Her tongue licked the recesses of his mouth, unable to contain her moan when he hardened between her thighs. Her body should have been exhausted from their previous exertions but there was no denying the passion that flared between them.

“We must stop.” His mouth dragged away from hers on a heavy exhale.

Argan reached up and pulled her fisted hands from his hair. Shaina stared, loins pulsing, nipples hard nubs she couldn’t hide. He muttered under his breath words she missed in her sexual daze.

“I regret now is not the time for more of your…fun sex.” His blunt fingers ran over her knuckles in a gentle caress.

“
Fun
sex?” She couldn’t help but snicker.

Argan flushed. “It…it is different from the bed play I am used to.”

The flustered Warlord looked adorable. “Hmmm.”

“There will be much for us to speak of upon my return, yes?” He asked, ignoring her humor.

Shaina wanted to rejoice at the reminder he would be living among the Olak’din but held on to her dignity by a thread. “You’re coming back to stay?”

“Yes.”

“Then yes, we’ll talk when you return. I’ll have escorts looking out.”

His hands slid through hers as he released her fingers. Argan nodded briskly and crossed the room to retrieve his harness and weapons.

Shaina focused on his words as a thrill shot through her. Never in her imaginings did she believe their union would have a chance but with his words he dispelled her every negative thought. Her chest pinched with pain at the small corner of hope growing in her heart.

Licking her lips, she spoke in a calm tone not revealing her inner joy for fear he’d run away. Although she couldn’t imagine her tough warrior husband doing such. “I shall send you to Raasa.”

A deep V formed on his brow as he tightened the chest strap and sheathed his sword over his shoulder. “It is but a half day hapfe ride away if you would lend me a mount.”

How little he expected. Shaina’s lips curved as she wiggled her fingers. “Why hapfe when you’ve ridden the shadows now? You’re one of us, Argan and Olak’din has no need for mounts.”

***

Argan ignored the twitch of discomfort her words evoked. If he was to live among the Olak’din he would learn to accept their ways. This included the mystery of the gifts Shaina wielded so effortlessly. He inclined his head. “I thank you.”

“The shadows keep you, husband,” she murmured before blowing a stream of smoke in his direction.

He could not stop his instinctive stiffening as a streak of dark split into ribbons and encircled his booted feet only to climb his legs then his torso where the bands spread until they encompassed his entire frame and he could no longer see his bride through the hazy cloud.

One moment he faced her across the expanse of her feminine bedroom and the next, the stone walls of the Raasa holding filled his gaze. Argan tried to slow his racing heart at the manner in which Shaina had chosen to send him back to Raasa. His bedroom no less. Argan wanted to laugh at her temerity but a sound behind him had him going still. He glanced over his shoulder and came face to face with Vaan.

The Overlord’s angry black stare held him immobile. “How foolish do you think me, brother of my heart?”

Argan refused to cower as he turned completely. “You are not foolish, Overlord.”

Vaan’s heavy sigh expressed more than disappointment as he rose from the chair he’d been sitting on. Argan straightened his shoulders and resisted the urge to apologize.

“Will you at least tell me where you were? Mikayla worried.”

At that, Argan actually cracked a smile. “You would do better to only speak truth, Vaan. Your mate is more concerned with every bruise you suffer from training than my coming and goings.”

Vaan’s face flushed red. In a recent hand to hand match, Kavan had landed a lucky blow and split Vaan’s lip. Mikayla who’d been coming to remind him of the mid-day meal had screamed as she raced down the stairs and flew across the courtyard. When she proceeded to pat her mate’s back and chest with fluttering touches the Warlords had all had a fine time laughing.

“You speak truth but we are friends, Argan.” Humor vanished and black eyes clashed with his. “You shortened your hair and have made no mention of why. I attributed the changes to your illness initially, yet you return to an empty room in a strange manner.” Vaan crossed his arms over his chest and pinned Argan to the spot with his stare. “My thoughts have me wondering what you seek to hide.”

Argan flinched.

Eyes wide in disbelief, Vaan’s arms dropped to his side. “Argan?”

“I have taken a bride,” he admitted.

Shock pulsed on the air. “Has this female been here? Around my family?”

Argan refused to lie though he’d not purposely invited or brought Shaina to the Raasa home. “Yes.”

“Not here. We will not discuss this among the hearing of others,” Vaan snapped and stormed out of the room.

Argan had no choice but to follow as Vaan led the way to the lower level. Vaan’s anger had to be great because he neither glanced left or right nor did he pause to confirm Mikayla’s presence in the dining hall as he was want to do whenever she ventured too long from his sight.

They reached the room Vaan had converted into an office for his use without anyone stopping them. Probably due to the marching thuds of Vaan’s steps and the barely leashed anger emanating from him. The door slammed behind them and he had no time to prepare for the fist that rammed into his face. As his head snapped to the side, Argan bit down on his response and accepted the blow.

“You dare! You would endanger my mate and youngling?”

Argan wiped his mouth, ignoring the smears of red on his fingers. “You know me better than that, sire.”

Vaan snorted. “After years of battle together you would hide this from me.”

The true reason behind his anger for Vaan knew without a shadow of a doubt that Argan would never place Mikayla and the girls in harms path. “I had reasons for not telling you.”

“Who is she?” Vaan growled.

Argan straightened and braced his booted feet in a wide stance in case Vaan chose to fight. One blow he’d accept, another would see them exchange equal blows. “Her name is Shaina C’Err.”

“C’Err is not a Kabanian surname.”

His heart sped up. Argan knew he would have to share Shaina’s secret. “No. She is not.”

Vaan walked toward his desk centered in the room, his back to Argan as he inhaled deeply. Without turning, he asked, “Do you tell me or will you leave me to wonder?”

Gripping the shortened strands of his hair with tense fingers, Argan revealed his bride’s heritage. “She is Olak’din.”

His Overlord handled the revelation better than Argan had. Vaan turned and braced his palms on the wood surface behind him, ankles crossed. “Explain.”

The single word command did not allow for excuses. “A few of her race have survived. Shaina is the Shadow Queen.”

Vaan arched a dark brow at that but did not interrupt.

Argan forced down the emotion attempting to overcome him. “We bonded and I will make my home with her people if you would allow.”

Vaan’s brow quirked. “And if I would not?”

Argan fisted his hands behind his back. He had considered the possibility. “I belong at her side.”

“You are certain of your decision, friend?”

Argan relaxed at the term and cautioned himself to answer in a way that not only his friend Vaan would understand but that the warrior who was his Overlord would understand. “I have strong feelings for her. I believe I am falling in love.”

After saying it aloud, Argan accepted his words as truth. He’d never been in love. Had no idea how it was supposed to feel but his knee deep reaction to Shaina, his continued desire to please her led him to believe he was indeed falling for the woman who was completely opposite of what he thought he’d want in a bride and yet everything he could possibly need.

Vaan stared so intently Argan wondered for the first time what he’d do if his friend actually refused his request.