Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Olek’s expression fell, but he gave a slight nod toward a distant table. A solemn group of blond cat-shifters sat by themselves, ignored by most of those gathered except for the occasional hateful stare. No one liked having the Var guards in the Draig palace—not even Olek and he’d been the one to arrange it. Only one servant approached the enemy guests, seeming to hesitate as he filled their goblets. The Var men held still, not looking at the servant as he made his way around them.

  Olek found himself holding his breath, hoping they wouldn’t shift or do anything stupid in front of the princesses, who as of yet had not been told that they were on a planet of shape-shifters. He’d been so distracted with thoughts of his bride, Olek forgot to take into account that detail. If the Var shifted to cat form, the Draig warriors would be obliged to turn into dragons and the hall would erupt into chaos. He looked at Nadja. He wasn’t sure his delicate solarflower could handle that kind of coronation entertainment.

  “Who are they?” Nadja asked. The Var men were the only ones not enjoying themselves. Nadja shivered as one of the largest warriors subtly returned her stare. She hastily looked away.

  “The House of Var,” Olek answered evenly, keeping his attention carefully trained on them without appearing to do so. He frowned, not liking the Var king’s attention on his bride. King Attor snarled at her as if he would like nothing more than to snap her neck between his flexing fingers. “They are from the kingdom to the south. We rule this half of Qurilixen, they rule the other half.”

  “Your family rules half a planet?”

  “Our planet isn’t so big,” he said modestly, taking a drink.

  “So the Galaxy Brides uploads were imprecise when they referred to you as the Qurilixian people.” Nadja said. Olek liked the way she twirled a strand of her hair when she was in deep thought. He noticed she did that often when working on her formulas. “They should have specifically classified you as the Draig of Qurilixen.”

  “I suppose,” he answered, just thankful they didn’t publicly classify them as dragon-shifters. If the Federation Military’s attention was drawn to that little fact, the Draig would never get rid of Federation recruiters.

  “Is Lord Mirek attending? I would like an introduction. I want to talk to him,” Nadja said.

  At that Olek turned his full attention to her. He remembered telling her that Mirek often traveled offworld. “Why? Are you planning a trip somewhere?”

  “A trip?” She furrowed her brow. “No. I wanted to talk to him about his wife’s condition.”

  Olek relaxed. “I’m sure your sympathies will be appreciated. No, none of my cousins are here tonight, but we can have a runner deliver a missive if you like. They would have liked to come, and please don’t think of it as a slight against your coronation, but they each have very pressing matters of their own to attend to in the mountains. I expect they will send you gifts in the coming week.”

  Nadja nodded.

  Servants came around with plates of food, serving royalty first and the Var guests second. The Var lifted their hands, silently refusing the meal. The servants moved on, giving their plates over to the next table. The hall became more subdued as the people began to dine. Musicians played soft music in the corner.

  Nadja kept glancing nervously at the Var warriors. The cat-shifters drank in silence, rudely taking in everything with obvious displeasure. The gathered paid them no attention, pretending as if they didn’t exist.

  “What are the Var doing here?” Ualan questioned in the Old Star language. His tone was hard and Olek could tell he wasn’t happy to receive the Var king and his guard in their home.

  “They are our guests,” Olek answered. Nadja looked directly at them, clearly listening. Olek’s jaw tightened to match Ualan’s expression. He was more worried about it than he would let on.

  “See that they are watched,” Ualan ordered. “I won’t have their deceits in the House of Draig. There will be a big price to pay if we must punish them.”

  “Yusef is taking care of it.” Olek paused, very aware of his wife’s blatant eavesdropping. Easing purposefully into their native tongue, he continued, “We wanted them to see the royal marriages for themselves.”

  * * *

  Nadja frowned. She would have thought her husband and his brothers completely unconcerned by the visitors until she heard Price Ualan lean over to speak to Olek. She wanted to hear more of what they said, but she wasn’t very good at the Draig language. It was annoying, like parents spelling out the bad words so the kids couldn’t understand. She’d really have to step up her practice of their language if she were to learn anything useful.

  Nadja realized Morrigan was looking at her, a serious expression on the woman’s strained face. Nadja tried to smile, but the woman just nodded stiffly and turned away. After enslavement, it would be understandable if the woman didn’t want to be crowned. It was possible the punishment had been a way to force Morrigan to attend. Olek did say they needed happy brides at this event.

  For the most part Nadja ate in silence. A servant came to take her plate and she let him. Olek occasionally spoke to his brother in their language. Nadja glanced at him, seeing his head turned from her. She thought of how Olek and Ualan really did look alike, though Ualan’s eyes were blue and Olek’s were the much sexier green.

  Pia smiled at her and Nadja smiled back. She wished she could switch places with Zoran so she’d have someone to talk to. Seeing her attention in his direction, the king glanced at her and grinned. He leaned to his wife, murmuring softly to her.

  Nadja was about to turn her attention to the crowd when she saw Pia’s expression fall in horror. A shout of laughter resounded in front of them. She watched, amazed, as Pia jumped up from her chair and rushed down to the hall floor below. Leaning forward to get a better look, Nadja witnessed a young boy struggling to his feet. One foot turned in slightly and started to drag, causing him to limp.

  Several large Draig warriors at a nearby table laughed harder as they watched the slender, sickly boy. The boy nearly toppled back over as Pia stopped next to him. He tried to bow, but his position was precarious and he stumbled before righting himself.

  Unbidden, Nadja’s hand found Olek’s leg beneath the table and she began to knead it in agitation. He tensed at the contact and turned to study her.

  “Leave him be,” Pia ordered the Draig warriors. One of the Var stood up amidst the distraction. The scolded warriors quieted and looked at Pia in question.

  “What do you want with Heinrich, my lady?” a burly man with a beard asked. “Does he offend you? I will have him removed.”

  Pia’s face turned red with anger and her blonde hair flew as she spun to glare the man down. “He does not.”

  “My lady,” the Draig warrior defended himself, “the boy knows we mean no harm. Don’t you, lad?”

  Heinrich dutifully nodded his head at the man’s hard look.

  “See,” the man said.

  “Yeah,” a shorter warrior with a pockmarked face added. “He thinks to become a warrior, don’t you, boy?”

  The table started to laugh anew.

  “Well, I am a princess,” Pia announced, “and he will be my personal warrior.”

  The warriors looked shocked, but none more so than Heinrich whose mouth nearly fell to the floor.

  “If my lady wishes for a warrior, let us battle for the position. Do not insult us by naming a boy,” the burly man insisted.

  Prince Zoran came around to gather his wife as the soldiers shouted in agreement.

  “Let us have a tournament,” one of them called. He was met with excited shouts.

  “Do you dare to question a princess?” Zoran asked, his voice booming with an authority they automatically respected. The hall fell deadly still.

  Nadja shook. She saw Pia’s hard eyes searching over the crowd. Pushing up from Olek’s leg, she stated, “He is my warrior too.”

  Olek choked on his wine. All eyes turned to her.

  “And mine as well,” Morri
gan piped in, rising to her feet.

  Nadja looked at Morrigan and smiled. The small show of public defiance felt great. An invisible thread joined the three princesses in that moment, bonding them. Pia nodded gratefully at them.

  “Gods’ bones,” the king said under his breath.

  “There you have it,” Zoran said. If Nadja wasn’t mistaken, he actually looked like he was trying not to laugh. “You cannot deny the wish of three princesses. Heinrich is now under royal protection and will be treated according to his new station.”

  The stunned hall broke into a crescendo of murmurs. At Zoran’s nod, the musicians picked up their tune once more. Nadja watched as he led the boy to the head table to sit by Pia in Yusef’s wife’s empty seat. Pia waved at a servant to bring the boy a plate.

  Prince Yusef nodded at the boy before standing. He went to the musicians who welcomed him good-naturedly and handed him a guitar-looking instrument. He strummed a few tunes with them and proved himself quite up to the task. Someone joined in, singing in the Draig language. It was a beautiful ballad.

  “That was very kind,” Olek said as Nadja once more settled beside him. His hand skimmed across her lower back and she shivered. “The boy has no family. It is good you all claimed responsibility for him. It shows you as compassionate in your rule.”

  “The men did not seem too pleased,” Nadja answered.

  “Ah, but they will never question your authority now that you have proven yourselves firm in your purpose. When the soreness wears off they’ll respect you.” Olek’s voice dipped. “As I respect you.”

  Nadja blushed, finding pleasure in his compliment. All too aware of being on public display, she eased slightly back from his mouth, which dipped closer as if he would kiss her.

  “Do you play?” Nadja asked, nodding her head to where Yusef sat with the musicians.

  “I never really took to it,” Olek answered. His hand moved to her waist, pulling her closer to him.

  His eyes again dipped to her mouth and she blushed. Nadja gently pushed his hand from her hip and reached to pick up her goblet. Olek sighed in loud, groaning disappointment.

  The king glanced at them. Nadja nearly choked on her drink. The queen chuckled at the purposefully wounded look her son was affecting.

  Under her breath, she scolded, “Stop it.”

  “What?” he returned innocently, his green eyes shining with liquid gaiety.

  “You know what,” she said, doing her best not to turn five shades of pink as he licked his lips and looked at hers. His brow rose slightly as if considering the taste of her mouth. “Stop looking at me like that.”

  “Why?” he feigned a frown, though his eyes still shone.

  “Because we are in public. It isn’t appropriate.”

  “But…” Olek glanced around to the lower tables. Some wives sat lovingly on husbands’ laps. Couples kissed as freely and naturally as breathing.

  “No,” she commanded regally, already knowing what he was going to say. “I am well aware of what everyone else is doing. However, you’re a prince and you should act with a little more decorum.”

  Olek leaned to look over her shoulder and winked. The king laughed heartily behind her. She turned, mortified.

  “Well spoken, my dear,” the king said. “I see you have him well in hand.”

  The queen punched the king’s arm lovingly and King Llyr instantly leaned over to plant a big kiss on her lips for all to see.

  Nadja turned her face away. Olek laughed at his parents and no one seemed to notice from the lower tables.

  “So solarfl—” Olek began hopefully.

  “Don’t even think it,” she grumbled, cutting him off.

  Olek chuckled loudly. Leaning into her ear, as if he couldn’t help himself, he whispered, “Until later, then.”

  He nipped playfully at her earlobe before pulling away. Nadja shivered, unable to pull her eyes away from the table for a long moment.

  “King Llyr.” The dark tone sent chills over her body and forced her to look at the large blond Var who had snarled at her earlier. He stood in front of the raised platform staring up at them.

  Nadja unconsciously inched closer to Olek, leaning into him for support. She forgot her embarrassment. Her hand rested on his leg beneath the table. His arm was stiff as it came around her side and pulled her closer into a protective embrace. She felt the tension radiating off her husband.

  The Var man bowed, though the gesture looked more dutiful than respectful. He wore the emblem of a tiger on his chest where the Draig royals had a dragon. The Var warrior didn’t look directly at her and she was glad for it.

  Nadja couldn’t understand what was being said between the visitor and the king. She held quiet, intently studying the Var’s expressions for a sign of what was happening. She hoped Olek would fill her in later.

  “Many blessings on your unions,” the stranger said in the Old Star language. “May your reign be long.”

  “As may yours, King Attor,” King Llyr returned. He stood to show a respect that didn’t reflect wholeheartedly in his eyes.

  Olek gripped her waist tighter and she shivered in fear. King Attor’s gaze shifted to the side, glancing over the length of the table before he walked away.

  “What just happened?” Nadja asked, turning to see Olek’s gaze focused on the Var’s back.

  Without answering her, Olek tilted his head to Yusef. The dark prince ended his part in the song early and passed his instrument back to its owner. Nadja watched as he followed the Var king and his entourage out of the common hall.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked, touching Olek’s chest to get his attention. He blinked, breaking his concentration to study her curious face. He kissed the tip of her nose. “Everything is fine, solarflower.”

  Nadja frowned, not liking his placating tone as his eyes turned once more to the door the Var had disappeared through.

  Chapter 27

  The celebration livened up after the Var ambassadors left. The musicians played louder and couples gathered together to dance. The local dance steps seemed simple enough. Nadja watched Olek from the corner of her eye. She hoped he would ask her to join him on the dance floor, but he seemed preoccupied.

  Sometime after Yusef had followed the Var king out, a beefy giant of a man came to the head table, speaking first to the king in a soft murmur, but he drew the attention of the princes, who also leaned in to hear his Draig words. Nadja watched their expressions stiffen and their eyes narrow, but other than that, they nodded and turned back to their wives.

  “What’s going on?” Nadja asked. Olek’s gaze was hard and his breathing controlled. “What’s happening?”

  “There’s been a little trouble with the Var guests,” Olek tried to smile for her. The look failed. “Nothing for you to be concerned about, but I have to go.”

  “Olek, wait.” Nadja wanted him to confide in her. She felt his unease and it scared her.

  “I’ll have one of the men escort you home.” He waved down to a nearby table. Nadja glanced down at the guard. He bowed at her as Olek gave him his orders.

  Leaning over, Olek lightly kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “But…” Nadja tried to stop him. It was too late. He was already down the raised platform to join his brother, Ualan. They walked leisurely out the side door, trying not to draw attention to themselves.

  The king stood and bowed to his wife. “My queen.”

  Queen Mede took her husband’s arm and, smiling, she made her way along the platform with him. She lightly hooked Zoran’s arm as she passed by her son, urging him to join in escorting her out. They acted as if nothing was amiss.

  Nadja looked down to where the soldier waited for her. He bowed again, offering up his hand to lead her around the table. Morrigan was already being led away by a servant. The woman appeared uncommonly pale. Nadja wondered if Ualan had told Morrigan what was happening, but she was too far ahead to catch up.

  At a loss, sh
e had no choice but to follow the guard. He was quiet as he escorted her through the passageways to her home. Nadja wondered if their claiming of Heinrich had upset him. She thought about saying something, but remembered how Olek told her the men would respect her for it later. Once she said the command to open the door, the warrior moved to the side and put his back to the hallway wall to stand guard.

  “Do you want to come in?” she asked politely. “You don’t have to wait out here.”

  The guard shook his head in denial and gave a small smile of thanks but didn’t speak.

  “Goodnight, then,” she told him. He stood straight and stiff, keeping his eyes forward on the opposite wall. Nadja let loose a small sigh and went inside.

  Chapter 28

  Olek and Ualan rushed through the castle passageways to the medical wing where Yusef was being delivered. Agro hadn’t been able to tell them much, only that Yusef had been attacked from behind while seeing King Attor out of the keep and off Draig land. Agro seemed fairly confident it wasn’t the Var king or his ambassadors who’d dealt the blows, but the Var were not dismissed as suspects in the tragedy.

  Hearing Yusef’s howl of pain, the princes began to sprint. King Llyr, Prince Zoran, and Queen Mede were quick behind them. It had been hard not to run out of the main hall, but it would do no good to alarm the castle until they knew what was happening.

  Seeing Agro pin Prince Yusef to a bed as the doctors worked, Ualan and Olek stepped in to relieve the man of his position. Agro backed away, his face strained. Yusef fought like a yorkin, but had lost so much blood he was weakening quickly.

  “He was stabbed in the back. He didn’t have time to shift,” Agro said. “I sent a couple of palace guards to look for clues and to clean up the mess before anyone else saw it.”

  King Llyr nodded his thanks. Agro was a good friend and a loyal soldier. He’d grown up with the four princes. Speaking low, the king commanded, “Agro, gather our best trackers and see if they can pick up a scent.”