“I’ll lead them myself,” Agro stated, seeming relieved to have orders. Shifting into his fearsome Draig form, he took off down the hall at lightning speed.
“My wife,” Yusef moaned, nearly incoherent, before passing out.
Ualan turned to his father as he let his now still brother go. Olek followed suit. “We should send someone to the outpost to gather his wife.”
“She’s in chastisement,” Olek said. “Send someone discreet and make sure they know not to scare her with a dragon-shift. We don’t know how much Yusef has told her about us. She might not even know she’s royalty.”
Zoran nodded in agreement, glancing over from where he spoke to a guard. He waved the man away.
“I’ve taken care of it,” Zoran said. “They are getting her right now.”
The family turned their attention to where the doctors worked in near silence. The royal family kept out of the way, but stayed close enough to witness everything that happened. Their expressions were tight as they waited to hear if Yusef would pull through.
“We have to stop the bleeding first,” Tal explained to the family, “before we can put him in the medical booth. He’s in too fragile a state to move.”
“Someone, grab me that handheld,” Dr. Ector ordered, keeping a hand pressed to the seeping wound. Tal ran out of the room to fetch the device.
Olek did not flinch at the sight of the jagged wounds, though inside his stomach churned with worry. Half an hour later, Yusef was bandaged but still unconscious. The doctor explained that, since he hadn’t been given time to shift into Draig form, the knife wounds had penetrated deep beneath the surface of his skin. Yusef was still in danger and if they tried to stand him up in the medical booth they might do more harm than good. However, with constant care and monitoring, they were hopeful for a complete recovery.
The king and queen said nothing at the news. Queen Mede laid her head against her husband’s shoulder. “Hopeful” was hardly a comforting word to two parents looking at their fallen son.
* * *
Olek silently made his way down the red halls to his home. Seeing the soldier he’d sent to guard Nadja still at attention outside his door, he waved the man from his post. “Is all well?”
“Yes, my prince.”
“Thank you for staying. Please, rejoin the celebration if you like,” Olek said by way of dismissal.
The guard bowed dutifully and left.
Nadja still wore her formal gown when he walked in. She looked as if she’d been frantically pacing the floor, waiting for his return. As the door slid open, she spun to him, hastening forward.
“Are you all right?” Her face pulled tight with worry as she examined him. “What happened?”
Olek didn’t wish to alarm her. She hadn’t asked for the burden of their royal life and he didn’t want to trouble her with it. “Everything’s fine, solarflower.”
“Then what was that all about?” Nadja demanded. “Why was there a guard left at the door? I thought we were being attacked.”
“Yusef had a small accident. The doctors say he’ll be fine.”
Nadja took him at his word and let go of a heavy sigh. “You had me so worried. I was sure something bad had happened with the Var ambassadors. I can’t explain why, but I feel there is something off with that King Attor. He reminds me of,” she paused and took a deep breath before finishing weakly, “He reminds me of people I’ve met over the years.”
The light was dim from the drawn curtains overhead. Olek could see his wife easily though, as he let his eyes shift. He glanced over her gown, wanting desperately to hold her.
Nadja saw the look and instantly backed away. “Oh, no. Stop right there. I know what you’re thinking when your eyes turn all liquid-y like that. Your Draig genetics give you away, Prince Olek.”
He stiffened. She knew? “My genetics?”
“All of you, even the queen, get that little eye color shift when you examine something closely. I know you have some kind of super eyesight going on.” She put her thumb in front of her bodice and pointed upwards. “So you can just stop zooming in on my chest this instant. I’m not through discussing what happened tonight.”
“Who said we had to stop talking?”
“Wait, you don’t have x-ray vision do you?” She gasped at the idea and crossed her arms over her chest. “Can everyone see me naked under my clothes?”
Olek chuckled. “Unfortunately, no, I cannot see through your clothes. So how about you take them off?”
Nadja sighed, dropping her arms. “Oh, good.”
“So you’ll take them off for me?” he asked, hopeful.
“So do you have super sight?” She ignored his request.
“I have normal Draig vision.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. Fascinating.” She glanced around and talked more to herself than to him. The brilliance of her shining eyes captured him. Her hair was still piled perfectly on her head. She had been the loveliest woman in the hall that night and she belonged to him. The very idea of it took his breath away. “I have this thing…somewhere…where did I put that bag?” She moved toward her laboratory. “I want to examine your eyes more closely. Sit on the couch so I can—”
“Nadja?”
“Yes?” She stopped and tilted her head to study him.
“If I let you examine my eyes, will you at least take off your gown to do it?” Olek stalked toward her, letting her see in his expression and body movements exactly what he intended to do to her. Enough was enough. It was time they consummated their marriage.
Nadja backed away, around the water fountain. “Wait. Shouldn’t we, ah?”
“I want to collect that kiss you owe me.”
“What kiss?” Nadja asked, feigning innocence. She batted her eyelashes at him.
“Before we left tonight, you promised me a kiss,” Olek stated. He knew she didn’t stand a chance at escape. “Here, let me remind you.”
Darting forward, he wrapped his fingers over her hips. Nadja gasped. He hit a clasp with his thumb and pushed the overdress’ material aside so he could slide his hands over the cream colored underskirt to better cup her ass.
“I believe we were right about here,” he said, giving her a playful squeeze. By all that was sacred, she felt so right against him. “You promised to kiss me after the coronation if I didn’t mess up your hair.”
Nadja shivered visibly. Her lids dipped low over her eyes. He splayed a hand over her lower back and firmly pressed, forcing her cleavage to push against him. Peering down, he devoured the creamy globes of her breasts with his hot gaze.
“I’m waiting,” he whispered, his breath falling over her bare neck and cleavage. “Where is my kiss?”
Nadja leaned forward to quickly peck his lips. When she pulled back, he wasn’t smiling.
“Naughty solarflower,” Olek growled, shaking his head in denial. “That is no kiss.”
“You didn’t specify,” Nadja countered. “Now, let me go so I can talk to you.”
“You talk,” he said, a mischievous grin coming over his features, “and I’ll show you what a real kiss is.”
Nadja gasped as his head dipped down to the top of her breast and he instantly began devouring it with his passionate lips. Whatever conversation she was so keen on having ended in that moment. She weakened into his arms. Her heart pounded beneath his tongue, thundering wildly.
When he’d thoroughly melted her will to his, he lifted his head and grinned. “You don’t speak, solarflower? I thought you wanted to talk.”
“I…” she began feebly, as if trying for the life of her to remember what she wanted to ask him. She gave a small shake of her head.
“How about I speak, then?” Olek brushed his face against her chest briefly before again staring into her eyes. “Shall I tell you what I have been thinking about most of the night?”
Nadja didn’t move. Her eyes widened. His hands grew bolder on her back, working against her skirt to expose the backs of her legs.
“Should I tell you what I am always thinking about?” he continued passionately, claiming her with his intense gaze.
He found the firm cheek of her ass and roughly caressed the naked flesh.
“Yes,” Nadja panted, not turning her eyes away. He smelled the scent of her body and knew she had become moist just listening to his seductive voice.
“I think about you, solarflower, all the time. I think about having you in a hundred different ways.”
Nadja merely stared at the bold admission.
“Shall I tell you how I think about taking you?” Olek leaned forward to lick at her neck.
“Yes,” she breathed, her eyes fluttering closed. “Yes, tell me.”
“I want to make love to you here on the floor, on that couch, in the bath, on the fur rug in our bedroom before the fireplace. Every time I see you, I want to strip you naked and have my wicked way with you. I want to tie you up and conquer you. I want bend you over my office desk and take you from behind. I can barely think straight anymore. You have completely taken over my thoughts.” Olek grew bolder, licking, nipping, kissing his way along to her collarbone. “My cock is always stiff. Feel it, feel how hard I am for you. I’m going crazy, solarflower. I need to be inside you. I want to feel your wet, soft….”
Olek didn’t wait for her to obey. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his clothed erection. She made a weak noise and didn’t pull away. Tentative fingers moved over the shaft and he nearly came in his pants.
“This is what you do to me, Nadja.” Olek placed his hand back under her skirt to edge his fingers along her sex from behind. They inched between her thighs to test her response to him. He wasn’t disappointed as he slid along her moist lips. “Tell me you’re hot for me. Tell me to take you right now, right here. Don’t make me wait any longer.”
“Ah,” Nadja’s mouth fell open and she nodded in fervent agreement. Before she could say the words, an ungodly high-pitched screech came from the hallway.
“Draea Anwealda!” The shout was followed by a frantic knock on the door.
Nadja jolted in alarm, blinking rapidly as she tried to pull away.
“Draea Anwealda,” a woman’s panicked voice called louder. “Come quickly, you and the princess.”
Olek slowly came out of his passion-laden haze. He reluctantly let his wife go. She gave a little shiver of protest.
By all the gods, what had he done to deserve such agony? It was difficult, but Olek managed to tear himself away from her. He couldn’t take much more of this painful denial. The dragon inside threatened him with a shift to ease his suffering. He forced the tingling in his limbs to subside.
“What is it?” Nadja asked. “What is she saying?”
“She’s saying we need to go.” His voice was hoarser than it should have been.
Oh, and how his cock throbbed and pulsed with a tight erection. His gut clenched painfully.
“Where?”
“I’m not sure. Come on.”
Nadja righted her gown as Olek yelled for the door to open. He took her hand, leading her forward.
“What is it?” Seeing it was the doctor’s wife, he froze. Yusef?
“You are needed in the medical wing,” the woman said, her Draig words coming out fast. “It’s the princesses, they’ve been poisoned. Bring Princess Nadja. I must gather the others.”
The woman ran off. Olek turned to his wife and cupped her face to study her closely. She was pale and trembling as he examined her.
“What are you doing?” Nadja asked, fighting Olek as he tried to turn her face from side to side in his inspection.
“Come on, we have to go.” Terror filled him. Without waiting for her to agree, he ran, pulling his panicked wife behind him.
Chapter 29
Nadja tried not to stumble as she was pulled through the hall. “Olek, stop. What is happening? My slippers…”
He did stop. Only, it wasn’t to answer her question. Instead, he lifted her into his arms and ran faster. She had no choice but to hold on as she bounced in his arms. Her chest heaved from a combination of the short burst of exercise and stress. Olek carried her to the medical wing before setting her down.
“Please, tell me what’s going on. Is someone hurt?” She followed him inside. The royal family was already there. Ualan looked tortured, as he stared blindly at the operating room door. Yusef rested on the bed, his skin too pale and his entire upper body bandaged. To Olek, she said, “You said it was just a little accident.”
Olek didn’t have time to explain. There was a rush of talk she couldn’t understand. Queen Mede shook her head, speaking frantically to Olek and motioning at Nadja and Pia.
“Olek?” Nadja insisted, still confused.
“The doctor will explain.” Olek took her hand, ushering her forward to an awaiting doctor covered completely with protective gear, including goggles over his eyes. Zoran did the same with a confused Pia. Nadja trembled. This couldn’t be good.
“Follow the doctor, Nadja,” Olek insisted. “We’ll talk as soon as you’re done.”
“I’ll go with them,” the queen said, following the princesses to the back room. But, the doctor turned and motioned that she should stay out. The queen frowned but obeyed the man.
“But,” Pia protested Zoran’s insistent shove. “I feel fine. I haven’t been poisoned.”
Nadja’s eyes widened in horror at the statement and she spun around to stare at Olek. His lips tightened as he nodded for her to go on. Queen Mede’s hand was on her arm, pushing her forward.
“Go, dear,” the queen said. “Hurry.”
Nadja went into the room with Pia. The doctor turned to the women, taking out two handheld medic units. Without comment, he grabbed their arms and took a sample of their blood before going to the counter to test it.
“This may take a while,” the doctor said. “How are you feeling?”
“Terrified,” Nadja admitted at the same moment Pia answered, “Fine.”
* * *
Olek waited outside of the exam room. The fear was almost too much. He couldn’t lose Nadja. He’d only just found her. She was his blessing from the gods.
“Will someone explain how this could happen?” Zoran demanded. “In our home.”
“I have ordered all the food and wine tested, starting with Princess Morrigan’s,” the king said. “They think she must have ingested the poison for there to be so much in her system.”
Olek couldn’t meet his brother’s gaze. He felt responsible. As ambassador, he’d arranged for the Var to come.
“We all knew the risks in inviting King Attor and we all agreed to them,” the queen said.
“Princess Morrigan has fallen victim to poisoning and is possibly dying in the other room. Yusef is unconscious.” Zoran pointed to the door. “My wife is in there being tested.”
Ualan came forward and glared at his commander brother. He balled his hand into a fist in warning. “She will not die.”
“She survived enslavement,” the queen said, her tone calm in an effort to defuse the situation. “She is a very strong woman. The gods would not have given her to you otherwise. The same holds true for Pia and Nadja. You are all honorable and deserving, my sons. The gods would not bless you only to take your wives away so fast.”
Zoran’s voice deepened into a growl as his face began to harden with a shift. His eyes glowed with yellow as deadly fangs extended from his gums. “If any in our family die there will be blood.”
“There will be blood either way,” Ualan swore, his tone just as dark.
Olek nodded in agreement, staring at the door that kept Nadja from him. He would be unable to speak until he knew his wife would live.
* * *
“Well?” Olek rushed forward, nearly toppling over the doctor as he came from the exam room. Zoran’s footsteps sounded behind him. The doctor flinched, stumbling back as he was ambushed by distraught husbands.
“The princesses are fine. I tested their blood three times.” The docto
r took a slow step back and to the side to get out of the way of the door. “You may go inside.”
Olek almost fell over with relief. The princesses came out of the door. Nadja was stiff as he pulled her into his arms, but she said nothing and didn’t pull away. Pia nodded at Zoran, not really showing any emotion.
“I must check on Morrigan.” Nadja pushed away from him and went to follow the doctor.
Nadja questioned the doctor extensively about Morrigan’s illness. Olek watched as his wife assisted in rolling the woman onto her side as she threw up in her sleep.
Ualan put his hand on Olek’s shoulder. “Your wife has a gift for caretaking.”
The others sat quietly by the motionless Yusef. Morrigan fought bravely and in the end she won the battle for her life—albeit barely. Ualan seemed to breathe easier with the news and took his post by his wife’s side, where he clearly intended to stay until she opened her eyes.
By the time Olek walked Nadja out of Morrigan’s room, it had been discovered that the poison was in a goblet Morrigan had drunk from. The servant responsible for giving her the drink had been dealt with. The man wasn’t at fault. One of King Attor’s men had distracted him as he was preparing to serve the royal drink.
The drink had been meant for the king and queen. But, when King Attor went up to speak, the servant had placed the goblet before Morrigan instead, so as not to get in their way. The Var king couldn’t have realized Princess Morrigan wouldn’t recognize the Draig king’s seal and would take the drink for herself. If Queen Mede or King Llyr had taken a sip, they would have died instantly. The poison worked slower on humans.
Just when Olek thought the family could relax after the long night, the soldier Zoran sent to gather Yusef’s wife came back alone. He looked worried, standing in the doorway, eyeing the royal family.
“Where is she?” Zoran demanded, as soon as he saw the man. Nadja jumped at the noise.
“My lady is gone,” the soldier said. “There looks to have been a struggle. We smelled Var blood, but no human. She could still be alive.”
Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition Page 46