Dragon Lords 4-Warrior Prince (19 page)

Pia shivered. Her body jumped with desire for him, but she didn’t know how to ask for it. She looked over him, her eyes searching in the dark and not seeing him.

"Good night." Turning her back on him, she did her best to fall asleep.

Chapter Twelve

Zoran was gone for most of the day. Nadja came over in the afternoon to help Pia curl her hair and pick out an appropriate dress. To Nadja’s relief, Pia was moving around as if nothing had happened and didn’t seem to be holding a grudge about the accident. Nadja still felt really guilty, but Pia refused to listen to another apology, so she held quiet.

Blinking as Nadja darkened her eyelashes, Pia asked, "You said you father was a doctor, right?"

Nadja glanced down wearily from her task. "Uh-huh."

"Would it be possible for, say, a doctor to make your body more ... sensitive to...?" Pia frowned.

"Just be blunt," Nadja said. "I never knew you to skirt around an issue."

"I want to know if a doctor altered me to make me feel ... lust," Pia stated, her mouth twisting to hide her mortification.

Nadja giggled. She couldn’t help it.

"I knew I shouldn’t have said anything," Pia mumbled, turning away to look in the mirror. She eyed Nadja’s handiwork indifferently.

"Are you feeling ... lust?" Nadja asked with a grin.

"I don’t know," Pia said. "Forget I asked about it."

"I’m sorry," Nadja said. "No, it’s not possible for a doctor to do something to you to make you feel lust. The only way I’ve ever heard of is through medicines. But you would have to take them on a regular basis and more than likely you would know if you were being dosed. Normally there would be telltale side effects."

"Oh." Pia looked dejected.

"Did something happen between you and Zoran?" Nadja asked, curling a strand of hair before pulling it up at the sides to create a cascaded of curls around Pia’s face. Nadja felt sorry for her friend at the idea. Zoran was a beastly, humorless man as far as she was concerned.

"Nothing, well, we did ... and I hit him off," she admitted weakly. "There was blood."

"Oh?" Nadja began, then seeing Pia’s meaning in her blushing face, she said, "Oooh."

"Is there something wrong with me?" Pia asked. She thought that perhaps the bleeding was her fault, like she wasn’t built right or the surgeries had altered her insides.

"Oh, no," Nadja said softly. "No, there isn’t anything wrong. It was your first time with a man?"

Pia nodded.

"Didn’t your mom...?" began Nadja, trying to be delicate.

"She died," Pia stated flatly.

"What about your dad?"

"Dead."

"The blood is normal the first time," Nadja said delicately. Nadja didn’t know firsthand and wasn’t sure she was the best person to be giving this advice, but the relief on Pia’s face was palpable. Nadja, remembering her mother’s talk to her directly after the engagement announcement, repeated the woman’s words, "Um, you’re just being broken into sex. The second time shouldn’t be bad and the third time better."

Pia nodded weakly, before turning to her hair. Eyeing the formal hairdo in the mirror, she asked, "This isn’t going to be too much, is it?"

"It’s a coronation," Nadja announced. "I think it will do perfectly!"

"All right," Pia said wearily. She’d never been to a formal function before. "Just as long as I’m not the only one wearing a dress tonight."

* * * *

"Pia," Zoran called. "Come on, we’ve got to go."

He frowned, knocking lightly on the bathroom door. Pia had been hiding from him ever since he got home. At first she said she was getting dressed and now she said she was too sick to come out.

"You’ll just have to go without me," she called. "I’m too nauseous. I think I caught something."

"Pia--" he began.

"No, Zoran, I’m sorry. Just make my apologies to whomever. Go have fun," she called. "I’ll see you when you get back."

"Pia, I need you there," he insisted. "It’s your coronation. You need to be there for it. Can I at least come in?"

"No ... oh, fine," she ended with a growl, her tone growing stronger with irritation. "But you can’t laugh at me."

A quizzical expression crossed over Zoran’s features as the sick voice suddenly disappeared into a confident growl. He slid open the bathroom door with one finger.

Pia gulped, her pale face looking at him. Her hair cascaded down over her shoulders in curls. His gaze instantly roamed over her dark red gown. The satin was simplistic, hugging to her frame, parting at mid-thigh to bell out in a sweep of material around her legs. The sleeves were short, capped over the shoulder. The neck swung long, sweeping lightly over her breasts to give just enough teasing mystery to instantly drive him mad with desire.

Pia’s breath caught, looking him over. He was handsome in tight black slacks and a red silk tunic of oriental influence. The upright collar was short and separated slightly at the neck. A row of small buttons worked their way down over his chest, stopping at the waist so that the material could part at the front continuing down to the knees. The dragon symbol was again on his chest in black.

Her eyes wide, she couldn’t stop herself from saying, "You look so handsome."

Zoran grinned in manly delight at her breathless words. Her face flushed red and she shook herself to her senses.

"I can’t go with you," Pia stated. Frowning, she looked down at her dress as if that could explain everything she was thinking. "I think Nadja overdid the hair and this dress ... it’s all wrong."

Zoran stepped forward, his body lurching. Huskily, he said, "You look perfect."

"No, it’s too much," Pia insisted. "I’ve got those black pants you bought me with the dragon emblem. I’ll wear those."

Having decided, Pia strode past him. Zoran’s arm shot out catching her about the waist. He curved his arm around her, making her back up so he could continue to look at her. He wasn’t quite done with his examination.

"It’s perfect," Zoran repeated, giving her a heated look over the satin. He flexed his hand on her waist. Unable to stop himself, he groaned. Leaning over, he cupped her face and kissed her gently. Pia jumped slightly in surprise. Her lips parted and he deepened the kiss. Instantly, her arms wound about his neck in encouragement.

Zoran felt her melting against him and had to pull back. He slid his hand over the satin covered curve of her lower back. If this continued, he wouldn’t be making it much further than the bedroom for the rest of the night and his father would be livid.

"Um," he sighed, pulling her back. He licked his lips. "We can’t do this. We’re already late."

"I don’t have a dragon," she said, her eyes wide as she looked up at him.

"What?" He blinked in confusion. He was still too busy staring at her shaded lips. He’d never seen her in makeup before. He thought her beautiful either way.

Pia touched the patch on his chest. "I don’t have a dragon emblem. I think I’m supposed to."

Zoran chuckled. "Wait, I’ll find you one."

Pia walked slowly behind him as he went to the bedroom. When he came back he was holding his armband from the Breeding Festival. Pushing at it, he bent it smaller to fit her arm.

"I wish I’d thought to get you some proper jewelry," Zoran admitted. "But this will have to do."

Pia let him slide it over her wrist, adjusting the dragon to wind around her upper arm. She smiled. She loved it. It was perfect.

"What’s on your feet?" Zoran asked, seeing her black boots.

Pia grinned. "Can you believe the woman tried to make me wear dress slippers? I had her give me these instead."

She pulled her skirt to the side to show the knee high black boots over her bare tanned legs. Zoran’s eyes instantly traveled higher to her exposed thigh. If she lifted just a bit higher, he would see the curve of her naked hip. This was going to be a very long night.

"They’re perfect," he said, his voice a bit husky.

Already he could picture her in the boots and nothing else. Or even better, that dress pushed up over her hips as he took her from behind. His gaze traveled up her waist to her cleavage. How much trouble would he get in if they didn’t show up? Maybe the King wouldn’t notice. Maybe....

Clearing his head, Zoran grunted roughly, "We need to go."

* * * *

The main common hall of the Draig mountain palace had steep, arched ceilings with the center dome for light. The red stone floor was swept clean. A space was left clear for dancing. Banners of the family crest lined the walls, one for each color of the family lines--purple for the King and Queen, black for Yusef, green for Olek, red for Zoran, and blue-gray for Ualan. Each banner had the silver symbol of the dragon boldly woven into it.

Lines of tables reached across the floor for dining, filled with villagers and attended to by servants who carted out endless pitchers of various drinks and set them out on the tables. Their murmuring voices could be heard all around the hall, as they excitedly awaited the start of the festivities. All of them craned to get a good look at their new Princesses sitting at the head table.

Pia was seated between Queen Mede and her husband. Aside from the three Princesses, the royal family all wore crowns. The Queen tried to talk to her a few times and she answered as politely and distantly as possible. The woman made her uncomfortable. Next to the Queen was King Llyr. He spoke mostly to his wife.

Looking past the King, Pia tried to smile at Nadja, but her lips were stiff. She never dreamed that she would be set up on display before so many people. Honestly, she hadn’t known what to expect this night. Looking around the hall, all the curious eyes on her, she shivered.

Prince Olek was next to Nadja. He had a laughing smile and seemed very easy natured compared to his somber brothers. Pia could instantly see the man’s complete infatuation with his wife. When Nadja wasn’t looking at him, his eyes were all over her. She was happy for her friend. Although, she wasn’t sure Nadja realized it herself.

Next in line was Prince Ualan. She couldn’t tell much from the man’s blank expression and he didn’t pay her any attention. That was fine with Pia. Morrigan, his wife, was next to him. She nodded in Pia’s direction. Pia didn’t know Morrigan well, but returned her acknowledgement with a slight smile.

Morrigan and Ualan had been the last to arrive, just now being seated. From what she gathered, Morrigan had made herself a slave to purge her honor and had come tonight to ask royal pardon. She wondered what the woman had done to shame herself.

Smiling wryly down at her drink, she thought, Maybe she cut her hair, too.

Next to Zoran was his brother, Prince Yusef. He was an ungodly dark specimen, contrasting completely to his lighter toned brothers. He didn’t say much when he was introduced to her and she had merely nodded in return. The man seemed preoccupied, as if his thoughts had nothing to do with the evening at hand and he was just there filling a space at the royal table. His wife was at home, sick.

"It’s glad I am that all my sons have found brides. We’re a house blessed." Pia looked over at the King as he spoke. He lifted his goblet proudly to the crowd before continuing, "Preosts, crown the Princesses."

Pia shivered as she was given a crown to match Zoran’s, though it was smaller and much more delicate. The Preost fit it on her head and she was almost too scared to move under the unfamiliar weight.

After the Preosts were finished muttering whatever ceremonial blessing they spoke, servants began coming around with plates of food, serving the head table first. Pia looked absently at the meal. It was delicate and proper and made her long even more for a juicy, rare steak. Sighing, she dutifully picked up her fork.

Musicians began playing softly in the background to fill the hall with music. Pia looked them over, before turning to study the crowd. A group of blond warriors in the back caught her attention. The silent group was ignored by most of the hall. Only one servant approached them, seeming to hesitate as he filled their goblets. The men held still, not looking at the servant as he made his way around.

Pia dropped her fork, leaning to grab her drink only to flinch when she realized it was wine and set it back down untouched. Zoran saw the gesture and smiled. He waved his hand to a servant and asked him quietly to bring something other than wine for his wife.

Pia leaned over, not taking her eyes off the men. It was obvious they didn’t belong in the hall. Seeing the largest warrior at their table shift his eyes around the room in displeasure, Pia narrowed her gaze.

Zoran looked down to feel her delicate hand working against his arm. Glancing at Pia’s face, he followed her eyes to the table of Var warriors. The largest at their table, King Attor, turned his stare to the royal table.

"That man plans something," Pia said quietly, absently. "I’m going to make my way over there."

Zoran tensed. He squeezed his hand over her fingers. Pia blinked, coming out of her concentration. Zoran’s eyes lowered in warning, "You are doing no such thing. That’s King Attor of the Var. He rules the kingdom to the south. He’s our guest tonight, and he’s being watched very carefully."

Pia, realizing what she’d said, paled. She blinked out of her concentration. Seeing his serious eyes, she said, "Sorry, old habit."

Pia could see instantly that Zoran didn’t like the man’s presence in his family’s home. His eyes were suspicious as he turned to look back down over the hall.

Zoran saw the Var King snarl slightly in anger, though the man reigned in his emotion well. He wondered at his wife’s ‘old habit.’ This was no place to ask her.

"Why is he here?" Pia asked, her instincts quickening with the familiar rush of intrigue and danger. It was a sensation she hadn’t felt for a long, long time and she clung to its familiar pull. "He does not look like a friend."

"He’s not," Zoran allowed. It was a show of power to their people to prove the Princes were happily married and thus would produce many royal heirs to secure their lineage. It also showed they had no fear of the Var. "But his presence serves a necessity."