Prince's Fire (9 page)

She sighed in frustration when Val walked up behind her. “You okay?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m fine. I work my ass off to learn to wield powers I don’t understand just to have that twin of yours shred my years of practice and make it look like I’m flapping around in a kiddie pool.”

62 Cara Carnes

Val’s low voice caressed her stressed nerves and renewed her sexual need. His hands massaged the muscles of her neck before sliding down her arm slowly. “I don’t control the same element you do, but the way you operate them should be the same.”

Gitana closed her eyes, listening to the timbre of his voice as he continued. His hand slid down to her waist and rested on her stomach. “Begin building your energy here. Let it simmer until you think it will burst from you.”

He pulled her closer to him, her butt contouring into his body perfectly. “I can feel it growing.”

Val laughed softly in her ear. “It isn’t the only thing that is.”

The man was insatiable.

She couldn’t help but laugh at his seductive teasing, feeling so at ease with him as he moved his hand back up her body. “Now, slowly send that unspent energy through your body, focusing it all to your arms, but don’t expend it yet. Let it sit there for a moment.”

Oh, how she needed a different kind of release right now, and the erection pressed firmly against her back only increased her urgency.

“Then you release it with as much force as you can, hurdling it in your mind straight at your adversary.” She peered around the rock, focused on Van and released it immediately.

Cal’s immense laughter filled the area as Van cursed loudly, holding his stomach. “I hope you don’t piss her off one night, Val, because she is an excellent student,” Cal said.

“You did very well, v’amarita. Now you only do that at a much more rapid rate, making sure to adhere to rule two.”

“What is that?”

“A moving object is harder to hit.”

“I expected something more grandiose.”

“Sometimes you don’t need a lot of build up and ceremony, do you?” Val asked.

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Gitana closed her eyes, forgetting all about the people around her as he kissed her. This man brought her to a state of awareness easier than anyone ever had. Her nipples ached for his touch, and her pussy grew wet remembering how good he felt sliding inside of her.

“Shit! I didn’t know this was gonna be a fucking sex lesson too, or I would’ve brought a playmate. I bet I could show you a thing or two to use on your new companion, brother.”

It had to be Jax that made the ridiculous statement with Cal cackling in amusement beside him. The other brothers moved away quickly, and a steady stream of liquid jettisoned straight at Jax, wrapping around him.

“Enough, man. Fuck! I was joking.” She watched the circle of water fade away and Jax fell to the ground, gasping for air. He looked up. “You have seriously mastered the squeeze on that tornado thing.”

Val looked over at him, one arm still draped around her waist. “I was being nice. Next time, you won’t get a warning.”

Van sneered. “Not bad, princess. You are a quick learner, but you have a lot of time to make up for. Let’s start over.” Fire came straight at her, but she leaped for the nearest hiding space and sent a responding shot.

“Good. But now let’s see if I can get you not to back down and run. If you wish to be my brother’s mate, you must have the courage to stand and fight like royalty would. My father died protecting a so-called chosen one, and we risk our lives on a regular basis. You have to be willing to break a nail every now and then.”

Gitana glared at the man. “You have no idea what I am capable of sacrificing, asshole.”

She breathed in deep then came out from her hiding place. Today was going to be a long day.

* * * * *

64 Cara Carnes

Every muscle and bone in her body ached. They burned and throbbed painfully from the inside out, as if they were going to implode. Van called it the slow burn and said it was the sign of too much spent energy. Wonderful. Nice of the asshole to tell her after it had happened.

At least she had learned how not to pass out. Along with Van’s lovely list of ten things every good warrior must know. Freaking jerk.

The only good thing involved Val’s massage. Sure, his brothers Cam and Jad could have healed her, but Van dared her not to take it. Asshole. He just had to remind her that a true fighter would take the pain of learning so it would be a lesson remembered.

She moaned as Val slid his hands up her inner thigh, the deep tissue massage helping ease some of the ache from her. At least she had given Van some pain in return. He had limped off that field.

“I could get used to this,” she said.

Val smiled, the tense look on his face still there. He had been very quiet during the afternoon. Not getting along with Van troubled Val, and she didn’t want to upset him.

“There are better ways to spend our time alone. Let me call Cam or Jad here to heal you. We will not tell my brother if that is your concern. He was too hard on you today. You need to build up your strength rather than start out at a warrior’s pace on the first day.”

“Warrior’s pace? I don’t want all the bulging muscles you all have, so please don’t tell me that will happen.”

“I think that Dax should take over your training from now on.”

Gitana shook her head. “Absolutely not. I will not give that smug brother of yours the satisfaction of running me off his battlefield.” And she had to grudgingly admit that he was good at wielding fire. Very good. She could learn a great deal from him, if she managed to survive the lessons.

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He grew quiet and drew her into his arms. “He had some tough times recently and has not been the same.”

She remembered Fiona mentioning it earlier. “I heard. I’m sure it is an adjustment to deal with something like that, but it doesn’t look like he is dealing with it at all. Then again, it’s not really any of my business because I don’t know him.”

Val kissed her softly on the lips. “He is to be your family, v’amarita.”

Gitana smiled and moved her hand below the coverings, grasping his thick shaft. His responsive moan thrilled her. “I think we’ve spent enough time talking, warrior.”

“Really? And what does my princess have in mind?”

Scratching his back she grinned at him. “Well, first off, don’t call me that. Secondly, I thought we could pick up where we left off earlier. Something about no build up needed.”

His fingers ran across her wet slit, the thumb of his other hand flicking her nipple. “I could handle that.”

“Good,” she purred. She arched her body up to meet his when he moved and positioned himself above her. “That feels so much better.”

He thrusted slowly at first and built up speed as her body awakened under his touch.

His mouth made her pulse race, and he sucked her nipples until they were hard. Embers of heat surged within her breasts, spreading through her body in a sensual heat that left her needing more. Moisture flooded her pussy. “Wrap my legs around you, please, because I cannot manage it myself.”

“I’m killing him myself if he does this again. Your training cannot interfere with our alone time.”

Somehow spending time with him and his brothers had made this Paradise more real to her. Watching them spar with each other demonstrated not only their prowess on the field but the camaraderie they shared like a second skin.

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The feeling of ice cooling her aching muscles filled her. She sighed against him, licking and kissing his bronzed chest as he raised her up and held her flush against him. She was in a position to ride the cock buried in her, but all she had to do was sit there. He moved her in a slow, methodical pace that matched the gentle icy throbs deep within her weary bones.

Her mouth sucked and teased his nipple, and she savored his shuddered response. She slid her nails down his arms and gasped when he began fucking her harder.

“I can’t wait any longer to feel you clench my cock.”

The admission made her feel more wanted as he thrust his cock into her with a primal need that brought her to the edge of her own pleasure. She cried out when her climax overcame her and groaned when his met hers shortly after. Sighing, she cuddled against him when he collapsed on the bed. “Amazing, warrior.”

“Not too bad yourself.”

“I could get used to this, you know.” She wanted to believe that this time would be different. Too many times she had offered her heart to a man and had it stomped on, so it was hard for her to take the risk again.

“This warrior and all of our people would be pleased to know that.”

Gitana kissed his chest and ran her hands down his stomach. “They have been very lucky to have a prince as good as you. I bet they have no idea how much you have sacrificed for them, do they?”

“They have suffered much, and we would all gladly sacrifice even more if it would take back all the senseless deaths.”

Her heart lurched for the strangers she never knew. She knew the pain of loss and loneliness, not having your immediate family there with you and wondering what happened to them. “I wish I had been here to help.”

Val squeezed her tight and smiled, kissing her lips. “Just the fact that you are alive means more than you could ever imagine.”

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She couldn’t believe she was alone with Fiona and Shana. Somehow, Fiona had

managed to convince all her brothers that their presence was not needed while she took them on a small tour of the area surrounding the palace.

It had been a week since her arrival to Mysk, and she and Val had taken up temporary residence in Paradise for the privacy it gave them. The training sessions with Van had been shortened so that she could spend time learning more about her earth and air powers. She felt the need to hone the powers she was meant to wield. Those were the most instinctive for her to use, the most powerful. But she trusted Val and Van’s judgment.

“Many of our villagers live as close to the palace as possible so that we may protect them better,” Fiona said as they walked through the green fields toward a mass of thatch style houses.

“Why are their homes built of such meager materials when the palace is so elaborate?”

Gitana asked. It struck her as too feudalistic for her tastes.

“The climate makes this style of housing much more preferable for many, and the thatching is merely a covering for the home underneath. It helps block the cold temperatures 68 Cara Carnes

and hot sun during the season changes. The homes, as you can see, are all a nice size. The interiors are very well decorated as I’m sure you will discover for yourself in time.”

She followed the young woman into the village area. Several people fell to their knees immediately upon seeing them, many with beaming faces. One older woman wearing a red dress similar to Gitana’s stepped forward. Wrinkle lines showed when she smiled, her black hair pulled back away from her face. “Good day, I’m Valana. Are you all the visitors that went to Paradise? Which of you is Shana?”

Her sister blushed and nodded as the people began to gather around her.

“Lucian is a mighty warrior, and we are pleased he has found a mate. You are the beginning of the prophecy surely! One day the chosen ones will return to us,” an older blonde woman said as she knelt before them.

They smiled at the villagers, and Gitana couldn’t handle seeing them all on the ground.

“Please stand up, you do not need to kneel.”

The look of shock on the villager’s face mirrored those on the people around her. “But she is mated to a member of the royal family now. We honor her just as we do the princes when they are amongst us. To not do so would be a disservice to all they have done for us.”

“This is my mate, Ged, and the king saved us both from the D’kalhiks when they attacked. I am Aria.” The woman turned her attention to Fiona. “You have the look of a royal, madam. Are you a visitor as well?”

Fiona shook her head. “I merely inhabit the royal palace and am afforded the luxuries that go with it.”

Gitana sympathized with Fiona. It must have been difficult to live in the shadows of her own family. In fact, she seemed to be overprotected. Surely Val and the other princes would do what was best for their sister.

“Oh, the princes are a fine lot of strapping young men. I pity the queen for never having a daughter to dote on though. They do their father proud.”

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The pride and respect for Val and his brothers flowed off the woman in waves. What if the people didn’t like her when they found out who she was? Would they have the same respect for her?

“Yes, they do,” Fiona said. “I’m afraid we must part for now, but we will be back later.”

Shana smiled as Fiona led the three of them away. “Okay, this feels a bit awkward. Sort of backward, in a way.”

Fiona laughed. “They all have a great deal of respect for my brothers and for Lucian.

Your mate trains the boys in the village himself, even though he is pressed for time since he leads our warriors.”

Shana blushed. “He is an exceptional mate, but it saddens me that they do not know you. That must be hard to deal with.”

Fiona shrugged her shoulders as they continued walking out of the village area. “It does not matter to me because they will know of me when the time comes.”

“Why do they not know of you now?” Gitana asked.

“It’s a long story. My birth will raise questions that my mother wasn’t prepared to deal with. I was born a year to the day that my father passed away, yet I am clearly my father’s child because I look exactly like him.”

“It must be hard for you.” “It is for the best. My mother doesn’t have to worry about explaining things she should have the right to keep private, and I don’t have to deal with the emotions of an entire nation in mourning for the loss of their chosen ones.”

Gitana paused. “Emotions?”

“My powers of perception are very strong.”

She couldn’t imagine how difficult that would be. At least her own powers didn’t draw other people’s emotions and thoughts into the vat of extraneous circumstances to deal with on a constant basis.