The Perfect Prince (13 page)

 

Grinning wearily, he saw he wasn’t the only one hiding out. Ualan was staring out from the shores of Crystal Lake. Olek followed his gaze and glanced out over the waters.

 

The surface shimmered like glass, reflecting the light in waving patterns.

 

Beneath the surface, low on the lakebed’s floor was where their crystals formed and grew. Whenever a son was born, the father would dive, grab the first piece he could find, and give it to the baby. From then until marriage, the crystal protected the son and gave him power. When they married, the crystal transferred some of that power to their wives and secured their joined fates when it was crushed. Once destroyed, their lives were only whole with their other halves. Without their wives, they would feel hollow.

 

“You missed practice again, brother,” Olek said, looking down at where Ualan sat against a giant tree.

 

Ualan smiled, having assuredly sensed his presence. He lifted his hand in greeting, not bothering to explain his absence. He didn’t need to. It was written on his face. Like Olek, his other half was fractured and his life wasn’t whole.

 

Ualan looked much like Olek, with the same build and same brown hair. His solid blue eyes were as troubled as his brother’s green ones. Olek, always the most amiable natured, managed a wry laugh.

 

The soft, murmuring rhythm of the lake’s water lapped nearby. The green skies were light and blew stirrings of clouds over the distance. The trilling call of a sofliar could be heard as the bird nested overhead. Taking a seat beside his brother, Olek lifted a weed from a patch of nearby grass and thoughtfully plucked it into his mouth.

 

“I see we are both cursed,” Olek grumbled, content to join in Ualan’s sulk. “Lest you wouldn’t be avoiding your duty or me mine.” Ualan didn’t even try to deny it. “My wife has proclaimed herself a slave. Since she’s the one to indenture herself, I cannot release her.”

 

“Yes,” Olek agreed. “I cannot help you there. The law states clearly that only she can seek the royal pardon.”

 

“She won’t,” Ualan responded to the unasked question in his brother’s eyes. “And I have no idea how to persuade her.”

 

“Does she know who you are? Does she know it’s you who can clear her?”

 

“No, I have no wish for her to know, not before she admits she is my wife,” said Ualan. His shoulders lifted with a tired sigh and he rubbed his eyes. “I won’t have her considering my royal birth. It would defeat the purpose of the masks. Gardener or King, it’s the same to the crystal bearers.”

 

“I think our King is considering never doing business with Galaxy Brides again,” said Olek, giving a smirk. “For they have sent all his sons mor-forwyns.”

 

“That they have.”

 

“Is it true she announced she was leaving you right after breaking your crystal?” asked Olek. Ualan nodded.

 

“Woe that Morrigan should find a spaceport,” grumbled Ualan, the burden of his 
frown deepening.

 

“Woe that she found a spaceport of our enemy,” Olek added with a meaningful nod. He had spoken with his father and it would seem that someone had been looking over the palace’s blueprints. When Ualan glanced over in surprise, he continued, “There have been rumors that our brides have not been seen within the castle.”

 

“And who would dare to spread such a rumor?” Ualan asked, his eyes narrowing.

 

“Supporters of the Var would be my guess,” Olek said. “Our father has decreed a festival in honor of his new daughters to coronate them. We have a week to convince them.” “I don’t relish the idea of our brides meeting. I shouldn’t like to see them banded,” the blue-eyed Ualan grumbled somberly. He was the future King and felt the weight of that world on his shoulders. Olek didn’t envy him, though his job was just as troublesome. Despairingly, Ualan added, “I can’t hide the fact that she is a slave. I can’t bring her out.”

 

“Ah,” Olek mused, letting a soft smile come to him. “Our mother has started the rumor amongst her maids that she does it out of embarrassment for how she acted after binding you with the crystal. Soon it will be common news. She will be respected for purging her honor.”

 

Queen Mede’s diplomatic ways were a great complement to his bold warrior father and reminded Ualan a lot of Olek.

 

“The King fears that the Vars have spies within our walls,” Olek answered, turning serious once more.

 

“And you?”

 

“I was to head to the shadowed marshes before the festival began. They were uncommonly bold,” Olek admitted. He thought of Nadja and wondered how he could convince her to pretend she was in love with him for one evening. He wasn’t sure it could be done. “I could sense it on them. They plan something.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“I know something that will cheer you, brother.” Olek suddenly chuckled, brightening with merriment for a moment. “Yusef’s bride turned his own blade against his manhood. He was honor bound to put her in chastisement.” Both brothers shared a hearty laugh and breathtakingly handsome smiles. Their mirth echoed around them in the trees.

 

“Did she…?” Ualan snorted.

 

“No,” Olek chuckled, unable to help himself, “just a nick.”

 

“I hear Zoran’s screams like a tree witch every time he’s tried to touch her,” Ualan said. “It is glad I am that he lives in the far side of the palace.” Olek nodded, taking the grass from his mouth and throwing it to the water. He watched it float away. “Mother is quite upset by it. It seems Zoran felt compelled to disfigure his wife and cut off all her hair. The castle is abuzz with the rumor and no one 
has seen her about.”

 

“That makes no sense.” Ualan was obviously confused. “Zoran would not shame his wife.”

 

“Our father says he saw it,” Olek answered with a shrug. “He’s upset because of the celebration. My wife has these contraptions, I’ll see if one won’t grow the poor woman’s hair back for her.”

 

“Yeah, if what you say is true, we cannot let more shame come to the family.

 

We’ll be lucky to get through the night without one of our brides trying to kill us,” Ualan said. Olek chuckled despairingly.

 

“And you, brother?” Ualan asked, turning to study Olek carefully. All knew that Nadja was aware that she was a Princess and wasn’t too thrilled with it. “What ails your bride that she won’t have you?”

 

Olek frowned, moving to stand. He held his hand down and pulled Ualan up to join him. How could he answer when he didn’t know himself? Nadja was a mystery that he no longer knew how to solve. He couldn’t get her secrets out of her by asking or torturing or yelling. They were well guarded within her.

 

“I truly don’t know,” Olek admitted after a time. “But I think I am the most accursed of us all. My little solarflower wants nothing to do with me. At least your women fight you. Mine won’t even speak to me, let alone yell. How can I fight a battle that won’t be fought?”

 

“A battle can always be fought, brother,” Ualan said wisely. “It’s finding the weapon that proves most difficult.”

 

The brothers began to walk through the forest, silently agreeing to go around the long way, away from Zoran and the exercise field.

 

“Ah, curse the married life anyway,” Olek grumbled. “At least with warriors you can always draw your sword and lop off their heads when they get too aggravating. With a woman, what can you do? They should have sent directions along with these vixens.” Ualan agreed with hearty laughter. “That they should have, little brother, that they certainly should have.”

Nadja doubled over in intense pain, pushing deeply at her stomach as she begged any god who would listen to end her agony. She rocked for a moment on the floor, trying to catch her breath. She had sensed its coming. She felt like such a wimp, as she again held her breath in an effort to stop the unbearable agony.

 

Nadja hated her period. Ever since she was a young girl, the cramps had been unbearable. Groaning, she looked around the bathroom. There were no pain pills, no hand held medic unit, no bottle of scotch. Hearing the outside door open, she tried not to whimper.

 

“Nadja?” she heard Olek call.

 

Nadja flushed in embarrassment, too hurt to stand. Swallowing, she called back in irritation, “What?”

 

“Where are you?”

 

Nadja flinched. She finally managed to push herself up. Wiping her teary eyes, she ground out, “Leave me alone.”

 

“Nadja?”

 

Olek’s voice was closer. She glared at him as he came through the bathroom door.

 

His eyes took her in.

 

“Don’t you ever knock?” she hissed.

 

“Nadja, what’s wrong? What happened?” Olek asked in concern. He started for her and she flinched.

 

“It’s nothing, go away,” Nadja muttered, trying to turn from him. The pain steadily got worse and her face paled. She wanted to scream but she bit her tongue.

 

“Nadja, has something happened? Are you hurt?” She felt his hand on her shoulders and stiffened. He began to massage her and, oh, but it felt really good. Her eyes rolled in her head. Her body swayed.

 

Suddenly, Olek’s body stirred with a curious feeling. Closing his eyes, he lightly leaned in to smell her. The pheromone his body detected lit a fire in him. She was breeding.

 

For the Draig, the woman’s breeding time was almost regarded as sacred. The pheromones the woman’s body sent off drove husbands mad with lust and the need to procreate. It turned them into true beasts. And, from what he’d been told, although women were not made to conceive at such a time it didn’t stop the effect. Draig seed could stay within the woman, waiting inside her until her new cycle, causing a belated pregnancy. Olek didn’t have such things as pregnancy in mind, as a light, passionate moan left his lips and he began kissing the back of her slender neck.

 

Nadja tensed. When she turned around, his eyes were glassy and he moved as if he would kiss her mouth next. She frowned. It didn’t deter him. His hands cupped her face.

 

His lips met with hers.

 

Nadja jolted in surprise at his instant passion. Not that she minded terribly when his mouth moved with such unrelenting skill. But, her breasts were swollen to the point of painful exploding and her hips throbbed in horrific pain. Lightly, she moaned and hit his shoulder.

 

Olek growled in primal response. He continued to mindlessly assault her, deepening the onslaught of his gently probing mouth. Nadja gasped as his hands found her backside, hurriedly lifting her up with his grasping palms only to set her on the side of the counter. He wouldn’t stop. His lips tore more aggressively.

 

Nadja ripped her mouth from his. His lips instantly buried into her neck, sucking deeply. Weak with pleasure, she gasped, “Olek, stop.” He didn’t hear her. His hands were on his pants, undoing the laces.

 

“Olek,” Nadja said louder, wondering what had gotten into him. He was senseless.

 

His eyes opened slightly, completely hazed over.

 

Olek leaned as if to again kiss her parted lips. Nadja pulled back. She hit him hard on the shoulder. He blinked in confusion. His eyes cleared and he looked at her, puzzled.

 

“What…?” Olek began, starting to pull away.

 

“What is wrong with you?” Nadja gasped with a look akin to dismay. “Didn’t you hear me?”

 

Olek frowned. He looked down at his pants around his ankles. His manhood was bared and Nadja was glaring at him. He couldn’t for the life of him remember how he had gotten like that. He quickly picked up his pants and tied them at his waist, clearing his throat in discomfiture.

 

Nadja hopped down from the counter, pressing into her hip as she did so. Glaring at him, the hormones making her surlier, she demanded, “What came over you? You were all … weird.”

 

Olek cleared his throat. “Sorry. It’s … you’re breeding aren’t you?”

 

“Breeding?” Nadja asked. Her cheeks flamed in a combination of apprehension and mortification. “No, I’m not!”

 

Olek let loose a deep breath, smiling sheepishly. “I can tell.” Her frown only deepened.

 

The scent of her filled his head and Olek took another steadying breath. It was hard to concentrate.

 

“I’m not pregnant!” Nadja denied hotly. “How dare you!” Olek chuckled. “Not carrying, bleeding.”

 

Nadja tried to skirt past him, mortified. “I’m not discussing this with you!” His hand stopped her. Unconsciously, his fingers began rubbing a persistent trail against her arm. Olek’s gaze threatened to turn cloudy again.

 

“Argh,” he groaned, fighting his innate desire to procreate. Like an animal in heat he wanted nothing more than to bend her over the counter and take her wildly from behind.“I need a medical unit,” Nadja stated, seeing his growing reaction.

 

Olek blinked again, doing his best to concentrate on her words. “A what…?”

 

“A medical unit,” she whispered, trying to meet his hazed eyes with her calm ones. Seeing that he was about to pounce mindlessly on her again, she added, “Fast.”

 

“Are you hurt?” he questioned, his mind clearing in worry.

 

“Just cramps.” Seeing his nostrils sniffing at her, she pulled back. “If I can use a medical unit it will take care of them. Please tell me you have one.” Olek smiled awkwardly and tossed his head. “All right, come on.” He led her from the bathroom. Nadja followed him out the door into the hallways.

 

She kept a steady eye on him as he led her forward. Her cramps got slightly worse and she frowned, glancing down at her waist.

 

Before she could look back up, Olek had her pinned against a wall. His hand was on her breast and his mouth was seeking her throat. Nadja moaned in surprise. He found her thigh and was lifting it over his waist to come between her legs. His hard length pressed into her, already at full erection. Strange jolts of fire erupted all over her skin.

 

Nadja gasped, looking around the passageway. She hit his arm, hissing insistently,

 

“Olek! Stop it!”

 

“Nadja,” he breathed hotly to her throat and she thought she might swoon from the rush of pleasure that overcame her. “Just … a little longer, please. I just want to kiss you.” Olek wanted more than that. His mouth began to move, nipping at her shirt, as he kissed a hot trail the breast cupped in his palm. His hips ground wildly up into her, thrusting against her clothing.

 

“Ah, Nadja,” Olek rumbled to her nipple as it peaked beneath the cotton material of her shirt, right into his lips. His hand was at her back, twisting insistently into her waistband, ready to strip her of her clothes.

 

“Olek!” Nadja hit his arm harder, trying to get his attention. His wild passion was overwhelming, but she couldn’t help noticing they were in danger of being caught.

 

“Oleeek!”

 

Olek abruptly stopped at the panicked sound of her voice. Nadja heaved for breath. Olek panted, his eyes bore steadily into her, unashamed of his actions.

 

“Tell me to take you back to our bedroom,” he whispered, dipping to kiss and lick playfully at her parted lips. “You won’t regret it, I promise. I’ll make you scream my name for hours.”

 

Nadja shook her head in denial, although the proposal made her shiver with all it implied. “Take me to the medic unit.”

 

Olek grinned, despite the raging fire in his body. He let her go. “Perhaps that 
would be best.”

 

The medical wing was deserted when they arrived. There was a row of large, empty beds against one wall, a reception desk by the other along with rows of glass cases.

 

In the back were two private exam rooms and an operating room.

 

Olek glanced at one of the empty beds, his eyes lit with suggestion. Nadja glared back at him, instantly shaking her head in denial.

 

“Don’t even think it,” she growled under her breath, moving towards the back room to put distance between them.

 

“But,” he began, looking very wounded by her heated denial.

 

She lifted her hand to stop his advance. “Where is the unit?” He tilted his jaw indicating behind her.

 

Nadja backed away from him before turning to check the backrooms. The last room had a standard medical unit. Turning it on, she looked around. Seeing a long, thin instrument on a nearby table, she grabbed it and jammed it lightly into the unit’s side panel. The controls slipped open and she grinned.

 

Olek came to the door and frowned. “What are you doing? We only have one of those.” “I’m not breaking it,” she muttered under her breath, biting her lip as she reprogrammed the machine. She tried to concentrate over her pain.

 

“Are you sure you don’t want to….” Olek began, his head tilting to the side to eye her firm backside as she leaned over. He licked his lips.

 

Nadja glanced at him only long enough to direct him a frown. “Stay back, barbarian.”

 

Her words lacked heat. Olek shrugged, extremely disappointed.

 

Nadja finished. Pushing the panel back in, she said, “There.” Standing, she climbed between the two plates of the machine and reached around the corner to press a button before drawing her hand to her side. The plates came forward, trapping her within.

 

The cloud of desire lifted from Olek’s one-tracked brain and he could again function rationally. The pheromone scent was gone. The machine beeped once and opened. Nadja climbed out, sighing in relief.

 

“Are you better?” Nadja asked wryly. She knew she was.

 

Olek frowned. Indeed he was recovered. The desire was still there, but no longer the desperate urge to procreate. “What did you do?”

 

“I took my period away,” she smiled brightly. “No blood, no pain, no mess. I should market that little trick to women all over the stars. I would be a trillionare!” Nadja felt so good that she was indeed very proud of herself for the moment.

 

“You mean you made yourself sterile?” Olek asked in alarm. He wasn’t so pleased.“Well, yes, I suppose you could look at it like that,” she answered.

 

 

Olek marched forward and pointed into the machine. “Get back in there and fix it immediately.”

 

“What? The unit? It’s not broken,” Nadja returned, confused. “I just had to reprogram it so it would--”

 

“Fix your body,” Olek demanded angrily. His face contorted and he took her arm, urging inside the medical unit. She jerked away.

 

“Wha --?” Nadja gasped suddenly. She understood what he was referring to. He wanted her to get her hormones back so she would have the ability to get pregnant. “I can’t change it back. It doesn’t work like that.” Olek felt as if she kicked him. She didn’t want his children.

 

“It’s only for this month. It won’t last,” she rushed. “It’s never permanent.” That eased him some, but he was still hurt.

 

“I thought we said we wouldn’t have children right away,” she defended against his silence. “I had no idea you wanted to knock me up so quickly.”

 

“Knock you?” he questioned in disgust. Snarling, he growled, “I have never hit you!” “What? No. Knock me up, get me pregnant,” she explained.

 

Olek scowled at her. Grumbling, he ordered, “Don’t call it that.”

 

“Okay,” she sighed, shaking her head. “It’s just a saying. I didn’t mean anything by it. What’s gotten into you?”

 

“Nothing,” he growled. His look was dark and he began to walk away.

 

“Olek?” Nadja asked, going after him in concern.

 

“Let’s just go! It’s late and I have a lot to get done before tomorrow.” He was silent as he led her the rest of the way home. Nadja glanced at the spot in the hall where only moments before he had been pawing her like a mindless animal. Part of her told her she should have lived with the pain. Once home, Olek said nothing, only went to his office

 

Nadja shook in confusion, not able to forget his heated display of passion followed by his sudden angry dismissal. Well, what had gotten into him? If she didn’t know better, she’d have thought he started a period of his own.

 

* * * *

 

Olek was still grumpy the next morning and Nadja stayed out of his way. He left with a case full of documents around mid-morning without saying more than two words to her. Nadja shrugged. She was content to work in her lab. 
That was before the patients started coming. Apparently, word had spread in the village that Princess Nadja could cure naturally, just as well as a medical unit. The villagers brought her everything from skin disorders, to a burn, to cuts and scrapes. When she asked why they didn’t just go to the doctor, one of the women told her that the man