The Barbarian Prince (25 page)

"Yes." The word was low. His hands tightened slightly on her in possession.

"I’m good at it. I get to set my own schedule, see the universes. I’ve learned different customs. I even get to set my own pay. I’ve worked hard for what I have," she said. Her fingers ran slowly lower. A part of her pulled, eager to see how better it would get. "It’s been my whole life. I don’t really know how to do anything else."

Ualan said nothing.

"Hey," she whispered. The pit of her stomach churned. "I’ve been meaning to ask. How old are you anyway? The uploads that Galaxy Brides gave us were inadequate at best, but they said you lived for five hundred years or so. Is that true?"

"Writing a story?" he queried softly, remembered her conversation on the communicator.

"Maybe," she breathed, thinking he was teasing her. She had wondered if he had been married already. If what was said was true then he could live long past her death. Would he look this beautiful when she was wrinkled and old? How soon would he replace her with another wife? To think it was agony. She didn’t want there to be anyone else for him, but she knew she would never curse him to live hundreds of years alone.

She wanted to ask, but her treacherous eyes were drifting to his lips and her mind began to wander as she felt him stirring against her leg.

"Then close your eyes wife and I will give you a story to tell."

Morrigan gasped as his body came over her. Soon his lips were caressing every inch of her form, licking and tasting, kissing and biting. Then, when he licked the center of her hot desire to soothe the ache his body had wrought in her, he brought her to climax with his mouth and she screamed anew, overwhelmed by the sensations. Nothing mattered at that moment of ecstasy but her warrior husband. She was where she wanted to be. She was finally home.

As Ualan held his wife afterwards, he knew that she was what completed him. He would pledge himself to her always if she demanded it. He would crush kingdoms at her command. He’d even buy her the damned food simulator she seemed so desperately to want. But, the one thing he couldn’t bring himself to do was let her go.

Morrigan stirred his arms. Her mind was wide-awake on her recovery from her trembling journey. She knew his needs weren’t satisfied. She could feel his erection still firm to her thigh. Not knowing the thoughts that troubled his head, she began kissing his ear, and asked, "Can I try being on top this time?"

Chapter Seventeen

Morrigan’s body couldn’t have been more pleased with its mistress. It hummed with a gentle fire throughout the night and allowed her to face the morning rested and completely sated. Thinking of Ualan, she reached her hand over to search for him. Well, maybe not completely sated….

"Ualan?" she asked under a yawn. She felt an empty space beside her on the bed and wrinkled her face. Her voice rocky with sleep, she asked louder, "Ualan?"

"Yes," came the solemn answer from their closet. His words rolled over her and she nearly blushed to remember some of the wickedly delightful things he had said to her in the night hours. Her husband really did have a naughty way with words.

"Come back to bed," she urged shyly. "It’s too early to get up."

"Its noontime," he answered and Morrigan swore she heard him chuckle.

"Noon?" She shot up and mumbled, "Accursed planet. I can’t keep my hours straight."

The chuckling stopped. Inside the closet, Ualan took a deep breath. He heard her words clearly.

With a grumble, she asked, "What are you doing in there? Come back to bed by order of the Princess! You’re a Prince and it’s not like you have anything important to do anyway."

At that he came around the corner. Morrigan gulped to see him so handsome in his formal wear and crown. The crown circled around his forehead, pushing his hair flat at the sides. The long black tunic he wore hung down past his knees, splitting open in the front to reveal his black breeches. The family emblem surrounded by a shield was embroidered on the front in blue. She quickly grabbed the covers and hid her naked body. His eyes dipped in disappointment, but he didn’t stop her.

"What’s going on?" she asked, moving to stand. "Why are you all … princely?"

"There is a meeting with some of the other kingdoms," he answered, smoothing down the longer sleeves of his formal tunic. It was the uniform of the Draig war council.

Morrigan’s brow furrowed and journalistic instinct kicked in. Seriously, she uttered, "Attor."

Ualan nodded.

"I want to go with you," she said, dragging his gray coverlet with her in her attempts to scurry to the closet.

"You can’t wear that," he laughed. His eyes weren’t so joyous. More fodder for your exposé wife?

"Just give me a second," she said. She came rushing back around to look at him. Her hair was beautifully tousled around her face and shoulders and her features were still rosy from the warmth of sleep. Frowning, she admitted, "I don’t have anything to match that."

She wouldn’t, thought Ualan, slightly amused. He was dressed for the war council and women were not allowed entrance. Occasionally the Queen would come to give her opinion, but that was rare.

"Sorry, Rigan. You can’t come this time." Ualan brushed past her to take a sword from a locked truck he pulled from the closet. Strapping it over his shoulder, he took a knife and hid it in his waist. Then, he strapped one in each boot.

"Are you expecting trouble?" she asked, growing worried. Her round eyes looked him over.

"There is always trouble when warriors get together," he replied, amused.

"You...." She paused, her face becoming terrified. Her dark eyes frantically searched his. "You won’t get hurt will you?"

"I thought you trusted me," he answered softly, not pleased with her concern. It showed a real lack of faith in him as a warrior and protector.

"You can put them back," she said with embarrassment, pointing at the weaponry. "I’m not going to do anything foolish. I only had the knife because Pia was supposed to teach me how to knife fight."

"I know you didn’t intend on acting that way. I found one of your concoctions. You mixed Tetrex with Mifol. They are opposing stimulants that are harmless apart, but make you crazy when put directly together." Ualan closed the lid, leaving it unlocked. "I put these up before I found the bottles."

"Oh, but I am still very sorry about that. I didn’t hurt you did I?"

"No," he answered. Softly, he leaned to kiss her cheek. "Just stay away from drinking things that you have no idea what they are, all right?"

"Sure," she agreed with a dutiful nod. "Why can’t I come with you, Ualan? Please. I won’t say a word. I promise."

"We are giving King Attor the right of defense. If it was he who poisoned you and stabbed Yusef there will be justice and possible war." Ualan began to make his away down the steps. He didn’t want to tell her that Attor would most assuredly deny everything and war was inevitable either way.

Morrigan trailed behind him, dragging the coverlet.

"Shouldn’t I be there? I was the one who was poisoned by him."

"No, Princess," he said, turning to wrap his arms around her. Morrigan snuggled naturally into his strong chest. Ualan’s breath caught at her easy affection. Concern shone in his gaze when he looked at her. "You stay here today. Attor’s men are here and everyone is instructed to stay within their homes. We will not have blood shed. We aren’t going to risk losing anyone."

Morrigan frowned, ready to protest.

"Sh...," he whispered when her mouth opened. "Promise me you’ll stay here."

Slowly, she nodded. "All right, I promise. Can I visit the other Princesses?"

"It’s not a good idea to be out walking the halls," he said. Going to the door, he commanded it open. "Food will be sent around in a moment. Only Mirox is allowed to enter."

Morrigan nodded.

Ualan didn’t want to tell her that spies may possibly be afoot in the palace. Whoever stabbed Yusef knew the back passages well enough to escape through them. Even as he wanted to protect her from worry, he also knew he could not publicize his family’s affairs at such a delicate stage. This was a Qurilixian conflict. He did not want her attracting intergalactic attention to an age old feud. Others would only try to step in and help, causing more problems than solutions.

"When will you be home?" she asked, hopeful.

"As soon as I can," Ualan answered. "It depends on what Attor has to say."

"Wait," she called when he went for the door. He came to her, brushing his finger over her lush lip when she would plead, "Just…."

His gaze glittered with rich golden flecks as he studied her.

Just be careful.

Morrigan didn’t know what else to say. She didn’t want to insult him by implying he would be outdone and she didn’t want him to go. He smiled slightly and ran his fingers from her lips to her cheeks to give her a gentle caress. He kissed her with tender lips that held promises of later things. With a soft nudge of his forehead to hers, he let her go.

"Bye," she whispered breathlessly, her knees left weak.

With a shut of the door, Ualan was gone.

* * * *

King Attor denied all charges with a smirky grin. He knew so long as he was under the protection of justice, he would not be touched. Nothing was accomplished during the seven hours of talks. But, then again, nothing had been accomplished in the centuries of fighting that had occurred between the two kingdoms. Death attempts on both sides were nothing new, though none had occurred for over a hundred years.

After the meeting, it took another four and a half hours to insure that Attor and his men were gone. A thorough search of the castle revealed nothing and the alert was taken off the village. By the time Ualan dragged his feet home, he was too tired to think.

Ualan knew that soon they might be facing another war with the House of Var. Wars were terrible affairs for their kind, lasting sometimes for fifty to a hundred years with many deaths and seldom any clear progress or victory, just an uneasy truce while each side replenished their warriors and concentrated on rebuilding the population. The Var were worthy opponents, powerful.

Seeing his wife already asleep, Ualan stripped off his clothes and crawled into bed next to her. She stirred when he wrapped his arms around her waist. Blinking, she smiled at him. Then, seeing his tired eyes, she asked, "Long day?"

He nodded, leaning over to kiss her. They made love slow and leisurely, taking their time, trying not to think of what separated them. Morrigan thought of her limited years, of growing old and out of Ualan’s interest. Ualan thought of her leaving him, sentencing him to a lifetime of loneliness and hollow solitude.

* * * *

Ualan awoke the next morning instantly reaching for Morrigan at his side before his eyes were even open. His hands hit with an empty bed instead of her warm flesh. Frowning, he opened one eye. She never woke up early.

Getting dressed, he then rushed downstairs, expecting to see her on the couch. Quizzically, he smiled, going first to the bathroom and then to the kitchen. His smile faded. His heart squeezed painfully in his chest. She was gone.

* * * *

The warriors cheered good-naturedly as the four Princesses, wearing dark breeches and tunic shirts, aimed knives at the practice post. Olena was the first to throw. She did fairly well as each knife made it into the center. The gathered soldiers clapped and stomped. She glanced at Yusef, trying to act like she didn’t seek his approval. A white bandage slashed across the Prince’s arm but he looked well.

Nadja was hopeless, missing the target completely on all five tries. She glanced at Olek in embarrassment. The men applauded anyway.

Morrigan managed to hit the post on her turn, though they weren’t centered. She curtsied as she received her cheers.

She had gotten up early, unable to sleep as nightmares invaded her dreams. Pia had sent a servant around with a missive, requesting she ‘get her lazy butt out to the practice field for some sport’. Morrigan could hardly refuse. Ualan looked so handsome, his arm resting above his head, his brown hair splayed messily around his face, a strand of which slashed over a closed eye. She didn’t have the heart to wake him, knowing how hard he’d worked the day, and night, before. Morrigan grinned to think about it.

"Maybe you ladies should let a man show you how it’s done," called a voice from the crowd.

Morrigan rolled her eyes at the others, retrieving the silver blades for Pia’s turn.

"Ach," cried Agro. "You’re hardly a man, Hume!"

Pia took the knives, weighing them carefully in her hand as she tested them. Getting to the third one, she lifted it and studied the blade. Frowning, she went to her husband and handed it to him. She took a knife from his waist to replace it, testing his blade as she did the others.

At his curious frown, she announced loudly, "You need to check the balance on that one. It will pull a fraction to the right."

With hardly moving a muscle, Zoran threw the blade over her shoulder. It stuck just to the right of the target. The men laughed heartily. Morrigan stared at Prince Zoran. He was even larger than Ualan. She shivered, thinking her husband was definitely the better proportioned and better looking.

Not turning around, Pia said, "Told you."

Zoran’s lip curled up at the side.

Going before the target, Pia took a deep breath. Flinging one of the blades, she rapidly dropped to the ground to throw two more in roll. Then, coming to kneel, she threw the last two. The fourth blade struck against Zoran’s to knock it free, before sticking in its place. The fifth, she turned her arm and it missed the post completely. The warriors watched in stunned silence, their eyes following the path of her last throw. It was a foot before Hume.

"You missed," said Hume, to break the silence. The men went wild cheering. Pia took a graceful bow. The woman jumped in excitement, basking in Pia’s victory.

Ualan ignored the commotion as he came to the field. He had checked everywhere and couldn’t find his wife. At first, he suspected she tried to leave him. But, after questioning the guards at the spacecraft dock, he saw everything was in order.