The Perfect Prince (18 page)

Going to the glass cases behind the desk, she was surprised to see they weren’t locked. Within seconds she had several bottles lined up and was mixing ingredients together. She had helped her father with post operative care enough to know what she was doing.

 

Going to Yusef, she rolled him onto his back and brushed a piece of dark hair from his forehead. Taking a deep breath, she whispered, “Yusef?” 

 

No answer.

 

“I’m just going to give you a shot,” she continued. “It will make you feel better.

 

It’s much better than those pain killers. It will help you heal faster.” Still no answer.

 

Finding an old fashioned syringe, she filled it with her mixture and injected it into a vein in his arm.

 

Almost instantly, Yusef’s eyes opened. His body shuddered with pain. He looked quizzically at her and then down at the needle in his arm. His eyes narrowed.

 

“Sh,” she whispered, drawing the needle away. “This will help you.” Yusef’s eyes fluttered closed, seeming to relax.

 

Nadja dumped her supplies into a trash compactor and pressed the button. Then, she put the bottles back where she found them. By the time the receptionist got back she was sitting innocently by Yusef’s side.

 

The receptionist took one look at the patient and shook her head. “I’ve been staring at him almost the whole night and I haven’t seen a change. But I actually think his color is coming back to him. Whatever you have been saying to him must have worked a miracle.”

 

Nadja smiled kindly and said nothing. She walked out of the medical wing, feeling like she might have actually done something right for once with the knowledge her father had given her.

 

* * * *

 

Olek gripped the center horn of his mount. The ceffyl’s wide back shifted with each stride, used to the weight of the warrior rider. His fanged mouth darted open with a hiss of its long tongue. It had the eyes of a reptile, the face and hooves of a beast of burden, and the body shape of a small elephant. It was wickedly fast for an animal of its girth and equally as deadly.

Olek’s hand strayed to the sword at his waist as he slowed, lining up behind his warrior brothers as they neared the shadowed marshes. The trackers said it had been difficult, but they found Yusef’s wife and her Var captors camping in the area. It was an awful place. The rotting smell of molding plant life and animal carcasses masked even the barest traces of scent from most of their kind, from all but the trackers, an elite bunch of Draig who were chosen for their highly developed sense of smell.

 

He rode with Ualan, Zoran and his father. The trackers had said the Princess was still alive. She appeared unharmed, though she was tied to a tree and half naked. The Princes all silently wondered if she had been ill-used. It wouldn’t matter to Yusef. He would take her back, so long as she hadn’t been willing.

 

Fuming, he thought of Nadja. He didn’t know what he’d do if the frustrating woman was ever taken away from him. Even when he wanted to strangle his lovely wife, 
he wanted to kiss her. She was his other, very aggravating, half.

 

Olek growled, drawing the glances of his brothers, who shared his dark mood.

 

The King frowned, knowing all his sons were in torment.

 

Last night had been so achingly sweet. It was the best he’d ever felt. His arms had hurt for it for so long to hold her, to claim her body with his. Even now, he wanted to turn his mount around and go to her. But, this morning she had ripped the feeling away from him. How dare she yell at him for trying to shield her from a harsh world? He only sought to protect her.

 

“Save your anger for the Var,” Zoran growled in command. His eyes glowed with deadly intent. “If spilling their blood does not placate our wrath, then nothing ever will.”

 

* * * *

 

They were all spattered with blood from the battle with the Var. None of Olena’s four captors were left alive. Olena herself had killed one of them by breaking his neck with her legs as he hung from a tree.

“Hold, woman!” Olek growled, fighting to keep his seat as Princess Olena tried to wiggle out of his arms. He had half a mind to take the fiery red-head back to the Var and drop her off. He was sure he would be doing Yusef a favor.

 

Grabbing at the center horn of his mount, Olek pulled himself back up the beast’s bare shoulders. Only, this time, he was careful not to touch the fiery woman in front of him. Fine thanks that was for trying to keep her astride the ceffyl when she was passed out.

 

Zoran and Ualan broke into snickering laughter. King Llyr watched with a vastly amused smile on his face. His brothers had refused to carry the aggravating woman before them. Princess Olena flinched, her emerald eyes hot as she turned around to glare at the moody Olek. She wore Zoran’s overtunic. It flowed over her slender body. When he didn’t make the mistake of touching her again, she relaxed her tense arm.

 

“Where are we going?” Olena asked, as if she hadn’t just tried to throw him from his seat.“Good morning to you too, Princess,” Olek grumbled, rubbing his stomach. How he missed his gentle Nadja at this moment. After seeing the menace Yusef’s bride was, he wasn’t so disappointed in his married life. She might frustrate him, but at least Nadja didn’t try to kill him with her fists.

 

Olena grimaced at being called a Princess and Olek felt somewhat vindicated. She had just discovered her new title and ranking.

 

“Home,” Ualan stated in answer to her question when he saw Olek had no intention of speaking to her.

 

Olek ignored the others, concentrating on keeping his body out of Olena’s arm’s  
way. The traveling party made it to the small village, riding through the center street.

 

People came out of their houses and shops to watch the blood-covered soldiers. They were hardly shocked by the scene, though they were curious as to what caused it. Young boys waved at the passing Princes, some cheered and shouted. The Princes waved back solemnly, acknowledging them.

 

Olena jolted around in surprise as Olek reined in near the front gate. Her face grew pale. Olek swung down. He was glad to finally be rid of the woman. He lifted a hand to her to help her from the animal’s back. Olena ignored him, jumping off the other side on her own.

 

Olek and Ualan grabbed the reins and began walking the animals to the stables.

 

When they were out of earshot, Olek grumbled, “Fine thanks that was for saving her life. 
It makes me appreciate my wife’s silent treatments.” Ualan chuckled in dark humor. Olek shook his head, feeling that his ribs were bruised from the ungrateful, accursed she-devil. But, she was Yusef’s wife and a woman so he couldn’t strike her back. Nadja’s softness was getting better and better each passing moment.Determining that he was going to have a long talk with his wife to clear up a few matters between them, he tossed the handful of reins to a boy at the stables and took off for the castle gate. He wanted to stop and see Yusef, but knowing the fiery wench his brother had married would be there, he decided against it. He had had enough of Princess Olena to last him five Qurilixian lifetimes.

 

 

The news arrived that the men had safely retrieved Princess Olena from capture and were heading back to the keep. Nadja refused to go to meet them. She was still too upset at Olek. He didn’t even bother to tell her he was leaving and so the news that he was back had come as a particular surprise to her.

 

“Typical,” she had said to the guard who delivered the message. She shut the door in his surprised face.

 

Nadja was staring at her notebooks of information, not really seeing them for her anger, when Olek came home. She glanced up from the couch, gasping to see his blood-covered clothing. Instantly, she shot to her feet. The notebook fell forgotten to the ground as her heart squeezed bitterly in her chest. Her lips worked frantically, but no sound came out as she rushed to him.

 

“Olek,” Nadja breathed in horror. She reached to touch him, but held back.

 

“What…? Are you hurt?”

 

Olek couldn’t have been more pleased by her innocent horror or concern. He knew that she didn’t mean to question his manhood as her wide eyes looked him over.

 

She didn’t know that it was an insult to assume a man had been hurt in battle. Her eyes shone out from her chalk-white skin. Her lips were trembling and he had the strongest urge to comfort them with his kisses. Pulling his arm from behind his back, he held out a bouquet of flowers.

 

Nadja blinked, swallowing and gasping in confusion to see the peace offering.

 

The flowers were beautiful with white porcelain petals, a lovely light blue center ring, and a light brown stem that looked as soft as silk.

 

“They’re called solarflowers,” Olek murmured. “I though you might like them.”

 

“I do.” She blushed.

 

Nadja had never seen flowers so beautiful, and that he named her after something so lovely melted all the anger from her until she was left panting in pleasure. Her hands shook as she reached to take them.

 

“Do I put them in water?” she asked.

 

“You can.” Olek let the stems slide from his fingers. Her round eyes were shining with pleasure. “However, if you take the center bud out and plant it, you can grow them in your garden.”

 

Nadja nodded. She would definitely have to do that. Leaning over to smell them, she found they were of the most exotic perfume she had ever sniffed.

 

“Thank you,” she breathed, turning up to look at him. Her eyes again found his marred clothing. “So you’re not hurt?”

 

“No. It’s not my blood, but the blood of our enemy. I told you I would protect you, Nadja, and today I have.”

 

Her eyes were still studying him.

 

“Does it upset you?” he asked.

 

“What?” Nadja inquired, finally meeting his eyes. “Blood?” He nodded.

 

Nadja wanted to laugh. Ever since she was a child, she had seen more blood and gore than she cared to remember.

 

“No,” she answered instead. “Blood doesn’t bother me.”

 

“Because of your father’s work?”

 

Nadja nodded. Feeling rather soft from the gift of flowers, she admitted, “I used to help him take care of patients after surgeries and when I was older I actually assisted him.” “What about your mother?” Olek kept his voice quiet, not wanting to scare her away. “She’s.…” Nadja paused, thinking of a delicate way to paraphrase her mother and not thinking of one. “She’s an ornament. My father married her for her beauty, which he helps her maintain, and nothing else. She smiles prettily and throws parties and never raises her voice to him.”

 

Olek listened, wondering at her hardening tone. He could tell she didn’t approve of her mother’s lifestyle, but he could feel that deep down she loved the woman.

 

“Though, to tell the truth, no one ever raises their voice to my father,” Nadja chuckled darkly.

 

Yeah, she thought, if they did, he’d surgically remove their voice box while they were still awake.

 

“Why are you running away from them? Did they hurt you?” Nadja blinked wearily at the question. Instead of answering, she said, “Why don’t you go wash up? I’m going to put these in some water before they wilt.”

 

“Nadja,” Olek said. He began lifting his hand to touch her smooth cheek. Seeing the dirt marring his fingers, he let it fall to the side. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. You know you can tell me anything.”

 

“I know,” she whispered.

 

Olek watched as she walked away from him, holding her gift. Well, that admission was something at least.

 

Olek took his time in the shower, letting the cool water beat against his skin.

 

Merely thinking of his night with Nadja, made his flesh heat. With a slight smile on his face, he tried to come up with ways of wooing her once more to his embrace.

 

Finally forcing himself out of the water, he dried and wrapped a towel around his waist. Kicking his dirty clothes into a pile, he went to get dressed. Almost immediately, his Draig senses detected her scent in the bedroom. His pace quickened.

 

Stopping in the doorway, his face fell in puzzlement. It wasn’t his wife who stood in next to his bed, but a buxom blonde wearing his wife’s clothing as she posed in front of the mirror. Sniffing, he smelled Nadja but couldn’t see her.

 

Coldly, he demanded, “Who are you? Where is my wife?” Nadja spun from her trashy reflection in horror. Her mouth fell open. Olek was glaring hotly at her in accusation. His eyes flashed and for a moment, she thought he was going to rip her heart from her chest.

 

Olek looked in repulsion over the busty woman, whose large backside and over abundant chest was stretching Nadja’s clothing. Her platinum blonde locks were piled and fluffed high over her head. Her blue eyes were surrounded by an ungodly amount of green makeup, contrasting the awful pink blush on her cheeks. Big, gaudy jewels graced her neck and hands. Her fat red lips moved as if to speak.

 

Nadja lifted her hands to keep him from attacking. In a whiny voice that wasn’t her own, she said, “Olek, wait.”

 

“Who are you?” he demanded, storming forward.

 

The towel dropped from his waist and Nadja stared. Olek frowned to see the ugly woman staring at his member as if she wanted to touch it. Instantly, the half erection he was sporting in thought of his wife drained from him.

 

Nadja gasped to see his member become flaccid.

 

“Olek, don’t, stop,” she whined in her high pitched resonance, reaching for her finger. “It’s me, Nadja.”

 

“You are not the least like my wife,” he spat. His hand lunched out to grab her throat. “Tell me what you have done with her.” Nadja gasped for breath at the power of him. Finding the large gemstone on her ring finger, she managed to turn it clockwise.

 

Olek recoiled as the tasteless woman’s features began to melt beneath his hands.

 

The lips thinned, the makeup faded. Even the hair tamed and wound itself into a neat brown bun. Within seconds, Nadja was as he knew her.

 

“What trickery is this?” he croaked in horror. His eyes devoured her to make sure she was complete. His nostrils flared to take in her scent, proving to himself that she was really his wife.

 

“You weren’t supposed to see that,” she said, her voice low and pleasing once more. She tore the only jewel left on her finger and held it up to him. “It’s a morphing gem.” Olek eyed the gaudy ring with the big diamond and frowned. Placing his hands on his naked hips, he asked, “Why would you have this?”

 

“I…” Nadja pulled back, seeing his scowl hadn’t lessened. She didn’t hear him get out of the shower. “It was a gift.”

 

“Who would give you such a thing?” he asked, repulsed. She was so beautiful that it didn’t make sense that someone would want her looking like a cheap, used whore.

 

“We … you asked earlier why I left my father’s house,” she began.

 

“Your father wanted you to look like that?” he inquired, disbelieving.

 

“No,” she said. “My father wanted me to marry a man who wanted me to look like that. This horrid thing was my engagement ring.” Olek frowned. She had been promised to another?

 

“Don’t take it like that. I never agreed to marry Hank,” Nadja began. Suddenly, she began to babble, nearly incoherent, as she rushed to tell Olek the truth of if. “My father took us to a district where arranged marriages were permitted and just made the announcement one night at a dinner party he was throwing for some business associates. I had no idea.”

 

Olek didn’t move, listening patiently, trying not to grin at the way her eyes widened and her lips moved. By all that was sacred, she was beautiful.

 

“Then, later, Hank found me and gave me this. I was horrified when he showed me what it did. The worst part is that in order for him to have the ring made, he must have stolen a piece of my hair or a nail clipping when he saw me last, which would have been when I was like fourteen.” Nadja shivered in repulsion, taking a deep breath. “That only means that he knew for a long time that he was going to marry me, which means my father knew, which means that is why he kept such a tight rein on me. He was saving me for that fat, creepy slug of a pervert.”

 

Olek’s mouth twitched slightly at her confession. Oh, but she was lovely--even more so now that he had the blonde beast to compare her to.

 

“Are you laughing at me?” she demanded, her cheeks flaming. Playfully, she hit his arm.“Never,” he said, but his laugh rolled pleasantly out at the word. “I was just thinking of Hank’s particular tastes.”

 

“Well,” Nadja said. “If you like it so much, why don’t you wear it!” Nadja threw the ring at him and he caught it in one hand. Taking it between his fingers, he called, “Fire.”

 

The fireplace roared to life and, without looking, he threw the offensive ring into the flames.

 

“That is why you signed up to be a Galaxy Bride? To get out of marriage to a slug?” Olek asked.

 

“It’s why I ran away,” Nadja admitted. “I didn’t have a clue where I was going when I snuck out of my engagement party. Galaxy Brides happened to be leaving from the same space port that night and I climbed aboard. They were short some passengers and were more than happy to take me.”

 

“Ah,” Olek said, his voice dipping seductively. He became aware of his naked state. His body stirred back to life and he moved to tower over her. “It was fate.” Almost desperately, she said, “That is why my father can never be told where I am, Olek. He would come after me.”

 

“But you are my wife,” he stated as if that solved every problem. “Your father cannot touch you now. This Hank will be forced to step aside.”

 

“He won’t see it that way,” she whispered, her eyes fearful. Olek didn’t like the trembling in her voice or the overwhelming wave of fear he felt coming from her. “He’ll try to punish me.”

 

“Surely he won’t mind being related to a rich Prince,” he concluded, logically.

 

“Yes, he will,” she persisted. “When I left as I did, he would have been humiliated in front of his business associates. They are very powerful men. You don’t know what they are capable of.”

 

“Then it’s a good thing you have a very powerful husband with a very powerful family,” he murmured, dipping to capture her lips.

 

Nadja stiffened. She had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she hadn’t seen his mounting desire for her. How could she have missed it? It was blatantly obvious, shining out of his liquid eyes.

 

“Olek,” she sighed, her knees weakening. “I don’t want anyone hurt because of me.” “You are my wife,” Olek growled possessively, deepening his kiss. “I’ll kill any who dare to take you from me.”

 

Nadja moaned. Her arms instantly wrapped around his neck. Olek jolted in surprise but didn’t protest as she forced him back to the bed. Nadja’s hands delved into his hair, as she returned his kiss with an overwhelming rush of passion that he didn’t expect. When his legs hit upon the bed, she shoved him back. Olek landed hard on the soft mattress in awe. Nadja tore the shirt off her back and came topless to straddle his naked hips. Leaning over him, her breasts grazing his heated flesh, she kissed him deeply.

 

Olek’s hands found her slender hips. Pulling the drawstring tie at her waist, he loosened the material and plunged his fingers around to her naked backside and squeezed.

 

With a moan, he pulled her down so her thighs spread and she was seated fully on his arousal.“Mm,” Nadja groaned in pleasure. Unable to take the barrier of her clothing, she pushed up from him.

 

Olek’s grip tightened. He didn’t want to let go. He thrust her forward to grind against him. His eyes lit as he watched her breasts bob with the motion. Nadja fitted her hands onto his chest. Panting, she pushed away from him. Reluctantly, he let his hands slide from her smooth hips.

 

Olek pushed up on his elbows. He watched as she stood before him and pushed her pants off her legs. Her body was bared to him. She stood, letting him look at her, thrilled by the desire in his eyes and the heavy rise and fall of his chest as he tried to gasp for air. His already full erection lurched, standing tall from his hips.