The Perfect Prince (8 page)

 

* * * *

 

Nadja blinked awake, a cold sweat beading her flesh. She shot up in bed. All around her was darkness. She felt out with her limbs, jolting to awareness as her arms met with the fur coverlet. She was naked underneath.

Blinking, she tried to clear her vision and see through the dark. Her horrified, sleep-hazed eyes looked around, franticly searching for her father or his men in the dark shadows of the tent. Her mind screamed at her, yelling that he would know what she’d done, that she let this barbarian touch her, that it had given her pleasure to have him touch her. He’d put her in punishment for a month this time. She’d never survive a whole month, deprived of sleep, of light and fresh air, of food. This time, he might actually kill her.

 

Her eyes adjusted to the dimness. Her heart was the only sound she heard as it beat dangerously and wild in her ears. Slowly, as the fog of sleep lifted, she realized he couldn’t have possibly found her. She took a deep breath, looking over to where Olek slept near her side. She was safe.

 

A strange comfort came over her fear. Here was a simple, giving man. She told herself she could trust him to take care of her. He would take her to his little cottage somewhere, where they could live a life away from the limelight. She didn’t have to live in fear anymore. There was no way her father would find her--not like if she had married a nobleman whose picture could be published in any number of ways, whose name would be carried in connection with hers across the galaxy.

 

Dragon Lords: The Perfect Prince

 

Michelle M. Pillow

 

35

 

On a planet like Qurilixen they would never have heard of her father’s name, or known his untouchable reputation. She would have changed her name before now, but there hadn’t been enough time to fake her Galactic Identification. She would change it now, she decided. She would take Olek’s name as her own, whatever it was. She would never have to utter the word Aleksander again.

 

With Olek she had done well. He would never know who she was. Her past ended at this very moment. She wouldn’t spend her life looking over her shoulder, waiting for her father’s men to come for her. Olek was strong. He would keep her safe. He was perfect.Nestling down next to him on the bed, she pulled the covers over her body and gently moved to touch his cheek. Olek didn’t move, merely sighed. Nadja drew her hand away from him. As she closed her eyes, she thought, Yes, we will have that simple life.

 

Nadja Aleksander will vanish--forever.

 

* * * *

 

Olek felt his wife sit up as she jolted awake. He didn’t move as she looked around the room. His tired mind kept with her, relaxing as she snuggled back down. It was only a nightmare that disturbed her slumber. He tried not to smile as she touched his cheek in a gentle caress. Soon, he detected her breath to deepen, as she drifted into a more peaceful sleep. Whatever it had been, he hoped her nightmares were over.

* * * *

 

Nadja yawned, smiling slightly as she refused to open her eyes. It had been a good night, her best since discovering her father’s engagement plans for her. Stretching her arms, she met with the empty bed.

The tent was bright, lit up from the outside. Taking a deep breath, she tried to tell herself that it was real. She was safe and she was free. A smile graced her lips as she sat up. Olek was gone. It didn’t matter. She had studied their tradition and knew that he would honor their marriage no matter what. Guiltily, she thought of her father.

 

No, she told herself. Olek will never have to deal with him. It’s all in the past and we will make our own future. He’ll never have to know what I have done. I am not Nadja Aleksander anymore. I am simply Nadja … I am a solarflower.

 

She smiled, liking his pet name for her.

 

Glancing around, she saw a stack of neatly folded clothes at the end of the bed.

 

She yawned for good measure before reaching out to grab them. With a flush, she realized she was still naked. The long dress was more formal and definitely more concealing than her crumpled wedding tunic on the floor. It had an undertunic that fitted tighter to her skin as she slipped the soft cream-colored linen over her head. It fit her Dragon Lords: The Perfect Prince

 

Michelle M. Pillow

 

36

 

perfectly, as if it had been made for her.

 

Next, she grabbed the overtunic. It was more like a long green jacket, sliding over her arms and latching in the front with a little silver clasp at her waist. The front skirt fell open, revealing the cream underneath. The undertunic peaked out at her neck and wrists.

 

Looking down, she wished she had a mirror. The dress was absolutely the most beautiful thing that she had ever owned--better than all the diamonds and jewels her father had given her. She hoped it didn’t cost her husband too much. She wouldn’t want to drain their expenses by being frivolous. But, twirling, she grinned. She loved it.

 

Spying the table set with chocolate, she bit her lip and glanced around. No one was there to stop her. There was no medic unit to climb into. And surely Olek had meant them for her. Just one wouldn’t hurt anything.

 

Excited, Nadja went to the table and picked up a chocolate. She swallowed, almost nervously, before biting into it. The taste exploded in her mouth and she was hooked. Chewing furiously, she swallowed, and then grabbed another. Before she thought to stop, she had eaten her way through the entire plate.

 

She smacked her lips in embarrassment, but couldn’t help the contented grin that spread her features. She licked her fingers in a very unladylike fashion.

 

Leaning back, she looked closely at her wrist. She saw that silver embroidery edged the gown with little flowers. On the side of her chest, right above her heart was the emblem of a dragon. She grinned as she thought of how Olek’s eyes looked like a dragon’s the night before.

 

“I did indeed marry a dragon,” she mused quietly.

 

“Sorry?”

 

Nadja turned, blushing at Olek who stood in the tent flap. Her breath caught in her throat. He too was more dressed, in black breeches that molded perfectly to his calves and thighs. His feet in black boots. His tunic was green, matching hers, though the silver dragon on his chest was much larger. Nadja, who couldn’t help thinking it was because his chest was so much larger, blushed.

 

“It’s nothing,” she murmured shyly. Not wanting to admit what she said. He would think her a foolish romantic if she repeated it. She stood up from the table, sheepishly wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. “I was just talking to myself.” Olek grinned. Nadja’s chest leapt at the expression. At that moment, she could see herself being truly happy with Olek. There was such goodness to him, a kindness that radiated from his easy smile.

 

Coming forward, Olek glanced at his wife’s pretty face, seeing a telltale smudge of chocolate on the corner of her lips. He looked down at the empty tray and smiled.

 

“Hungry?” he mused.

 

Nadja flushed. “I couldn’t resist. I’ve only had chocolate one time and that was this tiniest little piece. I promise I won’t overdo it again.”

 

“Do it as often and as much as you wish,” Olek murmured benevolently. “I’ll just Dragon Lords: The Perfect Prince

 

Michelle M. Pillow

 

37

 

have to keep you busy enough so that you don’t grow fat and bloated from the indulgence.”

 

Nadja could begin to guess what he meant by ‘busy’. It was there in his molten green eyes that were shining with the clear shimmering of sun reflecting on water.

 

He bent over her, leaning to lick the smudge from the corner of her mouth. Nadja shivered, momentarily closing her eyes at the warm contact. Whispering against her mouth, Olek said, “Mmm, delicious.”

 

Nadja exhaled loudly.

 

“So,” she began with a flush. “You still want to stay married?”

 

“Silly solarflower,” Olek murmured in response. His fingers smoothed her hair.

 

Nadja stood, contented to let him. Her locks were still a bit tousled from sleep. He took the crystal from his neck and held it up for her to see. It glowed softly. He handed it over to her. “I give this to you. Come, we must take it to the council and declare that it is our will to remain together. Once you break the crystal, it can never be undone, not in death or separation. We will be one being.”

 

Nadja swallowed.

 

“Are you ready?” he asked.

 

Blushing, she asked the very feminine question, “How do I look?”

 

“Like a solarflower,” he responded, unable to help kissing the tip of her nose.

 

Once he got her back to their home, he would see to it that they weren’t disturbed until evening--perhaps the rest of the week. He had plans for his little solarflower.

 

Nadja smiled. “All right, Olek, what exactly do I need to do?” Dragon Lords: The Perfect Prince

 

Michelle M. Pillow

 

38

 

Chapter Five

Qurilixen had three suns, two yellow and one blue, which produced an abnormally bright planet. Nadja blinked in the sunlight, trying her best to keep from grinning like a fool. Looking at Olek, she blushed prettily when he winked at her.

 

Only fifteen minutes had passed from the time he came to the tent to get her until she found herself standing on the edge of a stage, before the Qurilixian council. In the center of the standing councilmen sat one very regal lady in purple, next to a man in the same shade. Nadja noticed they both wore crowns signifying royalty.

 

Nadja felt her stomach tighten, a bit queasy. Surely, it was just nerves. She tried to ignore it.Let them have their thrones, she thought, looking at the King and Queen. She leaned naturally closer to where Olek stood. He felt her move and took her hand in his. I want my simple life.

 

Nadja drew strength from his strong palm, almost too exited to stop and wonder that such a man as this was willing to declare to his whole race that he chose her--that she was his alone. She felt so wanted, so worthy. The new rush of feelings made her confident.

 

“Queen Mede, King Llyr. May I present Lady Nadja Aleksander of the Earthen people,” Olek introduced Nadja, dropping her hand as he gave a formal bow. Nadja curtsied as Olek had shown her. The royal couple’s smiles widened as they saw Olek take back up her hand. They nodded in pleasure. Nadja shivered, noticing how the light from the suns made everyone’s gaze look as if they shifted with gold.

 

Olek turned to Nadja, nodding down to where his crystal was clutched in her hand. She smiled. Dropping it to the ground, she stomped it with her heel. Instantly, she felt a little dizzy. Her head spun as if coming out from a spell. A fog lifted from her senses. Her head began to ache and her stomach churned violently.

 

Behind them, the cheering crowd resounded over the grounds. Not wanting to embarrass Olek, Nadja forced the sudden nausea down her throat and smiled tightly.

 

Queen Mede stood, joined by her husband. Loudly, the Queen said, “Welcome to the family of Draig, Lady Nadja. I hope you will enjoy your new home.” Nadja’s smile wavered slightly. Why did the Queen just call her Lady? She glanced at Olek. He merely winked at her and she tried to dismiss it as a polite address to a new bride.

 

Nadja curtsied, “I am sure I will.”

 

The Queen and King stepped forward, both to kiss her cheek in turn, pleased to see she had spoken and carried herself so well. Her eyes swam a little in her head, but no 
one seemed to notice.

 

Olek glanced down at her, knowing it was normal to feel a bit light as the power of the crystal was forever secured. He too felt the effects, but he was used to the crystal’s influence and it didn’t bother him to such an extent.

 

“Nadja,” he murmured quietly so the gathered crowd couldn’t hear him. “I would also like the honor of introducing you to my parents.” Nadja smiled expectantly. Her blue eyes lifted to him, bright and wide. When he didn’t move, she blinked and said, “Of course. I would like that very much. Where are they?” The Queen and King both chuckled. She blinked again, looking at them in confusion. Why were they still standing there? And why were they looking at her like that? Nadja turned back to Olek in confusion, not wanting to believe the curling suspicions whispering in her head. She studied his face. He smiled, looking incredibly pleased with himself.

 

“Nadja,” Olek said with a smirk. His green eyes danced with laughter as he motioned to the royal couple. “These are my parents.” Nadja gulped. Her heart screeched to a deadly stop in her chest and she was sure she was having a heart attack. The smile froze on her face. Her whole body went numb.

 

No, he didn’t just say that.

 

“Nadja?” he questioned when she didn’t move, only continued to stare at him like she was about to strangle him or drop dead, whichever came to her first.

 

Nadja turned. Her eyes were hard as she looked at the royal couple.

 

“You,” she whispered, her voice refusing to come out any louder. “You are his parents?”

 

“Yes,” Queen Mede answered. Nadja saw that the woman’s smile appeared kind.

 

But, her eyes were as liquid in color as her husband’s. “Welcome daughter. We are most pleased to have you as part of our family.” Nadja stiffened as the Queen gave her another kiss. She nodded at her, her movements rigid as if her neck might break from the effort.

 

“Thank you,” she whispered through tightly clenched teeth. She blinked hard, biting back her outrage.

 

The King leaned over and asked his wife in their Qurilixian tongue, “What’s wrong with her?”

 

The Queen answered in kind, “Just smile. The poor girl is stunned. She just found out she is a Princess.”

 

“I’ll never understand these Earth women,” he whispered, but he smiled at the frozen girl nonetheless. Changing his words so she could understand him, he said,

 

“Welcome daughter. It is as my wife says. We are most pleased to have you in our family.”

 

“Thanks,” Nadja ground out again. At his wife’s gentle urging, he kissed her cheek once more. Her eyes rounded a bit wider, but she couldn’t force herself to return the affection.

 

“Maybe you should take her home now, son,” the Queen said so the woman couldn’t understand. Nadja looked as if she barely breathed. Her porcelain skin was starting to dramatically pale to gray.

 

Olek smiled at his parents, nodding in agreement. A slight smile graced his lips as he took Nadja’s stiff arm. Happiness building in his chest, he led her away.

 

“Let us hope the other Princesses have their wits about them,” the King whispered with a playful smirk.

 

The Queen shot him a heated glance, and hit him in his arm as she allowed him to lead her back to her seat. Trying not to laugh at his handsome face, she murmured,

 

“Behave!”

 

* * * *

 

As soon as they were away from earshot, a very livid Nadja yanked her arm from Olek’s grasp. He glanced at her in surprise, not expecting it from the obviously stunned woman.“Your parents, barbarian?” was the only thing she could manage to get out.

Olek frowned, not understanding. Slowly, he nodded his head in confirmation.

 

“Your father is the King? Tell me you are a bastard son and not a Prince,” she demanded hotly. She didn’t see the forest around them, or the red dirt path he had been leading her up. She swallowed back her bile, trying to keep her voice down, trying not to tear him apart by his limbs, trying not to disembowel.… “Tell me that calling them your parents is just another word for King, as in the father of us all. Tell me he isn’t really my new father-by-marriage. Tell me this is all a joke.”

 

“No, Nadja, he is the King. Which makes me a Prince and you, as my wife, a Princess,” Olek said laboriously. Her attitude was way past shock. Her eyes were shooting daggers. If looks could kill, he and everyone he’d ever met would have been evaporated in that very instant.

 

“A Princess,” she repeated with a stiff nod. “Oh, a Princess. Why not?”

 

“Yes.” Was his wife going crazy?

 

“Are you crazy, barbarian!” she hissed under her breath.

 

Olek was amazed to see she never once yelled in her anger, but said everything with a deadly, frightening calm. It was much worse than someone who threw a loud tirade and tossed their arms about. It was the quiet ones who could think and control their anger that you had to look out for.

 

“I can’t be a Princess!” Nadja argued. “I married a farmer, or a miner, or a blacksmith, or a country doctor. I am going to live in a small cottage in the middle of the 
forest. I am going to have a little garden. I am going to have a peaceful, non-important life. Do you understand me, barbarian? I didn’t marry royalty. I couldn’t have. You said you were a working man.”

 

“As a Prince, I do work,” he defended.

 

Olek scratched his head, not understanding what the big deal was. Most women would be ecstatic by the discovery. She was titled, would have servants. She was rich.

 

But Nadja wasn’t ecstatic. She was downright infuriated.

 

“Right, doing what? Kissing babies? Shaking hands?” Nadja said with a darkening glare. Her hands found her hips. “Being a pampered barbarian Prince isn’t work! You lied to me!”

 

Olek gulped. By all that was sacred, she was beautiful.

 

“You obviously haven’t negotiated peace with the Var,” he mumbled under his breath. Lowering his lids to give her a smoldering sweep of his eyes, he murmured seductively, “And you didn’t think me such a barbarian last night.” Nadja blushed in mortification. “Last night I didn’t realize I had bound myself to a liar.”

 

“I never lied,” Olek defended, his voice growing.

 

Her tone stayed deadly calm. It was eerie how she could hold in her anger, letting it churn. “You never told the truth. If you had told me you were royalty, I would never have agreed to this. I could have saved us both the trouble.” Olek didn’t answer. He believed her.

 

Nadja stared him down, all hopes of a simple life fading. If she was a Princess, then her name would be widely known. Her father would come for her. She couldn’t let that happen, not after she tasted a night of freedom. She thought of the chocolate churning in her stomach. Obviously, freedom wasn’t the only thing she had tasted too much of.

 

Nadja turned a sickening green. Grabbing her stomach, she ran to the forest, trampling the yellow ferns that spread out beneath the colossal trees, before falling to the ground. Nadja instantly found out that chocolate wasn’t as good coming up as it had been going down. Her body jerked as she began to throw up. Olek was beside her immediately, holding back her hair and tenderly murmuring soothing sounds.

 

“I think you overdid it,” he whispered compassionately when she finished. He tried to draw her into his arms to hold her.

 

Nadja jerked her shoulders away, spitting onto the ground. She wouldn’t draw comfort from him, not now, not ever. Looking at him with all the betrayal she felt, she gasped for breath. “I take it back. I want a divorce.” Olek was stunned. She was still pale and swaying slightly on her feet from the sudden illness. Frowning, he said, “Don’t you think you are overreacting?” Nadja didn’t answer, trying to take deep gulps of air to calm her stomach. She was never eating chocolate again.

 

“I told you, solarflower, once you broke the crystal, it can never be undone, not in 
death or separation. We are one being, like it or not. I’ll not let you go. There is no divorce for our people.”

 

“The only thing we will ever be, barbarian, is an unhappily wed couple,” she hissed. Fear made her voice waspish and hard. She trembled, having seen firsthand what her father was capable of. He wouldn’t need the help of the extradition act to come for her. She had no idea how long it would take the news to reach his ears. It could be a week, a year, five years. She would never feel safe and no amount of barbarian warriors would be able to help her when he did come. Swallowing, she commanded, “Now take me to our new home. I let your lying barbarian hands touch me and I need a bath.”

 

* * * *

 

Nadja looked around the bathroom, eyeing her new prison of gilded bars and began to cry. The nightmare hadn’t ended. She was truly a Princess and she despised Olek for it. Olek had been silent as he led her into the entry of the castle palace. Wrought iron gates lifted high over the entrance leading into the side of a large mountain. From the distance, the mountain looked like any other, so Nadja was amazed to find a palace camouflaged within it. Wide domes allowed light inside the tunneled path of red rock.

Then, entering a front door of thick oak, they had come to a series of passageways.

 

The mountain castle was as picturesque as she would have expected a castle to be.

 

It was clean and decorated with tasteful paintings and sculptures. Tapestries hung on the walls, alongside banners with the emblem of the royal dragon. Nadja was quiet as Olek led her to his wing of the palace, the part he called his home.

 

When he opened the front door with a short voice command, Nadja had stepped inside one of the most gorgeous homes she had ever seen. The richness of it only dejected her more. She was supposed to have a modest five-room cottage, not a large wing of a palace. Olek’s home was decorated with the dark green of his royal colors combined with a cream marble that bespoke of refinement and elegance. There was a giant water fountain in the front hall. The water trickled down the natural rocks, creating a pleasant background noise to the place, and plants grew in its crevices.

 

Next to the fountain was a circular living area, surrounded by high-backed, comfortable chairs. A large dome glass ceiling allowed light in. With the push of a button, a giant curtain would swirl around the dome to darken the home. A large marble fireplace was carved into an inlet in the stone wall.

 

Between the living room and the kitchen was an exotic fish tank wall that you could see through. The little bug-eyed blue fish swam in absent circles, blinking their eyelids and picking at an underwater lettuce that grew in their tank. A huge red sucker fish adhered its oversized mouth on the side. Gradually, it changed color to pink and then 
to yellow. Nadja could see its teeth working against the glass as it ate.