The Princes Bound [The Princes Book 1] (8 page)

She backed away, but his arms tightened. “I don't want you to leave."

The haze of desire that clouded her mind was slow to recede. It was still there but not as powerful as before. She knew she had to leave before she did something she would regret.

But she wanted to know what it all meant. Why did the prince persist in seeking her out?

"What is it that you want from me, Your Highness?"

"I thought that was obvious.” Mathis pressed against her. “I want you."

She couldn't think when he held her so closely. She needed to be clear-headed to do what she needed to do.

Nadia shoved him away. “And what then? What is to become of me? After you had bedded me and returned to your kingdom?"

Mathis stared at her as if he were unsure what she asked. “I do not plan to merely bed you, Nadia."

She glared back at him.

"Well, what then? Do you intend to court me?” She snorted with disbelief.

His expression grew strangely determined. “Yes, I do believe so."

"Don't be ridiculous!"

"I'm not. I'm completely serious."

He reached for her again, but she stepped nimbly away. “So was your brother, but I managed to dissuade him."

She knew she'd chosen the wrong words as soon as they'd left her lips. She snapped her mouth closed and waited to see what Mathis would do.

His eyes narrowed. “Did you do this with Talin? Has he kissed you?"

Her mouth fell open. She finally recovered enough to speak. “Of course he hasn't."

His face tightened as he stepped away from her. “Then don't compare what we have to the past ever again. I want you, but I won't bother you again if that is what you wish."

His eyes were filled with anger as he turned to leave.

It wasn't what she wanted, but what else could she say?

Nadia had to give up any fantasy she had regarding the prince. He was not meant for her no matter how much she wished it were so. It hurt to stand there and watch him walk away, but she did it.

A brief affair wasn't worth what she would have to give up.

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Roarke, Duke of Bevelaire, and his beautiful daughter arrived early the next afternoon.

Nadia stood with the retinue that lined the courtyard to greet the esteemed visitors. It was a warm day, and her captain's uniform itched, but she stood at attention and stubbornly refused to acknowledge she was uncomfortable.

Talin waited near the entrance to the palace, but Mathis was not present.

She hadn't imagined he would be. He was not the sort to dissemble and pretend to celebrate the arrival of a man who may or may not have killed his father.

The Bevelaire crest emblazoned on the black carriage that pulled to a stop near the place Nadia stood made her lips curl. The crest was an eagle with a mouse clutched in its beak. She did not care for the symbolism, even if it was completely apt. Roarke made a habit of preying on the weak.

The carriage swung open, and the duke emerged. A fanfare of trumpets sounded, but it did not deafen the murmurs of the crowd. Onlookers gathered to catch a glimpse of Roarke and his daughter.

Roarke was not overly tall, but he was stout. His once muscular frame had softened, but he still cut an imposing figure in his brilliant gold and black robes. He extended a hand to his daughter, who descended from the carriage. She was covered in a cloak that mostly hid her from the curious crowd.

Roarke leaned in to whisper something to her, and she tossed her head defiantly. Roarke's face grew florid as he eyed his daughter. His cruel mouth tightened as he grabbed Rowena's elbow. Nadia was close enough to hear the tiny whimper the princess made as her father hauled her to his side. Moments later, she threw back the hood of her cloak.

Nadia swallowed a gasp. Rowena was exquisite!

Blonde hair the color of honey streamed down her back. Her eyes were wide and almond shaped. Nadia couldn't discern their color, but they appeared to be brown.

The crowd turned their attention to their prince.

Talin came forward to greet his guests. He effusively praised Rowena's beauty, as expected, and heartily shook Roarke's hand. Roarke gave an enthusiastic greeting as well. He smiled broadly at his daughter, who, mere moments before, had earned his ire. Talin acted as if he had not witnessed the treatment of his future bride. Perhaps he had not.

After a brief conversation, Talin led Roarke and his daughter toward the castle.

If Talin did have a plot in mind, one certainly wouldn't guess it. He would have to be a consummate actor to fake such a greeting.

Nadia fell in line with another group of soldiers and assisted in dispersing the crowd.

There were public events planned for the remainder of the week, but this first day was reserved for the royals to get to know one another. A private banquet would be held that evening with only the highest-ranking lords and ladies in attendance.

Once the crowd thinned, Nadia escorted Roarke's guards to their quarters. They were to be housed in the soldiers’ barracks, and they set off on a short walk to the barracks.

She quickly regretted appointing herself for the duty.

Roarke's escorts were crude men. They spoke in loud voices as they debated the merits of her skill in bed.

"You are quite a pretty thing,” one of them remarked.

"Tell me, after you show us the barracks will you stay and warm our beds?"

Nadia ignored them as best as she could until one pinched her backside.

She'd had enough.

Nadia spun and grabbed the hand of the man who'd dared to touch her. She squeezed his index finger and forced it backwards until the bones of his wrist creaked beneath her fingertips.

"Do not touch me,” she said between clenched teeth.

The man whimpered.

She glared at the other men. “The same goes for you."

Their faces registered their shock and a dawning appreciation.

"Nadia!"

A figure pushed his way through the group of men and hurried to her side. She dropped the man's hand and gaped at the unlikely appearance of Mathis.

The prince shoved aside the man she'd released and came to her side. “Are you harmed?"

She shook her head. “No."

The prince nodded and drew himself up to an impressive height. He turned to face Roarke's escorts, and his eyes narrowed with warning. “If any of you touch her again, I will personally see to it that you are thrown in a dungeon for the remainder of your miserable lives."

The men bowed to the prince and set off for the barracks as if the fires of hell nipped at their heels.

Nadia crossed her arms and lifted a slim eyebrow. “What do you think you are doing?"

Mathis glanced at her with a confused look. “What do you mean? I came to help you."

She uncrossed her arms and poked her finger in his chest. “I can take care of myself. I do not need you to be my hero."

His mouth tightened as his jaw clenched. “Damn it, Nadia. I know you can.” He flung out a hand toward the fleeing guardsmen. “But there were twelve of them to one of you. Those odds were not in your favor."

No, they had not been. Her knees still shook, but she showed no obvious sign of weakness.

"I must go. I have work to do."

"Nadia, wait."

He grabbed her hand, but she shook him off. “No, Your Highness."

She turned on her heel and stomped away. Mathis did not try to stop her again.

Nadia headed back to the castle but did not pay much attention to where she walked. She stumbled over a loose stone and cursed softly.

What is wrong with me?

She kicked the stone aside and continued on her way.

For several hours, she patrolled the palace grounds.

She purposefully chose the eastern side so that she wouldn't encounter the gardens. The borrowed dress and jewelry had been returned to Talin first thing that morning, and she'd been prepared to wipe her hands clean of any reminder of the time she'd spent with Mathis.

It was much easier said than done. It was as if he were engraved in her thoughts. She yearned to see him, to speak to him, to know he was not still angry with her. To do so, though, would admit her weakness.

She could not allow him to take precedence over all she held dear. Her career was her life. She was not prepared to give it up for the slight possibility a prince might care for her.

In a week, Mathis would return to his kingdom, and she could put this behind her. She would remain and continue to train new recruits, as her father had done before her, until she grew too old.

Then what will I do?

She'd never thought about life after her military career ended. Perhaps she would become a maiden aunt to the children Hugh might one day have. Or perhaps she would find a man that would marry her and start a family of her own.

Her father wished for grandchildren, but she'd allowed no room in her plans for a husband and children. Who would want to marry her anyway?

Not many men would look with fondness upon a woman who'd earned her keep by fighting for her kingdom. Nadia had killed before. She had not enjoyed it, but it had been necessary to protect Noventia. No man wanted such a wife.

Some men had courted her, she'd even had a few proposals, but they'd only been infatuated by the challenge she presented, not the woman she was.

The prince wants you
.

Nadia ignored her inner voice. He did not want her for a wife, merely a mate to warm his bed. He would someday find a woman like Rowena, a lady who'd been taught from birth to take her rightful place at her husband's side.

When that day came, her heart would break.

If things were different, if she were anyone other than who she was, she would damn the consequences and throw herself wholeheartedly into an affair with the prince. But she was Collin d'Arcy's daughter, born into a family that treasured honor and loyalty above all else.

She may not have had the upbringing most girls did, but she had not been brought up to be a light-skirt. She would not shame her family or herself.

Mathis stood near the window of his brother's study and sipped from a glass of the brandy he'd found on the sideboard. Nadia had passed in front of the window at least three times in the past hour, so she couldn't have known he was there. Once she'd accused him of spying on her. Today he was guilty of it, but she'd left him no choice. He'd vowed not to seek her out unless she expressed a desire for him to do so. Earlier that day he'd happened upon her accidentally, and he was glad he had. When he saw Nadia surrounded by Roarke's men, his heart nearly stopped. She had not been happy to see him though.

Now he was forced to linger at the window just to catch a glimpse of her.

He'd come to his brother's study to write yet another round of urgent letters to his council during his absence, but he'd been unable to concentrate once he'd noticed Nadia pass by the window. His papers lay forgotten on the table, the ink long since dried on his quill. His kingdom was in peril, yet he couldn't stop thinking about her. He was frustrated with the entire situation, his attraction for Nadia and the possibility the rebels would turn their attention to Isidor. The sound of the door opening and closing alerted him to the fact he was no longer alone. He turned away from the window and faced his brother, grateful for the distraction.

"I caught a glimpse of Rowena. She is quite beautiful."

Talin's face was inscrutable. “Yes, she is."

Mathis poured another glass of brandy and offered it to his brother. “Are you prepared to marry her?"

Talin's lips curved into something that presented a vague resemblance of a smile. “Of course I am. She appears biddable enough."

She would have to be to survive her father
.

Mathis didn't speak his true thoughts aloud. He didn't know the girl and knew even less about her life, but he couldn't imagine it had been easy with a man such as Roarke as her father.

Talin's eyes bored into his. “You will attend tonight, won't you?"

He wanted to answer in the negative, but he'd agreed to make a token appearance at the festivities leading up to the wedding.

He tossed back the remainder of his drink and refilled his glass. “If I must, but see to it that I'm seated as far away from that man as possible."

"Agreed.” Talin took a seat and sighed deeply. “There has been another rebel attack. Near Wainswright."

Mathis set his glass aside and gave his brother his full attention. He would be sure to dictate this new information in his letter to his advisors. “Were there many casualties?"

"A few. I plan to ask Nadia to travel there to ascertain the damage."

Mathis reached for his glass and took another sip as he assumed a casual note of interest in his voice. “Do you think it's safe for a woman to travel there alone?"

Talin laughed without humor. “You'd better not let Nadia hear you say that. She would have your head!"

Mathis was well aware that the woman was a soldier and a quite capable one, but he was reluctant to allow his brother send her away.

"Hugh would be quite disappointed. She is helping him prepare for the archery contest."

Talin lifted an inquiring eyebrow, and Mathis rushed to explain. “He told me so during our ride yesterday."

"So who would you have me send then?” Talin was clearly amused by his weak ploy to keep Nadia at N'ior.

"The recruits you sent with Nadia to kidnap me. They appeared well trained and could easily handle any problems that arise.” His eyes narrowed in warning. “I am still displeased with you for having me abducted, by the way."

"I know you are. I am sorry.” Talin waved a hand. “It will be as you wish. I will instruct Nadia to send her men as soon as possible."

Mathis noted the weariness on his brother's face. The toll of constant uprisings had to be considerable.

"I have to write a letter to my advisors. Have you heard anything else about the rebels that I can share with them?"

"The attack at Wainswright is all the information we have at the moment. As soon as I learn more, I will let you know."