His mouth curved in a self-deprecating smile. Obviously he hadn’t convinced himself of the ordinariness of her charms, because he could have escaped at any time, yet here he was. The efforts Sapphire had taken to detain him were impressive and intriguing, displaying a knowledge of imprisonment he would have thought beyond a concubine’s sphere of study. Still, he was confident he could slip away with a little effort…if he weren’t trapped here as surely as if he were chained. No matter how vital it was that he return to D’Ashier, he couldn’t leave without knowing what the consequences would be for her.
And if she wanted him as much now as she had before, he intended to celebrate his rebirth in her bed.
Wulf paused on the threshold of her open-walled office. As he caught sight of her, his body hardened with need. He hadn’t been mistaken or delusional. Sapphire was stunning. Small-boned and petite, she stood on a short step reaching for a book. When she turned to face him, her smile tightened his chest.
“How are you feeling?” she queried in a raspy voice.
Dressed in an almost transparent shift, she robbed him of speech. The sight of her lush curves sent heat flaring across his skin.
Full, firm breasts swayed unfettered over rounded hips, and jeweled rings sparkled from luxuriously long nipples. Her waist was not small—in fact, she had a slight womanly roundness to her belly—but it looked tiny in relation to the voluptuousness of her figure.
Her hair was waist-length and a lovely shiny brown color like the pelt of a hosen fox. Her face, while not classically beautiful, was arresting with intelligent brown eyes, full lips, and a determined jaw. Beneath the shimmering sheer fabric of her gown, her skin was creamy and completely hairless—the hair most likely lasered off permanently.
Wulf’s mouth was as dry as the desert outside. Sapphire possessed something much more attractive than physical beauty—she radiated confidence. She aroused because it was clear she hungered for the pleasures of life and she was determined to pursue those pleasures. He sensed she was a kindred spirit, a primitive creature like himself in a world that had long ago evolved and been tamed.
As she stepped down to sit at her desk, her smile widened, and a sudden realization burned through Wulf’s mind. When he was in her presence, his focus narrowed until he was aware only of her. When she’d stood in front of the healing chamber, he had ceased to feel the excruciating pain of his wounds or his profound exhaustion. He could only watch her, ache for her as she rubbed herself against the glass and stared at him with open admiration and desire. The way she’d looked at him had made him feel powerful and virile at a time when he was helpless and disgusted by his own weakness.
He wanted her. She made him feel both carnal and possessive. His body craved hers on some base level. He wondered if his recent ordeal had changed him in some way, made him vulnerable, as he hadn’t been previously.
“Well, Prince Wulfric? How are you?”
A ripple of pleasure coursed through him at the sound of her throaty voice. “Mistress,” he answered, the word rolling off his tongue in a way that said he was in her service only because he chose to be, and not because she forced him. “I’m feeling much improved.”
Her dark eyes sparkled. “I’m happy to hear that. The Guardian says you asked for permission to speak with me. You have it. Speak.”
He started in surprise at her tone, but didn’t show it. Authority had slipped over her like a monarch’s robes. Wulf noted her self-possession and her ease in command. There was more to this concubine than met the eye. He was determined to discover as much as he could about her before he left.
“I’m curious as to the state of my present circumstances.” He kept his face impassive, not wanting to betray his confidence that he could leave her at will. It was obvious Sapphire had nothing to do with his capture. The mästares had told him of her surprise at discovering him in her home and she made no effort to question him or torment him as would someone who had a malicious intent. That left many questions unanswered. “Am I to be ransomed?”
“You didn’t have to see me to ask that question. Guardian, will you answer?”
“There is no ransom, Prince Wulfric. Your countrymen believe you to be dead.”
Wulf didn’t even blink. After his failure to check in, search parties would have discovered the remains of his patrol. Despite that evidence, the palace would know he was alive. Deep inside the flesh of his right buttock was a nanotach—a chip powered by his cellular energy that conveyed his location.
To avoid war, his father would allow him a reasonable amount of time to escape. After that, fighting would begin. D’Ashier needed him. He had work to do. The assault against his patrol had succeeded owing to careful planning. No one would dedicate that amount of effort for mere sport. What had been the original intent of the ambush? Ransom? Information? And how did the plans change so greatly that he was now in the care of the king’s favorite concubine?
The Guardian misunderstood his silence.
“Be forewarned if you think to end the Mistress’s life for your freedom. With her training, you may find an unexpected result.”
Sapphire studied him with a penetrating gaze, as if she hoped to see his intentions from the outside.
“I don’t want to kill you,” he assured her. “If I did, I would have done so by now.”
Wulf tensed a moment too late. What occurred next transpired so quickly he couldn’t be certain later what happened. He remembered only that she sprang from her chair and flew across the desk in one fluid movement. Her smaller body hit his with enough force to knock him to the floor. The teasing prick of pain at his neck warned him that she held a blade in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, he would bleed to death.
For a moment, horrifying memories of his ambush made his heart race desperately. His chest lifted and fell in near panicked rhythm. He could smell the cave and taste his own blood. He inhaled sharply—
—and the scent of Draxian lilies permeated his senses.
Her scent.
The warmth and softness of her body was a salve. He was soothed, just from the feel of her, his fear and confusion gone as quickly as they’d come. Still he was shocked, staring up at her with wide eyes. It took years of training for a woman of her slight build to better a man of his size. Sapphire wouldn’t have managed it without the element of surprise. But that was not the point. The point was she had bettered him. She was no easy target and she wanted him to know that. He was impressed.
Then his admiration flared into something hotter as the press of her curves onto his body burned into his consciousness. Suddenly, he was more than impressed, he was aroused.
Her breasts, so full and soft, were against his chest with only her transparent shift between them. Her legs, lithe and obviously powerful, were tangled with his. Gripping her waist with one hand, he watched her lips part and her pupils dilate. His cock swelled against her thigh. Her hair surrounded them in fragrant silk and he wrapped his fist into it, pulling her closer. Moistening his lips, Wulf longed for her to kiss him, his gaze riveted to her lush mouth.
Every nerve ending in his body was alert, every muscle tense. Every breath pushed his chest into those beautiful tits.
“Kiss me,” he ordered.
The knife at his neck wavered. “I won’t.”
“Why?”
“You know why,” she whispered.
“I know I almost died a few days ago and woke instead to the sight of you.” Wulfric lifted his head and nuzzled his nose against hers. “Kindness, a gentle soul—none of that would have revived me the way your desire did. You’ve no notion of what I owe you for that.”
Sapphire sighed, her free hand brushing briefly across his cheek. “Then don’t ask this of me.”
It was the regret in her tone and that fleeting caress that moved him. He didn’t have time to woo her properly, but he knew when it was wiser to retreat than press a shaky advantage. It took tremendous willpower to release her, but Wulf managed it.
When Sa
pphire slid off him and returned to her seat behind the desk, his disappointment was acute. He sprang from the floor and landed on the pads of his feet with the grace of a cat.
His stay with the lovely Sapphire was limited by necessity. Fortunately, the desire he felt was mutual. With that on his side, his rushed seduction just might succeed.
Needing a distraction from his erection, Wulf asked, “How did I end up here?”
“You were a gift.” Her low voice betrayed her response to him.
“A gift?” He scowled. He was not an object to be passed around.
A laugh escaped before she covered her mouth.
Heat coiled inside him at the seductive sound. He almost didn’t care why he was here. It was worth it to experience the things she made him feel.
“I believe you’re to be my punishment, Your Highness.”
“Punishment? For what?”
She gave an offhand shrug. “It was another time. Another life. It’s of no consequence now. The fact remains that you’ve been given to me, and we must make the best of the situation.”
“You could release me,” he purred in the silky smooth voice that never failed to get him what he wanted from women.
She surprised him by agreeing. “It would be wise to do so and really, I have no other choice. You can’t stay here. Unfortunately for both of us, I’m reluctant to let you go.”
“Why?”
“You’re magnificent. The handsomest man I’ve ever seen.” She stared at him with clear admiration. “I enjoy looking at you.”
Wulf had never realized how arousing honesty could be. All of his concubines were practiced, even jaded. Sapphire’s reluctant appreciation was far more flattering. He could give her no gifts, promise her no boons, yet she still wanted him.
He walked toward her, allowing her to see his hunger. “I give you leave to do more than look. In fact, I encourage you to do so.”
Her eyes widened. “You give me leave?”
The Guardian interrupted. “Mistress, the general has arrived.”
Wulfric froze in mid-stride, his body instinctually flexing in preparation for battle. He watched as Sapphire rose from her chair, and the Guardian’s words came back to haunt him—With her training, you may find an unexpected result.
After the surprise attack of a moment ago, he quickly comprehended how foolish he was to have stayed. Sapphire did indeed move with a warrior’s grace; he’d simply been too enamored to notice. She was concubine to the King of Sari and received visits from generals. He was in a hell of a position, completely at the mercy of his enemies.
“Who the hell are you?” he demanded, noting the apprehension that passed over her features.
“Go to your room.” She shooed him off with a wave of her hand. “And don’t show yourself until you’re told to do so.”
“I have the right to know what’s planned for me.”
“Planned for you?”
“Yes. Where is the general taking me?”
She grasped his meaning. “Wulf, you’re not going anywhere. I want you to hide.”
For a moment he stood motionless, his heart pounding. “You’re protecting me.”
Sapphire glanced at the wall behind her. The Guardian obligingly projected an image of the general striding toward her front door. The man’s face was downcast, hidden from view. “Go, Your Highness,” she urged. “Please. We can discuss this later.”
“Why are you doing this?” Wulf crossed his arms over his chest.
She groaned. “Hell if I know. Stay then, if you’re so eager for my father’s hospitality over mine.”
“Your father?” How much worse could this get?
“Yes.” Her dark gaze locked with his. “The choice is yours, but make it quickly.”
“You want me to hide so that I can stay.”
“I don’t know what I want. Other than for you to hide yourself as I asked.”
Wulf found her irresistible—her honesty, strength, and beauty. Something was building between them; something she felt, too, or she wouldn’t be so concerned for him. He shouldn’t trust her, but he did.
Without a word, he turned and left, seeking the isolation of his room and the chance staying here would allow him to get to know her better.
As the door to his chamber slid closed behind him, an unfamiliar restlessness clawed at him. He was not a man to run from a challenge, and he chafed at allowing another person to protect him.
“What the hell is going on out there?”
In response to his inquiry, the Guardian projected a view of Sapphire and her father against the bare wall, complete with sound.
“Thank you.”
He’d found an ally.
Wulfric watched as Sapphire was wrapped in an affectionate embrace. When her father stepped back and his face was revealed, the air rushed from Wulf’s lungs.
No wonder the mästares wouldn’t tell anyone about his presence in Sari—they were protecting the daughter of their national hero.
Sapphire’s father was none other than General Grave Erikson, the highest-ranking officer in the Sarian Army.
Chapter 4
Sapphire waved her father into an oversized chaise, then she took the seat next to him, relishing the opportunity to have his undivided attention. She smiled into brown eyes identical to her own and asked, “How is Mom?”
Grave Erikson looked dashing in his uniform of sapphire sleeveless tunic and matching loose trousers. His long, sable hair was tied back at the nape, revealing a face of austere handsomeness and quiet strength. With a glaive-hilt strapped to his muscular thigh, her father radiated a danger that caused his enemies to run in fear and filled Sapphire’s heart with pride. “She’s well. Lovely as always. She plans to visit as soon as she can.”
“I’m surprised you came without her.”
“Work brought me out this way.” He held out his hand, palm up, revealing a large man’s ring nestled there. “A souvenir for you.”
Picking up the offering, Sapphire admired the massive talgorite gem, its vibrant red color distinctive and singularly beautiful. It was also exceptionally valuable, its size sufficient to power a deep-space skeide through several lightspeed jumps. “What’s this symbol imbedded in the stone?”
“The royal shield of D’Ashier.”
She swallowed hard, knowing how brutally Wulf was forced to part with the item. Her fist closed around it protectively. “How did you get this?”
“Talgorite is too valuable to use for jewelry, for the most part. When the ring hit the black market, word spread and a vice officer picked it up. He recognized the shield, and the ring made its way up the chain to me.”
“Did you find out why the royal family parted from it?”
“The fence admitted to working with a mercenary group that attacked the Crown Prince of D’Ashier’s patrol last week. I knew of it, of course, because we’d intercepted transmissions from the search party that was sent to locate the prince’s group.”
“Did they kill him?” Sapphire shoved aside the guilt she felt at deceiving her father.
“That’s the most interesting part. The fence says they tortured Prince Wulfric and sold him. Unfortunately, the man was not privy to any internal discussion in the merc group. The lack of information is frustrating. Obviously Wulfric never made it to either the Sarian or D’Ashier palaces, so where the hell is he? Who would be able to afford him, and why would they want him? I wonder if he’s received medical care for his injuries or if he’s been taken off-world.”
Sapphire studied her father. “You seem…upset.”
A mästare entered the room and laid out trays of sweetmeats, fruits, and cheeses. The ale the servant poured was cold and slushy, instantly frosting the glasses.
Grave waited until the servant departed before continuing. “I’m a warrior, not a politician. I could care less about the trade agreements and Interstellar Council squabbles that keep us at odds with D’Ashier. I care about men and honor. Prince Wulfric is a brave man a
nd an excellent warrior. To be ambushed, tortured, and sold…It’s cowardly and dishonorable. I would have preferred a more fitting end for a man such as him.”
“You think he’s dead?”
“I hope he’s not, but odds aren’t in his favor at this point.”
“You sound as if you like him.”
Grave shrugged. “I admire him. I fought against him hand to hand during the Confrontations. He was young then, but he had fire and an air of command I admired. His tactical plans were well thought out, he never moved rashly or responded in haste. His first concern was always for the well-being of his men, and he never allowed his desire for victory to goad him into actions that would needlessly cost lives.”
“But it’s you who walked away triumphant and a national hero from those battles,” she reminded him proudly.
“We won, but only by the skin of our teeth. If the weather hadn’t changed and that sandstorm blown in, the outcome could have been very different.”
“You’ve never told me that before!”
“We’ve never talked about Prince Wulfric before.” Grave reached for a piece of melon and popped it into his mouth.
“Let’s talk about him now.” Leaning against the curved arm of the chaise, Sapphire met her father’s gaze with a challenging smile. “Tell me everything you know.”
He eyed her speculatively. “Why the sudden interest in Wulfric?”
“You’ve never been defeated, now you tell me it almost happened once. I’m curious about the man who is such a match for you.”
“Some other time. Maybe.” He downed the contents of his mug in one gulp.
“Are you still investigating what happened to the prince?”
“Persistent as ever, I see.” His indulgent expression turned serious. “Yes, I’m investigating. Quietly. I’ve notified the palace, but the king and queen both felt it was best to leave this matter to me and not involve the Interstellar Council.”