The Night Bird lc-5 Page 14

  She wasnt so certain Markus wouldnt have tried. Whether his father would have listened was another story, but the point was moot. As a child he couldnt have controlled his fathers actions. The same wasnt true with the child king. The atajazid had the power to refuse him. Maybe Markus wanted that to happen.

  What else could go wrong? “Would you forget to tell anyone I was no longer your slave?

  “Ill tell whoever you ask me to. My guards. My officers. Even Yargazon, if you want.

  That felt like a punch in the stomach. “Would that mean Yargazon could take me as his slave girl?

  “No! Anger snapped in his voice. “I would never let that sadist touch you. Neither him nor any other man here. Ever.

  His vehemence surprised her. He and Yargazon obviously worked well together. His father and the General had shared women, which implied his father had accepted Yargazons cruelty, even participated. And Markus had loved his father. She hadnt expected him to condemn Yargazons private life. She also had the impression that after that one time, when Markus fathered his son, he had never again joined the General in taking a woman. In fact, she thought Markus was a far kinder man inside than he let show. What that said about this “bargain, she didnt know. He had made it nearly impossible for her to leave. With what he knew about Jazidian women, he might assume she would stay with him rather than venture into the desert alone. If he believed that, though, he knew nothing about her.

  If she agreed to lie with him in return for his rewriting the documents, it was still coercion. But she could think of worse prices to pay for her freedom than to let this sensual man do what he wanted if he was telling the truth.

  “If youre making this up, Allegra said, “Ill fight you every day for the rest of my life.

  “Im not lying. He kissed the tip of her nose. “Say yes.

  “If you undress.

  He lifted his head. “What?

  “Take off your clothes.

  “No! Why would I do that?

  “Are you afraid? she asked, genuinely curious.

  “Of course not.

  “Is it about control? You feel vulnerable when you take them off. She certainly understood that reaction.

  “Im never vulnerable. He paused for several moments. “Its too cold.

  She knew it was a false excuse. “But its all right for me to freeze? Im supposed to believe that someone who cant see the hypocrisy in that will keep his word to me?

  “Hell and damnation, Markus growled. “If I take off my blasted clothes, will you consent?

  “Yes. I will.

  “All right. He sounded surprised. “But give me a kiss first. He laughed softly. “To build my courage up.

  Allegra smiled. “All right. The thought of him needing courage to take off his clothes had its own charm.

  He nibbled at her lips. His body pressed on her, and rocks poked her back. After a moment, though, his hands went still. He raised his head, and his eyes caught glints from the starlight. He exhaled, stirring the disarrayed curls on his forehead.

  “I cant do this, he said.

  Her heartbeat lurched. Did he mean undressingor freeing her? “Cant do what?

  “Lie with you under these conditions.

  “You promised!

  Markus sat back with his knees on either side of her hips. “Its wrong for me to do it this way.

  When she started to shiver, he slid to the wall and held out his hand. Shaking, she went to him. He put her between his legs and wrapped her in both his jerkin and the blanket. Curving into his body, she folded her arms inside the warmth of his embrace.

  “Does this mean you wont let me go? she asked.

  “I never said I would let you go.

  “Right, she said bitterly. At least he hadnt forced her to go through with the charade. It was especially hard because he had chosen to do the right thing and tell her the truth. She didnt want to see good in him, not when he had stolen her life.

  “I meant what I said about the bargain, he told her. “I still do.

  Allegra froze. She must have heard wrong. “You would let me leave even now? And tell your guards not to stop me?

  “You shouldnt walk around alone, he said gruffly. “It isnt safe in an army, especially when youre one of the only women. Then he added, “But Ill tell my guards about your change in status.

  That didnt sound quite right. “You mean that you no longer own me. But I have your protection.

  Markus held her head against his chest and stroked her hair. “Youll always have my protection.

  Her pulse stuttered. “What arent you telling me?

  He answered in an oddly quiet tone. “As soon as I prepare the documents, youll no longer be my slave.

  Then he said, “You will be my wife.

  CHAPTER 9

  A KINGS REFUGE

  Of all the responses she had expectedtricks, lies, forcethat had never been one of them. “Dont taunt me!

  “Im not. He was tracing his finger over the ridges of her ear, touching her as he always did, as if he couldnt stop, couldnt get enough.

  “Its crazy, she said. “I wont.

  “You know, Allegra, he said wryly. “Most women, upon being told they are to become a queen, dont say, Its crazy. I wont.

  “Dont be cruel.

  “Making you queen is cruel?

  “You cant make me a queen. You arent a king.

  “Consort to the Prince Regent, then. Its essentially the same thing. His voice lightened. “Unless you plan on marrying the atajazid. Then you could be queen.

  “This isnt funny.

  “Taking you as my wife isnt supposed to be funny.

  “And you just had this idea?

  “Actually I decided this morning after we made love. After a moment, he said, “No, I think I decided when you threw wine in my face.

  Allegra blinked. “That makes no sense.

  “I know. Markus sounded as confused as she felt. “Nothing about my reactions to you makes sense. He rested his cheek on top of her head. “I need to marry someone. I am thirty-six years old and have no heirs. Youre a good choice.

  “I cant imagine one reason why I would be a good choice.

  “Youre perfect, he said. “A man in my position needs a woman who will give him strong, tall, intelligent sons. Thats how we pick our wives. Its why all the men of the House of Onyx are strong, tall and intelligent.

  “Well, goodness, she said. “That was a moving declaration of love. Then she added, “Besides, Im neither strong nor tall.

  He rubbed his cheek on her hair. “I like your size. You fit just right with me. And strength can be of character rather than physique. A man should marry a woman who makes him more than he is. As much as I hate it, you do that, even when I wish you would be quiet.

  She felt as if she were sinking into a quagmire. “Im not a brood mare. And Im not a mirror for your reflection.

  “You see, no one else would dare tell me that. I wouldnt tolerate it from anyone else. He blew out a gust of air. “With you, I dont know what happens. Something is wrong with me. I would think you used a spell, but you obviously hate me, so why enchant me? None of this is sensible. Yet I cant think of anything else. Only a few days with you, and Im turned upside down.

  “You want to marry someone who hates you?

  “Apparently so.

  How did she feel about him? He angered herand made her laugh. Just when she was convinced he was hopeless, he would surprise her with his sensitivity. She could see the true leader in him, not the hard exterior he presented to his men, the severity his culture demanded, but a greater man within. And yes, she desired him. He was the most sensuous man she had ever met. Unfortunately he was also the most overbearing and arrogant.

  “Im afraid of you, she said. “And I hate the way you control everything I do. But II dont hate you.

  “Its a beginning, he murmured. “Maybe in time youll come to care.

  In time. He had never intended to offer her a choice. She felt as if walls were closing
in. “You let me think I could leave.

  “If you could convince someone to help you. He held her close, one hand on her stomach under the blanket and the other around her shoulders. “I doubt any sane man in Jazid would help my consort leave. Hed know I would execute him.

  “Markus, no! You mustnt.

  “I would kill any man who took you away from me. He lifted her chin so she was looking into his face. The moon had set, leaving only a cold brilliance of stars to silver his features. “When we see the atajazid, Ill ask for his blessing. Then Ill march our men into Taka Mal and put the atajazid on the Topaz Throne. When weve added their army to our own, well drive Cobalts forces out of Jazid and retake the Onyx Throne. For my king. My brother. The boy I swore to protect. We will do this, Allegra, and you will sit by my side.

  “No! I dont want any part of it.

  “Yet you have one. His voice quieted. “When Im with you, it changes me, and I dont like it, but for some reason I dont want it to stop.

  “Why? Why me?

  “I dont know. He touched his fingers to hers under the blanket. “You challenge me. You defy me. You demand I be more than I am. And yes, damn it, I want you so much, I cant think when youre near me.

  She felt as if she were drowning. “I cant handle this.

  “Youll have a good life, anything I can provide.

  “I want to provide for myself. Not be your bird in a cage.

  “But youre a beautiful night bird. He brushed back a curl that had straggled into her face. Then he leaned against the wall, holding her in the warmth generated by his body. “Sleep if you can. Tomorrow Ill have the documents prepared.

  “You want to sleep here?

  He chuckled. “My tent is full of smelly, snoring men.

  Allegra smiled wanly. She couldnt sleep in this place of stone, especially not after what he had just told her. Yet despite everything, almost the moment she leaned into him and closed her eyes, a blanket of exhaustion settled over her.

  Cold prickled Allegras face, bringing her awake. The blanket had slipped off, and the nights chill bit into her. She and Markus had slumped to the ground, she with her back against his front, he with his arms around her. A stone ridge jutted into her thigh, and she tasted dust. She lifted her head, remembering what Markus had told her. Consort. It seemed little different from pleasure girl, except their children would be legitimate. She had a feeling that mattered a great deal to him.

  Markus was asleep, perhaps an aftereffect of her spell or maybe simply because exhaustion had overcome his insomnia. In slumber, his face relaxed, gentling his features, bringing out the beauty that his normal visage disguised. Such a handsome man. Confusing, though. She didnt understand why he wanted her. Insulting him seemed to have had the opposite effect from what she had intended.

  She lifted her hand to touch his face, then stopped. Yesterday he had given her pleasure. She may not have fully realized it was him until they were nearly finished, but at some level she had known it wasnt Tanner in her dream. She had yet to sort out how she felt about it. That didnt matter, though, for he was fast asleep and she wasnt, which meant she could leave. She stood up and headed for the entrance to the hollow. She needed to find a shape and sing his guards to sleep.

  “Allegra? Markus pushed up on his elbows. “Bah, he grumbled. “I have dust in my nose.

  She stopped halfway to the edge of the hollow.

  “Ive a guard at the top of the path, he said, watching her. “And I checked myself. No curves, circles or spheres are anywhere on top of the Anvil. Nothing except you, me and rocks.

  She went back and knelt next to him. “You have dust in your nose because we slept in the middle of the wildlands.

  He pushed at his bangs, tangling them on his forehead. A whiff of his soap drifted to her. At least he kept clean. Given the way some of his soldiers smelled, she appreciated such favors. She would have liked to dump the rest of them in a big tub.

  “Why are you smiling? Markus asked. “Its luminous, like seeing the sun at night.

  Allegra touched her lips, surprised to find them curved. “I was thinking your men needed baths.

  He laughed quietly. “Probably. Stretching his arms, he cracked his joints. “Itll be dawn in less than an hour. We should get back.

  Allegra didnt move. For once, he wasnt pressuring her. Without that influence, she might find out if what had happened yesterday was a fluke. Did she want him? Maybe it was only the miradella affecting her, but she wanted to know. Before she had time to change her mind, she leaned forward and kissed him.

  Markus went very still. For a moment, he didnt react. Then he put his arms around her and pulled her forward until she was straddling his lap, her knees on either side of his body. When she felt his erection through his trousers, a mixture of arousal and panic flickered through her.

  Just see what happens. It wouldnt change her wish to go home, but her life with him would be so much more bearable if she didnt feel forced every time he came to her as her husband.

  Markus opened the jerkin and slid one hand around her waist, but he kept her in his lap with the blanket around her body. She held him close, her arms around his torso, and breathed in his scent, soap and musk. He smelled good, even his sweat. She was too nervous to know what to do, but her lack of experience didnt seem to bother him. He grasped her hips and rubbed her against his erection while he dusted kisses down her neck. When he reached down to unfasten his trousers, though, she caught his hand.

  She tugged up the hem of his undershirt. “Take this off.

  He regarded her with a drowsy, sensual gaze. Bedroom eyes. “You really want me to undress?

  When Allegra gave a shy nod, he pulled the undershirt over his head. His muscles flexed in the process, and watching them, she felt warmer than she had all night. He lifted her off his lap, setting her at his side, and pulled off his boots and trousers. He started to pull her back into his lap, but she put her hand against his shoulder.

  “Lie down, she murmured. “On your back.

  “Why? He kept trying to lift her to straddle him. His eyes were only half-open, and his breath was coming faster.

  “I want to look at you, she said.

  “You do?

  “Yes.

  “Oh. He seemed startled, then intrigued. “All right.

  He spread out the ocelot blanket and lay down on his back. Starlight sheened his body. Allegra sat next to him, supporting her weight on one arm, and took in the sight as if he were a draught of wine: his wide shoulders, muscular chest and flat stomach. His erection in its nest of black curls. She had never realized an aroused man looked that way, and it excited her.

  “Youre beautiful, she said.

  Markus groaned as if she were tormenting him. He rolled on his side and pulled her down onto her back. As he stretched out on top of her, he pushed apart her thighs. Even with the miradella affecting her, she wanted to pull away. She had never felt attractive, yet he treated her as if she were irresistible temptation. He got up on his knees, drawing her with him, until he was sitting on his haunches with her thighs on either side of his hips, her back arched over his arm and her head hanging back, leaving her nipples pointing upward like an invitation. He suckled her breasts, and ripples of sensation went through her.

  “Markus, please. She didnt know whether she was asking him to slow down or go faster.

  “Thats it, kitten, he whispered. “Stay with me. He brought her up and embraced her, then he lifted her hips and brought them down, entering her. She held on, hugging him while they rocked together, slowly at first, then faster. She kept building, wanting him more, until she couldnt take it any longer.

  When Allegra cried out, Markus groaned into her hair and laid her down, on her back, lowering his body on top of her, still moving, steady and fast. He gave a final, huge thrust and pinned her to the ground while his hips jerked. Then, with an exhale, he collapsed on top of her.

  Allegra closed her eyes as the tremors in their bodies subsided. For a while s
he didnt think. She felt languorous. Content. Eventually he slid over to her side and laid his head next to hers. “Beautiful night bird, he murmured. “So lovely.

  She rolled her head against his. “I cant be both a bird and a kitten. Cats hunt birds.

  “Then Im a satiated lion. He pulled the blanket over them, throwing his leg across hers so they could both fit under the half of it they werent lying on.

  As Allegra drifted, Markus lay still, breathing deeply. He gave a snore, then jerked his head and mumbled, “Mustnt sleep. After a while, he sighed. “We have to go.

  Markus slowly sat up, letting the blanket fall over Allegra. She watched him dress, wondering if he had any idea what aesthetic things his muscles did when they flexed. When he reached for the jerkin, though, she tugged it away.

  “Its so cold, she said, sitting up so she could pull the jerkin around her. “And I cant get that skirt on.

  “You can keep the jerkin. I have a lot of them. He smiled at her. “Ive never removed my clothes that way with a woman. It was odd. But pleasant. I love the way your skin feels on mine.

  “You never undress when you make love?

  “No man does.

  “Of course they do!

  “Not in Jazid.

  “Why ever not?

  He started to answer, then stopped. “Youll get mad at me. And right now I feel quite fine. I dont want to argue.

  So it was one of those things. “Is this something you came up with, or something thats true for all men here?

  “All men. His smile turned languid. “Though I doubt Im the first to discover how pleasant breaking that custom can be.

  Well, the customs of a country werent his fault. “I wont get mad at you.

  “Humans wear clothes, he said. “Animals dont.

  “What?

  “You said you wouldnt get mad.

  “You take mine off when you make love to me. In fact, he was always taking them off.

  “Men are human.

  “And women are animals? It was astonishing that he could actually look her straight in the eye and spout such horse manure.

  “Legally a woman is above a goat but below a horse.

  “I cant believe you said that.