Diomere's Exile

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

The next evening, Gregor arrived at the Emerald Mermaid at the exact time noted on the invitation he’d received. The note, penned in a neat and confident hand, was tucked into his breast pocket, directly over his heart. He’d read it more times than he’d ever reveal. The woman had him twisted around her little finger. He knew Stefan would look askance at him for such behavior, but he couldn’t seem to help himself.

In an attempt not to repeat past mistakes, he’d penned a note to a cousin who’d married a Diomerean noble woman and moved to the island nation several years before. His instincts told him Nadia wasn’t playing him, but he had to be sure. When he was around her, he lost himself to her pull. He’d tried telling himself she was just a woman, and noble born at that. But after last night, he knew them for the excuses they were. She touched something in him no one else ever had.

A finely tailored butler held the inn’s door for him. “Welcome to the Emerald Mermaid, m’lord. Lady de Quinones and her sister are right this way.”

“Thank you.”

He followed the man through a welcoming tavern with low ceilings, dark wood paneled walls, and plush emerald green carpets. Members of the nobility and merchant class enjoyed gourmet meals in private booths or traded jokes at a fully stocked, mahogany bar. A stained glass picture of a mermaid returning a drowning sailor to his ship during a storm hung above the bar, lit from behind by flickering candlelight, which gave the impression that the waves moved. It had clearly been done by a master. The butler turned down a long hallway, forcing Gregor to tear his attention away from the scene as they approached a set of double doors, carved with images of frolicking mermaids.

The man pulled open the doors and bowed. “Enjoy your evening, m’lord.”

He entered a large room that opened to an even bigger atrium bursting with trees and flowers. His gaze was immediately pulled to the angst-filled face of a stone mermaid fountain which held the place of honor in the atrium’s center, its bubbling water pouring from her eyes in never-ending tears that belied the happiness of the chirping birds and fluttering butterflies. The mermaid looked so much like his dream Nadia in her Mer form that Gregor had to fight down the desire setting his body on fire. A discreet cough brought his attention back in the room where two women rose from pillows around a low table. Gregor drank Nadia in, desire tightening his body.

Her knowing ebony eyes were the only evidence of the assassin he’d kissed the night before. His blood heated as he perused her from her carefully coiffed hair to her golden-sandaled feet. If he’d ever considered doubting her claims to royalty before, he would have given up such folly upon seeing her in the Diomerean noble dress. The deep ruby red silk, wrapped around her body under one arm and clasped over the shoulder of the other, contrasted dramatically with her black hair and pale skin. His fingers twitched, begging to caress the exposed skin of her bare shoulder. The cut and style of the cloth accentuated each luscious curve as it draped her tall frame, teasing him with what lay beneath. He longed to unclasp the single gold broach keeping the dress from baring her body to his gaze.

His eyes lifted, skimming over her high cheekbones until they clashed with hers. “I don’t know how Diomerean men handle letting their women out among other men dressed so alluringly.”

She raised a single dark brow. “Trust, confidence, and respect.”

Gregor smiled. “They’ve mastered jealously and possessiveness?”

She glanced at the woman standing beside her. “Some better than others,” she said, her smile sad. She reached for the hand of the smaller woman beside her. “Lord Gregor Cyrene, please meet my sister, Lady Arriana Quinones of Diomere.”

Gregor looked at the much shorter woman next to Nadia. The shape of her eyes and face proclaimed her kin to Nadia, but the resemblance ended there. Everything about the woman was small except her eyes, which smiled before her lips lifted. She was opposite in every way to her sister, except beauty. Both of them had that in abundance.

He bowed and lifted her hand to his lips. “Welcome to Thuno, Lady de Quinones.”

Nadia grimaced, but Arriana only smiled serenely. “I am Arriana Quinones de Nullo. The de before Quinones is reserved only for those legitimately born into the Quinones line, my lord. Though my sister refuses to use it, my name has the de Nullo title on the end as do all bastards within the Diomerean nobility.”

Gregor glanced at Nadia who simply shook her head. “I’d say that I hope you’ve had a pleasant stay so far, but since you’re related to my Lady Trouble, whether legitimately or not, I’ll assume you’ve managed to find some sort of quandary. Instead, I offer my unconditional assistance if ever you find yourself in need of it.”

Arriana’s musical laugh filled the room. “You know my sister well.” She shot Nadia an impish smile. “I cannot wait to tell our other sisters about you, Lady Trouble.”

Nadia smiled. “Stop it, Arri.”

The sister just laughed and waved Gregor toward the table where servants waited to serve them. “Come, Lord Cyrene. Sit. Tell me about yourself. Aside from her comment about some rather steamy dreams and your beautiful smile”—she winked at Nadia—“my sister has been tight-lipped about you.”

He smiled at the pink tinge spreading across Nadia’s face. “You’ve dreamed about me, too, love? And you think my smile beautiful?”

She gave him a bland look and turned to walk back to the sunken dining table where she lowered herself to the pillow at the head of the table and picked up her wine. “Don’t let it go to your head, Lord Cyrene. I’m sure you’ve had no end of women telling you that.”

He hadn’t, but he wouldn’t tell her that. “Your words give me hope, Lady Quinones,” he said to Arriana as he lowered himself to Nadia’s right and picked up her hand to brush a kiss across her knuckles.

Their gazes locked. A pink flush colored Nadia’s cheekbones, filling him with satisfaction. Arriana lifted a decanter of wine and poured them each a glass. Nadia looked away, and Gregor noticed the amused grin stretched across her sister’s face.

“Please, call me Arri. You’re the first man I’ve known to catch my sister’s attention since—”

“Arriana,” Nadia warned.

Arriana met her sister’s wintry glare without flinching, a sympathetic smile on her face. “—we were very young women.”

Gregor watched the battle of wills between the two sisters. He hid a smile as Arriana looked away first, even as he wondered who had broken Nadia’s trust in men.

They fell silent as servants filled his wine glass and served the first course.

Once they were alone, Arriana pinned him with a sharp gaze. “Nadia mentioned you were close to the Thunoan heir, Prince Stefan.”

Gregor took a drink of his wine and nodded. “Stefan saved me from drowning when I was twelve and he ten. We’ve been close ever since.”

Arriana’s brows lifted. “Yes, I imagine that would create quite a bond.”

“Yes.”

The two women’s gazes met, then Nadia’s sister continued her interrogation. “Nadia and I are two of five sisters, all with different mothers. We tolerate our father, at best. Please tell us you come from a healthier sort of family?”

Nadia grimaced. “Meren save us, Arri. Just put it all out there, why don’t you,” she said before drinking deeply of her wine.

Gregor bit back a smile. “My childhood was perfect until the year I turned ten when my father lost his battle against a wasting illness. My mother took a lover who disliked me immediately because I wasn’t as easy to manipulate as my elder brother. They encouraged my brother toward a life of drink and gambling which ended up taking his life two years ago and leaving my family estate in shambles. I’ve spent the last two years away from the prince’s side attempting to rebuild the family reputation. I banished my mother and her lover to our smallest country home near Sestos. As you can imagine, we aren’t close.”

Nadia’s troubled gaze met his. “I’m truly sorry for my sister’s nosiness, Gregor. Please accept our condolences for the loss of both your father and brother.”

Gregor’s gaze softened. “No need to apologize, love. Your sister has just pointed out what we have in common aside from dreams and the ability to drive each other to distraction.”

Nadia swallowed and jerked her eyes away from Gregor to see Arri watching them with a knowing smile on her face. Arriana asked Gregor another question, but Nadia ignored them.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Lifting her glass to her lips, she studied him over the rim. She let her eyes trace his wide shoulders and narrow waist. Something about his calm gaze and quiet voice called to something deep inside her. It didn’t care about her obligation to her nephew or to the responsibilities as the Shark. It needed him to accept her. His long, strong fingers reached for his wine glass and lifted it to his lips. Nadia ran her tongue along her own bottom lip, imagining it was his. After the other night, she knew it was as soft as it seemed.

Servants came in to light the lanterns hung around the room as dusk bathed the atrium and dining room in a soft orange glow.

Arriana stood, pulling Nadia’s attention from Gregor’s lips. “I’m going to retire. I’m supposed to be joining Geeta at first light to make her rounds.” Nadia glared at her sister, but Arri ignored her and smiled at Gregor. “It was very nice to meet you, Lord Cyrene. I do hope you’ll grace us with your presence once or twice more before I return to Diomere.”

Gregor stood and took Arriana’s hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Arri.” His gaze caught and held Nadia’s. “I promise to do everything in my power to convince your sister to see me again.”

Arri grinned. “Careful, my lord. She’s been known to stab first and ask questions later.” Nadia glared at her sister, who just blew her a kiss. Meddlesome brat. “You two need time to get to know each other. Do play nice, Nadia,” her sister said and turned to leave.

Gregor held the door for Arri, then returned to the table, a smile on his face. “She’s small, but feisty. I like her.”

“She reminds me of my mother, though she was born of another woman. Kind, yet fierce. I’m happy to have her in Thuno with me.” She lowered her voice. “Even if she is a meddlesome shrew.”

“All the best siblings are.” Gregor laughed. Leaning forward, he traced the outline of her hand with one finger, his smile fading. “It must have been difficult to leave them.”

“I managed,” she said with a tight smile, lifting her glass to her lips. When Gregor lifted an eyebrow at her abrupt tone, she inwardly winced. Way to go, cold-hearted shrew. Just shut down the man who’s possibly your heartbonded on his first attempt to get to know you. Nadia sighed and toyed with the stem of her glass. “Leaving home with only the possessions I could fit in a couple of trunks and the gold I had in my home safe was no big deal. It’s just stuff. But leaving my sisters? That was the second hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

“The second hardest?”

She took another drink of wine. “The first was telling my sister that I allowed her son to be taken.”

Gregor studied her face, brow furrowed. “I very much doubt you simply stepped aside the night the young prince was taken.”

“His nursemaid used a’mi to make me sleep.” Nadia lifted an unsteady hand to the scar marring her cheek. “I fell, slicing my face on a wall sconce. I fought the spell, but couldn’t shake it enough to stop her from taking my nephew.” Gregor leaned forward. “Before she left, she actually apologized for my face and used a’mi to stop the bleeding.”

“You’re sure it was a’mi and not something she put in your wine?” he asked, brow raised.

Nadia pulled her hands from his grasp. “Ah, you Thunoans and your skepticism when it comes to all things a’mi.” She rolled the stem of her wine glass between her fingers. “While I can concede that something could be slipped into drink or food, how do I explain away the scar? I didn’t have it before that night. I felt the impact with the sconce, the blood dripping down my face. When I was finally able to break the hold of the spell, dried blood still marred the jacket of my uniform, yet a freshly healed scar stretched across my face.”

Gregor leaned back, arms folded across his chest. “We are taught that the closing of the gates between the worlds made it impossible for a’mi to be used in all of Saimond. Is this not true?”

“Is not the Choosing Ceremony performed each year on the longest day in all the lands of Saimond? You saw for yourself the girl that chose a’mi and changed into her form. The portal, which brought the Keeper to Thuno to collect the tree nymph, was made of a’mi as well.” Nadia studied his thoughtful expression. A tiny seed of hope blossomed in her heart. “It’s known that each of the five kingdoms of Saimond once held a gate to Mondami. These gates make using a’mi possible.”

Gregor shook his head. “We’re taught that Thuno’s gate was one of the first destroyed so that our people could be freed from slavery. Though I don’t believe all A’mi were evil, I also don’t trust that the power hungry among them wouldn’t once again use their power to enslave humans. If the gate here does still exist, I wouldn’t want the gate opened without some way to control who comes through.”

Nadia admired his concern for his people. Gregor was one of the protectors of Thuno. She found that concern incredibly arousing and shifted in her seat. Unable to remain sitting, she pushed to her feet, refilled her glass, and then moved into the atrium. She stared at the mermaid lit by candles that floated in its basin. Her queen sister’s face, twisted with sorrow, beseeched the heavens as water poured down her face in a river of never-ending tears.

Gregor stepped up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “So much sadness. You can feel her despair as if the artist sculpted her from a living subject.”

She leaned back into his solid warmth and sipped from her glass. “In a way, he did. I sketched it myself. The face is that of my sister, Lareina, Queen of Diomere, the moment she was told of her son’s abduction.”

“Why would you commission such a thing?” Gregor asked.

Nadia clenched her jaw. “So I don’t forget why I’m here.”

He took her glass and set it on the fountain’s ledge, then slid his hands around her waist and pulled her into his body, until she rested cradled in his arms, surrounded by his heat.

He stared into her eyes. “Maybe you need to forget. Leave the past in the past.”

He lowered his mouth to hers and sucked her bottom lip between his teeth, biting down gently. Desire shot from the small sting until her body pulsed along to the pounding of her heart. The dreams, the brief encounter after Roland’s meeting, and the wine she’d imbibed left her defenseless against the onslaught of feelings. She craved him. Just this once, she wanted to forget the past and simply revel in the moment, in her desire for him.

Turning, she pressed her body to his from hip to chest and gave in to the overwhelming need, opening her mouth to the invasion of his tongue. His arms locked around her body, grinding his arousal into her stomach. Clutching his shoulders, she arched into him, her body vibrating with a need so strong it threatened to consume her. He looked hungry, his gaze dark with desire, but his lips brushed hers with unexpected gentleness. She was a strong, dominant woman, but he made her feel soft. Feminine. Cherished.

His lips continued to sensually feed from her mouth while he ran his hands up her sides, cupping her breasts through the silk of her dress. Her nipples tightened. He broke the kiss to trail his lips down the sensitive skin of her neck. When he reached the curve between neck and shoulder, he bit down. Every nerve ending in her body came alive, as if struck by lightning. And maybe she had been.

“I dream of you every night,” he whispered. “We belong together. You know it’s true.” He stared down into her eyes and pinched one of her sensitive peaks between his fingers. Her resulting moan was so sensual that she startled herself.

Gregor growled in approval and released the gold clasp holding her dress up. She watched, dazed, as the dress pooled at her waist, baring her breasts to his hungry gaze. He bent her back, his lips latching onto one taunt nipple and lashing it with his tongue until her cries filled the room. Her legs buckled and Gregor swung her up into his arms.

He nibbled at her lips as he carried her back toward the table where he laid her on a pile of pillows and pulled the dress down her hips so that she lay completely naked before him.

He sat back, his molten gold gaze moving over her body. “You’re mine, Nadia.” He stated quietly.

Her heart pounded. The quiet assurance in his voice branded her more than any shouted declaration ever would.

She reached up to trace one finger along the swollen erection straining the front of his pants. “And this belongs to me. Only me. I’ll kill any woman who thinks to touch what’s mine.”

Gregor smiled and loosened the ties on his pants. “I believe you, love.”

Nadia propped herself on her elbows, her lower muscles clenching as he lowered his pants over his hips, revealing his heavy erection, its tip glistening. Heat scorched through her. She’d never thought a man could look so beautiful.

She licked her lips and he groaned, pulling her gaze back up to his. He knelt and ran his hands up the inside of her legs, skimming her mound, then up over her stomach to cup her breasts.

“So beautiful,” he whispered.

Nadia arched, thrusting her breasts toward him as he pinched and rolled her aching nipples. When his mouth clamped onto one breast, her fingers speared through his hair, holding him in place as arrows of pleasure shot straight to her center. He released her breast, making her whimper, his mouth and teeth trailing fire down the center of her body to her bellybutton, where he paused to swirl his tongue before continuing the journey. His teeth bit, his tongue soothed, making her body writhe, making her his.

He pulled her legs over his shoulders and blew over the glistening curls protecting her throbbing center, continuing the assault on her senses. Without warning, his tongue swept up her slit, pulling a low, keening cry from her. His tongue alternated flicking hard and swirling softly across the sensitive gem hidden by her curls until she was one throbbing ball of need. Then he sucked her into his mouth while his tongue continued to flick until she was thrashing wildly.

Nothing in her life had ever prepared her for this sensual assault. Not her bumbling ex-fiancé who’d left her sore and wanting or her own inadequate fingers, which often left her feeling only mildly satisfied.

Gregor was relentless, taking over her body, giving her no time to breathe. He inserted a finger into her throbbing channel, curling and finding that spot that felt so good, causing a spike in the pressure building inside her. She knew she was a volcano about to erupt.

Her hands lifted to cup her own breasts, squeezing and twisting her nipples. He watched her fingers as he continued to suck and lash her with his tongue. She twisted her nipples harder, causing streaks of fire to race to her inner muscles, making them quake and spasm. His mouth sucked harder, her fingers continuing to twist and pull, pushing her need to the breaking point.

He inserted a second finger right as his teeth gently bit down on her clit. She screamed, her body shattering, her fingers spearing into his hair, her hips bucking as she erupted under him. His eyes glowed with satisfaction as he kissed glistening curls then moved up her body, leaving a trail of wet kisses. Then he covered her mouth, giving her a taste of herself, causing another ripple low in her stomach.

“We belong together, love, and you’re going to have no doubts about that by the time I’m done,” Gregor whispered in her ear, then he rubbed the head of his erection over her sensitive lips.

She shivered at the intense hunger in his hooded gaze, his words causing more liquid to bathe her entrance. She couldn’t believe she was ready for more so fast, but her hips arched up into him, attempting to impale herself on the hot shaft teasing her sensitive pearl.

Gregor lifted her thighs and slid, inch by inch, into her throbbing channel, prolonging the moment, committing it to memory to be pulled out later when she undoubtedly attempted to once again push him away. He could feel every heartbeat, every pulse of her inner muscles as they milked him, making him struggle for control.

He loved watching this tough as nails woman melt for him, her eyes widening as he pushed deep into her scorching heat. She was so tight around him, but they fit perfectly.

She gasped and wrapped her legs around his hips, her arms around his neck. “So good.” She sighed.

Gregor shuddered at her words, nearly losing control right there.

He rocked slowly into her, and out, clenching his teeth as her muscles squeezed around him.

She fisted her hand in his hair and, meeting his gaze, lifted a brow. “Harder, Gregor.”

He groaned, shoved deep, pulled out and thrust back in, in a rough pounding which had her clawing at his back as her body exploded again and again. Then he was pulsing inside her, hot and wet. He collapsed on her, his muscles quivering as if he’d just finished a particularly difficult training session with his men.

****

Nadia’s chest heaved as she attempted to catch her breath, her fingers lazily tracing circles on Gregor’s still quivering back. She’d never been treated with such tenderness, never had anyone look at her like he did. The patience he’d shown her spoke of an inner strength of character. She knew he felt their connection, the potential for the heartbond, but the fact that he didn’t know of such a thing and still trusted the pull he felt for her was astounding.

She blushed. He hadn’t hesitated to give her exactly what she demanded when she’d needed more. Her heart throbbed in her chest. He was nothing like the men she’d known in the past, which made him so much more dangerous. She studied his face, the long lashes resting on his cheeks as he came down from his orgasm. Somehow, in only a short time, she’d begun to have real feelings for him. Her heart started to pound. She wanted to let him in so badly, but did she have any right to find happiness before her nephew was returned to Diomere? And what happened if she completed the bond she could feel pushing at her, only to die in her attempts to keep assassins from Reis?

Once heartbonded their lives would be forever linked.

Though it might end any possibility of him ever accepting the heartbond if she did survive efforts to return her nephew to Diomere, she couldn’t tell him. She had to push him away. She had to protect him.

Gregor opened his eyes and studied her face, his expression morphing from relaxed to resigned.

He opened his mouth, and Nadia looked away, pushing him off her. “Don’t.”

She sat up and reached for her dress, ignoring his sigh. Standing, she pulled her dress back on. “We can’t do this. I can’t do this. I have to focus on the search for my nephew.”

She stood and stalked over to the gold clasp laying discarded on the floor near the fountain. When she was once again properly covered, she turned back toward him, avoiding his gaze. “The Shark has accepted your Prince’s proposition.”

Gregor slowly stood and pulled on his pants, tightening the strings with short jerks of his fingers. He let the silence lengthen as he studied the closed expression on her face. “You’ve given so many years to a country that turned you away for something you couldn’t have stopped. The child is most likely dead. Is it really worth it?”

Nadia crossed her arms over her chest. “I won’t stop looking until I’ve found him, dead or alive.”

Gregor’s eyes drifted over her face, and she tilted her chin up. “You’re a stubborn woman, Nadia de Quinones, but I’m not giving up. You could still look for your nephew while we’re together, but you know that. Which means there’s some other reason you’re hell bent on pushing me away.” When she didn’t say anything, he continued. “Fine. I’ve got to get back to the palace anyway and prepare for Prince Reis’ foray into Volos in the morning.”

Nadia’s heart lurched into her throat. “You’re allowing him to risk his life?”

“He’s a royal, even if an illegitimate one. I’ve advised him of my concerns, but he wishes to proceed with his plans. He’s beginning to carve out a niche for himself with the people and doesn’t want to disappoint them. Like all young men, he believes himself invincible and wouldn’t agree to my counsel.” Nadia turned as Gregor stalked to the table and picked up his forgotten glass of wine, taking a deep pull from the glass. He gave her a hard look. “He’ll be surrounded by so many guards that he won’t be able to do much more than wave to the populace.”

Nadia nodded. She would send Jon and a team of her people out to provide extra support to the prince’s guard.

“What do you know about Prince Reis’ mother?”

Gregor’s gaze sharpened on her. “What does Jasna have to do with any of this?”

She let amusement lift the corners of her mouth. “You didn’t think the Shark was going to just blindly accept the job without more information, did you?”

His eyes heated, and her smile faded. “Jasna was an exotic courtesan. She appeared seemingly from nowhere and was in the Dieuroi’s bed almost immediately. She announced she was pregnant a few months later, then disappeared. Dieuroi Mavros was incensed. He sent out search parties, but it was as though she’d never existed. A year later, she reappeared with Prince Reis, claiming he was the Dieuroi’s bastard. She disappeared again when the boy was three and hasn’t been heard from since. That was nearly ten years ago.”

“What did she look like?”

Gregor’s brows lifted. “She had long red hair and pale green eyes. Why?”

“She stayed long enough to make sure the boy would be protected and cared for as a prince should be until I arrived,” Nadia muttered to herself, remembering Jasara’s last words to her that fateful night.

It is time for the Sankta Hogo-sha to make themselves known. The gates must be opened. I’m sorry, mia sarko kuraga, but this is the only way. Come find him or all will be lost.

Nadia gasped. The gates. Of course. It all made sense now. But how had Jasara known?

“What do mean, until you arrived?” Gregor asked.

Nadia jerked her head up and met his suspicious glare, forcing herself to think through her sex-hazed brain. “It’s fate,” she said, shrugging her shoulders in feigned nonchalance. “I couldn’t save my nephew twelve years ago, so now I’m being given a second chance by saving your Prince Reis.”

Gregor searched her face. “You’re just the Shark’s emissary. How exactly is it that you’ll be saving Prince Reis?” Nadia met his probing gaze, forcing herself to keep her emotions from her face and remain silent. Gregor’s eyes narrowed. “Roland was right. You’re warming the Shark’s bed, giving you the power to influence the guild boss and therefore absolve yourself of the guilt over losing your nephew.”

Nadia inwardly flinched under the chilling calm of his voice, pulling on her Shark persona to hide her emotions, and using her skirts to hide her clenched fists.

When she continued to sit in silence, Gregor stiffened. “I’m right,” he said, his voice hollow. He turned away from her. “You haven’t been playing hard to get at all. You’ve been fighting this thing between us in some misguided need for power in order to absolve yourself of guilt.”

Nadia shook her head, trying to make her sluggish thoughts keep up with his words. She needed time to think. Gregor jerked back around to face her and by the stricken look on his face, she knew he’d taken her silence as confirmation that he was correct. A fist closed around her heart. It was for the best, wasn’t it?

He moved to the door and stopped with his hand on the door’s latch. “The logical part of me knows that I should be on guard against you, that you can’t be trusted. And yet, I still want you.” His shoulders lifted as he inhaled. “Gods help us both.”

Without looking back, he pulled the door open and left.

Nadia sat in stunned silence, her heart pounding hard in her chest. Too late, she remembered Geeta’s failing health. But more painful was the ache in the deepest recesses of her heart for the pain she’d seen reflected in Gregor’s gaze. All to protect her secrets.

She lowered her head into her hands. What had she done?