Rise of the Shadow Warriors (12 page)

Argan came toward her, eyes searing her where she stood. His knuckles grazed her bare middriff with a gentle touch. His gaze dropped lower, following the path of his hand which paused to tug on the bottom of her short skirt. “You will not wear this again.”

Caught off guard by his husky tones, it took a moment for the words to sink in. When they did, Shaina jerked. “What?”

Argan raised a brow but moved away from her, his hand falling from her skirt. “It is meant to entice, bride. You will not entice other warriors.”

Her mouth snapped close. Taking a deep death, Shaina reached for his hand and entwined their fingers. “The only reason I’m not challenging that statement is because we’re already late.”

Chapter 17

Argan followed Shaina once more through the shifts and turns in the tunnels. Her home was made of a network of caves connected by intersecting passages. Glow stones on the dark stone walls lit the way and kept the space from being oppressive. His attention should have been on the cavern, seeking its strength and weakness in terms of defense but instead he focused on his bride. More specifically on his hand which she held.

From their limited time together he assumed Shaina to be affectionate. She stroked, she touched, she petted. And for all his lack of experience in such physical contact with a female, Argan soaked it in. The sensations filled a hole in his chest he didn’t know existed. What he didn’t like was her clothing. Or lack of. If he thought her leathers and vest revealing it was nothing compared to the top and shortened skirt she now wore which tested his limits.

From his view behind her, the straps on the back of the minuscule top exposed the smooth curve of her spine and ended at the tiny indentations of her waist. The skirt skimmed sleek thighs as her toned limbs strode with purpose. Without weapons, her hips moved from side to side unencumbered attracting stares from those they passed. Argan glared, tempted to stop and shove their eyes back in their head with his fists.

These were the clothes a woman wore if she wanted a warrior to look long and hard at her body. Argan didn’t want anyone else looking at that which was his and imagining Shaina in their arms. The very thought of another touching her had his fingers tightening on hers. She glanced over her shoulder brows crinkled. Argan had no response and stayed silent. If he gave voice to his words, he’d demand she return to her room and change.

He knew they’d reached their destination when he heard laughter from the opening of the cavern in front of them and by the deep breath Shaina took before facing him. “Ready?”

Argan’s greatest concern centered on making sure her people accepted the bond between them. Nothing else mattered. The thought drew his eyes to the marks on her neck.

“Argan?” Her brow creased and her fingers rubbed his.

“At last you show.”

Argan tensed and turned to face the new threat. An older warrior with light colored hair and eyes a matching silver to Shaina’s stood before them, barring the entrance.

His bride released his hand and Argan instantly missed the contact. “Ivak, let me introduce you to my husband. The new Shadow King, Argan of Kaban.”

This was Ivak. Tall like many of the other Olak’din Argan had come across so far. Minor creases at the corner of his silver eyes spoke of his age but the warrior kept himself in good condition evidenced by the form-fitting green vest and black leather pants he wore. His stare pierced Argan in anger which he carefully blanked a moment later. Argan controlled his urge to warn the man from causing Shaina more trouble.

“Argan, my father’s former guard, Ivak G’Arl.”

Ivak’s lips pressed tight as he inclined his head toward Argan but continued to speak to Shaina. “What you’ve done won’t excuse your actions.”

Argan wondered if Shaina would be upset if he ended the insolent warrior in his first duty as King. He wasn’t sure what the role entailed but if it allowed him to match steel with the man before him, he’d eagerly accept.

“I need to introduce my husband to everyone.” Shaina pushed forward and Argan made sure to be a step behind her, shoulder bumping Ivak as they left the angered man behind.

The mood in the cavern was mixed. Men and women grouped together in small circles. Some had drinks in their hands as they laughed and chatted while others leaned close and whispered feverishly amongst themselves. Argan considered the latter more dangerous for the intensity they brought to the otherwise festive air.

Shaina introduced him to a number of men and women, their names a blur. Most had eyes of silver or blue with hair in varying shades from darkest black to waves of bright blond. Only Shaina had hair of fire shot with gold. The bright red color separated her from the others in more ways than one. They were a warrior people easily noted at first glance. Most wore swords belted at their waist and Argan could only assume their skill matched Shaina’s.

His bride spoke with friendliness to each person, listened attentively to whatever story they shared as if it was of upmost importance and while some in the room glared his way none vocalized their discontent.

At one point, Shaina broke away from a group of well wishers to identify the elders of her people. They huddled together and met his stare with apprehension. Though he had not expected an enthusiastic welcome, at least the majority of them remained courteous. Then she introduced him to two elders he could tell meant a lot to her.

“This is Fesin and this is Ogar.”

Fesin shook Argan’s hand but Ogar stepped forward and embraced him briefly. The overtly familiar gesture caused him to stiffen but she released him before he could protest. At his side, Shaina smirked but lowered her head and took a sip from her cup to hide her expression. Argan was glad when they moved on.

He kept an eye on any who cast openly hostile glances overlong at his bride. Ivak and a light brown haired warrior were the only two doing such.

“Who is the warrior along the wall?” Argan asked, nodding his head at the man beside Ivak.

Shaina grimaced after searching the room. “Mandok.”

Her look spoke volumes about her feelings. Mandok wasn’t as tall as Argan but his thick build and muscular frame was similar to Vaan’s. His mouth compressed into a thin line as he continued to shoot dark glares in Shaina’s direction every few minutes. Tension increased along Argan’s shoulder until he could ignore the slight no longer.

“Don’t move,” he ordered Shaina, hoping she’d listen as he walked toward the two warriors.

Some matters were best handled directly. Stares from her people burned holes in his back but they didn’t hold Argan’s attention. The path cleared before him when it became obvious where he headed. Ivak’s lip twitched as if amused but Argan chose to ignore him for the moment.

“Is there something you would say, warrior?” He asked Mandok.

Broad shoulders shrugged beneath a tan waist-length vest. Mandok’s mouth curled in a sneer. “Nothing to you, Kabanian.”

Argan grunted. “Something you would say to your Queen perhaps?”

Mandok’s gaze shifted over Argan’s shoulders. “Nothing I’m afraid to say to her directly.”

Footsteps whispered across the floor and Argan held back a groan as Shaina brushed against his side. Listening was not a strong suit for his bride.   

“Is there a problem, Argan?”

She wrapped an arm around the back of his waist and clasped him in the front with the other, her palm flat on his belly. If she sought to hold him back, she’d chosen an effective method since Argan would have to handle her roughly to break away which he wouldn’t do.

Mandok smiled and bowed slightly to Shaina, the gesture mocking in its formality. “I’m greeting the new King of the Olak’din.” His eyes shifted to Argan’s. “We don’t have a problem do we, Kabanian?”

Argan didn’t change his expression by so much as a twitch as he stared into Mandok’s eyes. “I am known as the Death Dealer among my people but you may call me Warlord Argan,” he paused before adding, “Or King Argan if it is your wish.”

Mandok snarled and lunged toward him but Shaina pushed herself between them. Argan realized a second too late what would happen as he grasped for his bride’s waist to lift her out of the way. Mandok’s forward momentum combined with Shaina’s foolish move caused the heavy warrior to crash into her and send her stumbling backward though she caught herself at the last minute from hitting the floor.

Argan didn’t care. Red hazed his vision as he grabbed Mandok and slammed him into the stone of the cavern wall, a forearm at the warrior’s throat.

“Argan, no!” Shaina cried out.

Argan increased the pressure of his arm and Mandok’s disgruntled features flashed with fear. “You will have a care in the future, yes? You would not want to hurt your Queen.”

Mandok glared but choked out, “It was an accident. Surely you saw that.”

They’d gained the attention of others in the room. Shaina pressed a light hand at the small of his back though she didn’t speak again, leaving it to him to end the moment. It went against the warrior in him to release the one who’d almost made his bride fall but now was not the time for creating fear in her people. Argan leaned close for Mandok’s ears only and whispered, “You will watch your step with her as I will watch you.”

He reluctantly released him and stepped back. Mandok avoided his gaze but sent Shaina a hate filled glare as he left. Ivak viewed it all and said, “So this is who you would make King, Shaina?”

Ivak followed Mandok and left as well.

Argan turned to Shaina knowing he should apologize but she slid her arms around his waist and leaned into him. “You do liven up a party, husband.”

***

Argan woke the next morning when the warm body cuddled on his chest wiggled. He opened his eyes just as Shaina sat up and stretched. Argan twisted to the side and glanced around. He remembered getting up to sleep on the floor when she nodded off in the bed last night. How had he not noticed when she joined him?

She smiled down at him and placed a smacking kiss on his cheek. “Morning tide, Argan.”

He flinched from the sudden intimacy of the affectionate gesture but returned her greeting. “Morning tide.”

She rose from the jumble of blankets and walked past his side of the makeshift bed without concern. His gaze crawled eagerly over the sight of her naked backside in the morning light. Her goal was the door he hadn’t noticed. A few minutes later water gurgled and she returned presenting him with an unobstructed view of her front.

She was beautiful. Argan had always appreciated the fine figure of a woman. Kabanian women with their lush frames, the Raasa with their ingrained sensuality but none of them moved as Shaina did. He wanted to reach out and touch her. Feel the softness of her skin beneath his fingers once more. He hesitated, unsure of his next actions.

Shaina had no such worry. She crawled back into the blankets on the floor and curled along Argan’s side, her arms wrapping around his middle, her head landing on the center of his chest. Strands of her fiery hair spilled over his arm and torso. Ever so careful, Argan reached up and threaded his fingers through the loose curls. Soft indeed. Unable to resist, he stroked from the top of her small head to the ends of the red length. The scent of her and their bed play covered him.

Shaina moaned and slid closer though there was barely any room between them on the sliver of space on the floor. “Don’t stop, Argan. It feels wonderful.”

Instantly, his toqa hardened. Her words teased. Did she really like his hands in her hair?

“This pleases you?”

Another moan followed by a small yawn. Argan found himself amused by the sound. They had spent a large part of the night in pleasure. “You should rest.”

“After.”

Argan had no time to ponder her statement before she suddenly leaned over pinning him on his back as her legs came over his hips as she sat astride him. “After?”

Her smile was full of wicked intent. “After, husband.”

Argan controlled his reaction to her use of the title. It warmed his middle when she acknowledged the claim he had on her. His eyes settle on the unfamiliar letters branded on her neck. His name.

“Is this norm for your people?” he asked as his fingers traced over the still red marks.

“Yes.” Shaina slid her hands over the planes of his chest, gaze everywhere but his face.

She stroked along his sides before settling in the ends of his hair and caressing his nape. The touch soothed and aroused as evident by his thick toqa nudging at her moist entrance. Her smirk revealed she knew what effect she had on him.

“Does it still hurt?” His concern for her negated a little of his desire.

Shaina shifted and liquid heat bathed the tip of his toqa as she glided down taking him deep into her body. Her moan coincided with his groan. “The pain was gone immediately after.”

Her breathless answer reassured even as Argan thrust beneath her. Were they to continue on the floor? “The bed is but feet away, Shaina.”

Her head tilted down to meet his gaze as she continued to rock above him. “But
you’re
right here, Argan.”

Her lower muscles clenched him to emphasize her teasing words. Argan’s hands drifted down to her waist where he clasped her hips firmly to still her motions. The pleasure almost overwhelmed but he needed an answer to his next question. “Why did you join me on the floor as I slept?”

Kabanian men did not sleep with their brides. To lay with a woman while unprotected called for a level of trust that many warriors deemed foolish.

Shaina shrugged. “Where you sleep, I sleep.” She grimaced. “Although I hope you choose the bed in the future as it made for an uncomfortable night on the floor.”

Her explanation amazed him and reminded Argan of his talk with Vaan. It confused him that Shaina would wish to sleep by his side. He frowned as he tried to figure out why she would want to do so.