Allegra pulled her head away. “If you dont stop, Ill put you to sleep for a century.
His wicked smile flashed. “Only if you can use your own delectable curves. He slid her up the wall, lifting her until his pelvis pressed against hers, his erection rubbing the silk of her skirt where he had teased so mercilessly.
Allegra struggled, her hands sliding against his biceps, her body moving against his. Her attempts to free herself backfired; the more she fought, the more it aroused him. It affected her almost as much to feel his strong body and the flex of his muscles while she inhaled his smell, sweaty and soapy at the same time.
“Prince Markus? a man called from somewhere distant.
“Not now, Markus muttered, tugging on her skirt.
“Youd better answer him, Allegra said.
He bit her earlobe while he rubbed his erection against her stomach. “Hell go away if I dont.
She tried to wriggle down from where he was holding her, but he just slid her up higher on the wall, enough so he could suckle her breast. She groaned as her nipples hardened. Damn man. Somehow he knew just how to arouse her.
Embarrassed as much by her own reaction as by what he was doing, she thwacked him on the head. “Quit groping me, Your Hedonistic Highness.
“My what? Laughing, he let her slide to her feet. “Come on, Allegra, he coaxed. “Stop fighting me. Admit it. You like the way I touch you.
“Sire? the man called. He sounded closer, maybe even near the top of the path that led up the mesa.
“Ah, hells, Markus said. He scooped her clothes off the ground and thrust them into her hands. “Cover yourself up.
By the time the man came around the wall of rock, she had the halter back in place and had almost finished pulling on her robe. Markus stood in front of her, blocking her from view, but she saw who had arrived. Lieutenant Borjan.
“Sire, General Yargazon sent me Borjan stopped when he saw Allegra quickly tying the robe. “Ah. Oh. He scratched his ear. “My apologies. I didnt mean to disturb you.
“What does Yargazon want? Markus asked.
“A scout just came in. He thought you would want a report.
“Oh. Yes, I do. Markus pushed his hand through his hair, disarraying the locks Allegra had so carefully brushed last night. “Tell him Ill be right down.
“Right away. The lieutenant made a fast exit.
“I have to attend to this, Markus grumbled. “Well finish later. Under his breath, he added, “If I dont go crazy by then.
She couldnt help but smile. “You mean you havent already? she asked innocently.
“I swear, you will drive me to it. He gathered up his pack and motioned her toward the path. “Come.
“I can wait for you up here, she offered.
“And run away as soon as Im gone, no doubt. He stretched out his arm, pointing at the path. “Come. Now, woman.
“Markus, cant you at least be courteous about it?
“What?
“Come, she said in a deep voice, mimicking him. “Now, woman. You order me around like Im your dog.
“Youre not my dog, he said crossly. “Youre my slave.
Allegra folded her arms, glared at him and stayed put.
Markus lifted his hand as if inviting her to dinner. “Allegra, will you please accompany me down to my tent?
Saints above. He could actually be courteous. She lowered her arms. “Yes, certainly.
The path wound down the outside of the mesa. It dropped off to their left, but it was wide enough that she didnt fear she would fall. She kept her hand on the cliff to her right for support. Although sand dribbled off under her palm, the stone was solid.
Markus followed her. “How deeply can you make a person sleep? he asked.
“I dont know.
“Could you do it so they didnt wake up?
Allegra froze. Then she swung around to him. “Are you asking me if I can kill?
He stood above her on the path. “Well, no. But its a good question. Can you?
“No! Even if I could, I never would. How could you ask such a thing?
He came closer to her. “Im the outlawed sovereign of a conquered country. I have to think in those terms to survive.
She spoke more quietly. “I dont know what the empress did, but its not something I could replicate even if I were willing. I have nothing resembling that kind of power.
He cupped his hand under her chin. “I dont know what you can do. But Ill find out.
“If I hurt others, Markus, I hurt myself.
His voice softened. “I would never wish that.
She took a breath, trying to calm her agitation. Then she turned and resumed the descent. He was a leader of contrasts, compassionate one moment, harsh the next, and she was discovering a compelling man beneath the emotional armor of his exterior. She didnt want to be attracted to him. Too much danger existed on that path. He couldnt force her to use her spells for violence, but now that he knew about them, he would be even more vigilant about keeping watch over her. With every step she took farther into this parched desert, her hope for freedom faded, becoming as pale as the stoneblue sky.
CHAPTER 8
THE ANVIL
Markuss company camped among the eerie stone formations that marked the first ranks of the new mountain range they had been approaching all day. Jutting columns of rock alternated with stretches of sand, all red and ocher in the daylight, with flecks of other colors: metallic blues, violet and the false gold of feldspar. Stubby plants clung to the rocks, dark green and tenacious. Dust drifted in the air, stirred by the passage of so many horses and men. Night dropped its star-dusted cloak with the speed of a hawk descending for its prey.
After supper, Markus met with his top officers: General Yargazon, General Ardoz and Colonel Bladebreak. They sat in his tent at a low table, drinking wine as they talked. Candles on the table shed gold light across their faces. Allegra lay on a blanket across the tent among a tumble of pillows. Markus had insisted she take off her robe, leaving her in only the red skirt and halter. He claimed it was because the braziers warmed up the tent, but she knew perfectly well he wanted the others to see her. It was some annoying status thing among the men. They all looked at her when they came in with a disquieting hunger, especially Yargazon. She tried to ignore them, but it was difficult when they stared.
Although she pretended to sleep, she kept her eyes open enough to see them. And she listened. Military advisors in Aronsdale would never have discussed their plans in front of someone who hadnt sworn loyalty to their cause, asleep or not. These officers didnt even seem to see beyond the sexy clothes and curves of her body. It was an advantage to their attitude she hadnt realized before; they lowered their guard around her in ways they would never do with a man. They plotted strategy as if she wasnt in the room.
Yargazon was speaking. “I had thought last year, after the queens people discovered the assassination plot, that they killed the assassins. But it appears one may be alive.
Markus lowered his wineglass. “Where is he?
“My agent has infiltrated the palace, Yargazon said. “He thinks our man is in a cell, but he doesnt know the location.
General Ardoz, a large man with a shock of black hair sprinkled with gray, reclined on a cushion. “If theyve had him for a year, hes probably broken by now. The queen may know our plans to put the atajazid on the Topaz Throne.
Allegra stiffened. The Topaz Throne? That was Taka Mal, not Jazid. It sounded as if they had tried to murder the queen of Taka Mal and install the boy atajazid in her place. The plan must have failed.
“They already know, Markus growled. “That damn priestess told them. He scowled at his officers. “I fail to understand how one girl could escape an armed war camp and reach the queen in less than a day.
“She obviously had help, Yargazon said.
“It doesnt add up. That came from Colonel Bladebreak, a heavyset man with bristly gray hair and a stomach tending to fat. “No matter how many times I analyze it, the facts dont fit. Even with an unusually fast horse and help from the Taka Mal army, she needed over a day to get so far. She managed in less than twelve hours.