The Princes Bound [The Princes Book 1] (9 page)

Even though his kingdom had yet to be attacked, Mathis could relate to the constant fear for his people's well-being. To actually know people had died because others objected to him being in power was surely wearing heavily on Talin's mind. “What do you plan to do about them?"

Talin leaned his head back to rest it against the back of his chair. “I've kept it under control without declaring an all-out war. I'd hoped allying myself with Roarke would be enough. Few should be willing to take on Noventia and Bevelaire, but these damned attacks continue!"

It was the first time that Talin had voiced his concerns to him. Whatever their differences, Talin was still his brother. He hated the despair in his brother's voice.

Mathis crossed the room and put his hand on Talin's shoulder. “You are not at fault. Who knows what madness the rebels are thinking by attacking innocent villagers? But I will support you whatever you choose."

Talin nodded. “Thank you. I should go send word to Nadia.” He lifted himself out of the chair and then paused. “Unless you prefer to do it yourself?"

Mathis snorted as his brother wriggled his eyebrows suggestively. He did not bother to deny his interest in Talin's captain. “She refuses to see me."

Talin saluted him with his glass. “Good luck with that. She can be quite stubborn when she sets her mind to it."

"Believe me, I know.” Mathis heaved a sigh.

"After that, I'm off to woo my bride. You are not the only one with female troubles.” Talin's voice was light, but Mathis sensed an undercurrent of determination.

His brother was definitely up to something, but damned if he knew what it was.

It was another beautiful night. Nadia slipped outside and took a deep breath of the rose-scented air. Stones crunched under her feet as she cut across the courtyard and skirted the edge of the garden.

She'd stayed late at the palace to give last minute instructions to her recruits as they prepared for their journey to Wainswright. How Nadia wished she was going with them.

She'd asked Talin if she could join them, but he claimed he needed her to stay in N'ior. She couldn't be completely sure, but she suspected Mathis had something to do with Talin's refusal.

Luckily she'd been sane enough to not question Talin about it. There would be no end to his teasing if he'd known a man had gotten close enough to unsettle her.

Did she really want to know the truth? If Mathis had interfered with her career, she should be upset, but her subconscious argued that she would secretly be pleased that she didn't have to leave him yet.

The royals had gone in to dinner about fifteen minutes earlier. To avoid an accidental encounter, she'd purposefully waited until Mathis was in the formal dining hall before leaving the palace.

She crossed near the fountain and silently urged herself not to look toward the area where Mathis had kissed her, failing miserably. And she would have missed spotting the intruder had she not happened to turn her gaze at exactly the right moment.

A flash of black toward the edge of the hedge maze made her pause mid-step, and one hand fell toward the hilt of the sword at her waist. No one should be in the garden, especially not someone who did his best to not be seen.

Nadia lifted her face to the tower and caught the attention of the guard on duty. She signaled to him to keep watch and darted toward the last spot she'd seen the man.

The hedge maze was laid out in a circular fashion. Nadia played there as a child and hoped she could remember the way out. She searched the labyrinth with care, going down one corridor after another until she was certain she'd searched every inch.

She must've been mistaken. There was no way the man could have entered the maze and exited without passing by her.

She planted her hands on her hips and scanned the gardens. Then she saw him.

He was easing between the lines of shrubs that edged the western entrance to the palace.

With another quick, silent signal to the guard, she circled and caught up to him as he crossed the stone walkway leading to the palace. “Halt!"

The man froze and swung a terrified face toward her.

Nadia's shouted command gained the attention of others. Soldiers patrolling the neighboring areas of the castle soon joined her.

When he saw he was outnumbered, the man attempted a desperate escape. He surged across the walkway and darted toward the small patch of woods that surrounded the northern end of the palace.

If he made it to the woods, it would be hell to find him in the darkness.

An archer waited in the tower, and, at Nadia's signal, he drew back his bow and released an arrow.

Nadia heard the cry as the man went down. She hoped he was merely wounded, not mortally injured, so they could interrogate him. She must know why he was prowling around the palace grounds.

She was the first to reach him.

It was indeed just a flesh wound. The arrow had pierced his thigh, but the wound did not seem to be life threatening.

Nadia quickly searched him for weapons and, finding he had none, rolled him onto his back and pinned him to the ground.

He wasn't much older than Hugh and appeared terrified.

"Don't kill me!” he gasped. His words were garbled from the hold she had on his throat.

Nadia loosened her grip the tiniest bit. “Why are you sneaking around the palace gardens?"

His eyes were wide with fear, but his lips remained stubbornly closed.

Nadia jerked her head toward the soldiers that gathered behind her. “Tell me now or the others will make you talk. I promise it will be easier on you if you do as I say."

His bottom lip trembled, and then he finally spoke in a high, quivering voice. “My father sent me. He gave me a vial and wanted me to bribe a servant to pour it in the prince's wine."

Panic nearly stopped her heart. “Which prince?"

"Talin of Noventia.” The boy said his name as if it were a curse.

Her pulse raced with anger from the attempt on her prince's life. Nadia's heart slowly resumed its normal pattern, although she still had to deal with the threat.

She searched the boy and found the vial in his front pocket. She put it in her own pocket and then gripped the front of the boy's shirt. “Who is your father?"

"I ... I won't tell you.” His eyes fluttered closed. The loss of blood had probably caused his faint.

Nadia got to her feet and barked instructions at the group of soldiers who stood around her. “Take this boy to the dungeon, and then fetch a surgeon. When he wakes, see what else you can find out."

She singled out one of the soldiers that lingered. “See to it extra guards are assigned to Prince Talin. I will go and inform him what has happened. Send word to my father and ask him to meet us in the prince's study."

So much for her plan to not see Mathis this evening.

Nadia hurried back to the castle and entered the dining hall, barely pausing to acknowledge the guests as she strode toward Talin's table.

Her prince watched her as she approached, calmly setting aside his wineglass and getting to his feet in one smooth motion. “Pardon me, but it seems I am needed."

He met her halfway and took hold of her elbow. “What has happened?"

Nadia spared a glance around the room, noting the varying degrees of interest in their conversation.

Mathis appeared worried. Roarke's face was a mask of polite disinterest, while Rowena's was openly hostile.

An odd reaction from the prince's betrothed, but perhaps the future princess wasn't happy with her father's selection.

She brought her eyes back to Talin and whispered as quietly as she could. “There has been an incident. A boy attempted to sneak into the palace and bribe a servant to poison you."

Talin showed no outward reaction to the information. “When?"

"Just now. I caught him in the gardens. He is being taken to the dungeon as we speak. I've asked my father to meet us in your study"

Talin appeared calm as he nodded. “Wait for me there. I will meet you as soon as I can.” To the crowd, he made an expansive gesture with his hands. “Continue eating, my friends. It seems we have much to celebrate tonight. The fact that I'm still breathing for example."

Nadia left the room amid chuckles from the guests.

Leave it to Talin to make light of any situation, like an attempt on his life.

A somber group convened in Talin's study.

Mathis did not enjoy learning that his brother's life had been threatened. Thankfully, the ever-vigilant Nadia had prevented the threat.

"Could it be the rebels?"

Collin, who stood near Talin's desk, nodded in weariness. “It's the most obvious suspect. Who else would want to harm our prince?"

"A jilted lover perhaps?” Talin quipped with an easy smile.

"This is not a joke, Your Highness!” Nadia's eyes blazed with fury as she turned on her prince. “Can you be serious for once?"

Mathis admired Nadia for her bravery. His brother's temper was legendary if invoked.

Talin merely sobered and nodded. “You're right, Nadia. Forgive me."

Collin reached for the vial his daughter had placed on the desk when she'd first detailed the events to them. He held it to the light and studied the pale liquid. “Do you know what it is?"

She shook her head. “I haven't opened it. I must confess I headed straight to inform the prince and didn't think to check the vial."

Collin pulled out the stopper and a sickly sweet smell invaded the room.

Mathis sniffed, a vague recollection crossing his mind. He glanced toward his brother to see if he recalled the odor as well.

Talin's brows drew together as he frowned. “That scent is familiar."

"May I?” Mathis took the vial from Collin and sniffed again. “Unless I miss my guess, this would do nothing other than make Talin ... shall we say ... indisposed for a couple days."

A short bark of laughter escaped his brother. “That conniving wench!"

All of them turned to stare at Talin with incredulity.

Mathis was the first to speak. “You think she had something to do with it?"

"I'd bet my life on it.” Talin shrugged dismissively. “Or in this case, my bowels."

Nadia held up a hand, her face a mask of confusion. “Wait. What is in the vial? And who did this?"

Mathis put the stopper back in the vial and handed it to her. “It is merely oil from several plants that aid the bowels. Our nurse used to make us drink it when our bellies ached."

She frowned. “Why would someone go to all that trouble then if its effects only last a couple of days?"

Mathis started to speak, but he saw the confusion give way to comprehension on Nadia's face.

Her eyes widened with apparent disbelief. “The princess! She is trying to ruin the wedding."

Talin softly applauded. “Well done, Nadia. You have probably made an enemy of my dear bride as well by ruining her plans. It's quite apparent she cannot condone me. At least I'll be in good company."

Mathis thought now was as good a time as any to talk his brother out of this ridiculous marriage. “Then why go through with it? All you have to do is walk away now. This is your perfect excuse."

Talin steepled his fingers together under his chin and assumed a thoughtful pose. “You're probably right, but perhaps it's best I have her under my roof where I can keep an eye on her."

Mathis could not understand his brother's reasoning at all.

"You're mad! Absolutely, utterly mad!” He paced the floor and then finally slapped his hands down on Talin's desk. “I demand that you end it now."

Talin ignored his command and instead glanced over his shoulder at Nadia. “Please escort my brother to his room. I fear these events have overwhelmed him."

She walked over and put a hand against his back. “Come, Your Highness."

Mathis choked back a curse. He pointed a finger at his brother, frustration causing his hand to shake. “I've never understood you. Not when we were children and not now. But I know you're not as cold as you pretend to be, Talin. End this now before you ruin both of your lives."

Nadia touched his elbow, and he glanced up to see the worry in her beautiful eyes. He could see on her face loyalty to his brother warred with her concern for him. It was her distress that convinced him to leave it be.

Without another word to Talin, he turned and strode out of the room with Nadia on his heels.

He strode down the hall, intent on getting away from his brother. The sound of Nadia's footsteps continued to trail him. Mathis sighed and slowed his pace. “You do not have to show me to my room, Nadia. I know the way."

She continued to follow him. “The prince commanded me to."

"Well
this
prince commands you not to!” He spoke louder than he'd intended. He turned to apologize.

A hurt expression drifted across Nadia's face before she set her chin with resolution. “I must do as
my
prince orders."

"Bloody hell! Have it your way then."

Mathis was in a foul mood, and he knew Nadia was not to blame. He wanted to punch something, preferably his brother's face, but that would solve nothing.

The best he could hope for was that Talin would come to his senses before he actually married the girl. Then Mathis could return to Isidor and make sure it was protected and put all of this behind him.

No, he didn't want to put everything behind him, but Nadia had made it clear she did not want him.

At least, she didn't want him enough. He was not a man who settled half way. He and his brother were alike in that respect at least.

She would have to make the next move. He would not seduce her into changing her mind. He only wanted her if she was willing.

The minutes it took to get to his chambers passed in awkward silence. He suffered the entire way, alternately fuming about and then desiring the woman beside him.

Mathis opened the carved door to his chamber and turned to say farewell, but he couldn't force the words past his lips.

He didn't want to say goodbye. What he really wanted to do was pull Nadia into his room and make love to her until she couldn't walk. But he couldn't handle another rejection.