settle my obligation to Galaxy Brides."
"Maybe you should read the fine print," Zoran said. "Since I chose you, you can’t leave unless the wedding isn’t finished. If you leave me and I complain, you will have to pay them back for breach of contract."
Pia spun to him in horror. Her eyes were round and her voice was an inaudible murmur, as she asked, "Why would you do that?"
"Because you are my wife." His jaw was stiff. It was a shallow victory, but he’d take it. Lowering his tone, his eyes were still hard, as he stated, "You belong with me."
"I have no choice, do I?" Pia asked, though she didn’t expect or receive an answer. "You’re serious."
"Very."
Pia gasped for breath. She looked completely stricken. Her lips trembled and her eyes became moist. The tears didn’t fall.
Zoran was sorry that it had come to this. He’d never wanted to force her hand, but if she kept speaking of divorcing him someone would eventually overhear it. It would dishonor him and his family. The divorce would never be granted. As a Prince, one of the votes was his and he would never allow it. But, the shame of going through the trial would undermine his authority with the men and embarrass everyone involved.
Pia slowly nodded at him. She felt numb. Sighing in resignation, she said, "You win, Zoran. You win. There will be no divorce."
As she turned to leave him, Zoran didn’t feel like he’d won anything. Her shoulders held back, proud. She didn’t cry or pout over her fate. She handled it with dignity.
"Pia," he called, not knowing what he could say to bridge the gap between them. He only hoped that time would mend it. She stopped, waiting. "Thanks for looking after my arm."
At that, he heard her give a short, humorless laugh. "What else is a wife for?"
Chapter Seven
Zoran left his home with the dawn. Pia was fast asleep on the couch, curled into a ball beneath the blanket. He felt terrible for forcing her hand, but was proud of how well she accepted her fate. She didn’t cry or whine. She honored herself well.
Standing, arms crossed, he shouted commands to the young soldiers. He couldn’t slack in his duties. But as hard as he’d pushed the men lately, he could call off early in the day and give them a break. He wanted to extend a peace offering to Pia, maybe get her out of the house for a little bit.
Seeing one of his brothers, Olek, striding toward the field, Zoran gave a wry chuckle of self-amusement. His brothers had been most lax in their training since getting married. Ualan had joined him for a little bit during the swamp battles, but other than that the Princes had been scarce.
Olek’s features were drawn into a tight scowl and he stormed as if he were being chased by demons. When Olek’s troubled eyes lifted from the surrounding village, he nodded solemnly at his commander brother. Zoran smiled a devilish smile in return and sternly nodded back. He knew just what his little brother needed.
Lifting his arm to the men, he motioned to Olek and yelled, "First wave, attack!"
Olek blinked in surprise, but a healthy grin came to his features as he swung his sword up from his waist. Zoran watched in brotherly mischief as the whole of his first battalion rushed forward and tackled the bravely fighting Olek to the ground.
* * * *
"Here."
Pia looked up from where she lounged on the low cushion next to the short table in surprise. She’d been flipping through a weapons manual she’d found, looking at the pictures, though she couldn’t understand the words. Her mind had drifted some time ago and she didn’t hear him come in.
Zoran stood before her, sweaty from work, but not covered in swamp muck. In his extended hand he held a bunch of flowers. He’d pulled them up by the roots and red dirt still clung to them.
Pia eyed him and his wilting flowers unenthusiastically. "You’re off early."
"I thought," he began. "Here, take these. I’m trying to ... ugh."
Pia blinked. It really was a
"Maybe you should read the fine print," Zoran said. "Since I chose you, you can’t leave unless the wedding isn’t finished. If you leave me and I complain, you will have to pay them back for breach of contract."
Pia spun to him in horror. Her eyes were round and her voice was an inaudible murmur, as she asked, "Why would you do that?"
"Because you are my wife." His jaw was stiff. It was a shallow victory, but he’d take it. Lowering his tone, his eyes were still hard, as he stated, "You belong with me."
"I have no choice, do I?" Pia asked, though she didn’t expect or receive an answer. "You’re serious."
"Very."
Pia gasped for breath. She looked completely stricken. Her lips trembled and her eyes became moist. The tears didn’t fall.
Zoran was sorry that it had come to this. He’d never wanted to force her hand, but if she kept speaking of divorcing him someone would eventually overhear it. It would dishonor him and his family. The divorce would never be granted. As a Prince, one of the votes was his and he would never allow it. But, the shame of going through the trial would undermine his authority with the men and embarrass everyone involved.
Pia slowly nodded at him. She felt numb. Sighing in resignation, she said, "You win, Zoran. You win. There will be no divorce."
As she turned to leave him, Zoran didn’t feel like he’d won anything. Her shoulders held back, proud. She didn’t cry or pout over her fate. She handled it with dignity.
"Pia," he called, not knowing what he could say to bridge the gap between them. He only hoped that time would mend it. She stopped, waiting. "Thanks for looking after my arm."
At that, he heard her give a short, humorless laugh. "What else is a wife for?"
Chapter Seven
Zoran left his home with the dawn. Pia was fast asleep on the couch, curled into a ball beneath the blanket. He felt terrible for forcing her hand, but was proud of how well she accepted her fate. She didn’t cry or whine. She honored herself well.
Standing, arms crossed, he shouted commands to the young soldiers. He couldn’t slack in his duties. But as hard as he’d pushed the men lately, he could call off early in the day and give them a break. He wanted to extend a peace offering to Pia, maybe get her out of the house for a little bit.
Seeing one of his brothers, Olek, striding toward the field, Zoran gave a wry chuckle of self-amusement. His brothers had been most lax in their training since getting married. Ualan had joined him for a little bit during the swamp battles, but other than that the Princes had been scarce.
Olek’s features were drawn into a tight scowl and he stormed as if he were being chased by demons. When Olek’s troubled eyes lifted from the surrounding village, he nodded solemnly at his commander brother. Zoran smiled a devilish smile in return and sternly nodded back. He knew just what his little brother needed.
Lifting his arm to the men, he motioned to Olek and yelled, "First wave, attack!"
Olek blinked in surprise, but a healthy grin came to his features as he swung his sword up from his waist. Zoran watched in brotherly mischief as the whole of his first battalion rushed forward and tackled the bravely fighting Olek to the ground.
* * * *
"Here."
Pia looked up from where she lounged on the low cushion next to the short table in surprise. She’d been flipping through a weapons manual she’d found, looking at the pictures, though she couldn’t understand the words. Her mind had drifted some time ago and she didn’t hear him come in.
Zoran stood before her, sweaty from work, but not covered in swamp muck. In his extended hand he held a bunch of flowers. He’d pulled them up by the roots and red dirt still clung to them.
Pia eyed him and his wilting flowers unenthusiastically. "You’re off early."
"I thought," he began. "Here, take these. I’m trying to ... ugh."
Pia blinked. It really was a
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