Conquering Lazar by Alta Hensley Read Free Book Online Page B

but kind with her. She could sense something in the way he held her, so protectively, that he would never do her harm. Elbi knew she could willingly give her virginity to this man… tonight.
    She waited for the next move.
    When none followed, she wondered if she was the one supposed to make the move. Her question was soon answered by the heavy breathing of Malachi against the back of her head. Taking a moment to relish the weight of his sleeping body pressed against hers, she eventually closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep, tightly wrapped in his arms as the moon slowly sank and gave way to the sun.
    The desert, through the bedroom window, was beautiful in the sunrise, casting its glow over the earth from its fiery throne in the sky. Like a great burning eye in the heavens, it watched over those below, giving life to all under its rule.
    When Elbi fully awoke, she found an empty space beside her. It took her a few moments to remember the events of the previous day, to remember how she'd ended up in Malachi's bed. How warm he was, how soft, how protective… She bolted upright, immediately stricken with a deep fear that something had happened to him, however irrational it might have been.
    She jumped from the bed and ran into the other room, her heart pounding when she did not see him there either. The fire roared behind her, a skillet sizzled with eggs and the smell of biscuits greeted her nose. The door opened and he stepped in, momentarily silhouetted by the sunlight, which cast a halo about his head like some angelic figure. Elbi relaxed somewhat, wondering what she must look like, standing there wide-eyed and naked. She was so quick to jump the gun, to let her mind wander to the worst of possibilities.
    "Good morning," Malachi greeted, granting her a wide smile that made her heart skip a little beat. He scanned her body and said, "We have a busy day ahead. Go get dressed and come have some breakfast. I will then escort you to training."
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    The hot afternoon sun began to bake the courtyard, and the women were growing both physically and mentally exhausted with their lesson. Even the men had soaked through their uniforms with sweat, and though they did not let on that they were frustrated with what little progress the harem had made, Elbi, between her attempts at jabbing her soldier and breaking free of his grasp, could sense their growing impatience.
    Mistress Tula also looked less than pleased as she sat in a shadowy part of the courtyard, watching them all with scrutiny. Why she wasn't expected to train, Elbi didn't know. But she hated the way the woman watched her.
    "I cannot do any more of this today," Briar said, and she stepped away from her trainer immediately. "I do not feel well."
    "All right, ladies. That is enough for today," Nico gave in.
    The women let out a collective breath and began to walk their glistening bodies and damp heads of hair out of the courtyard. All of them were bedraggled. They were also emotionally spent.
    Elbi hung back. She watched Briar stretch her aching back, and believed she could see her crying. The soldiers were now on the far side of the courtyard, standing in the shade of an old date palm and chatting to each other. Elbi walked over to Briar and touched the small of her back.
    "Briar, are you sick? What's wrong?" she asked, her brow furrowed in genuine concern.
    Briar cast her eyes down to her feet and shook her head with a mixture of agony and anger.
    "I'm not sick. I'm just tired of waking up and preparing for war, then having nightmares about war, then waking up and starting the whole cycle again." Her hair stuck to her forehead with sweat, but she still exuded a beauty that made Elbi jealous. "I overhear Donte talking with Malachi and his men, and what they say is terrifying."
    Elbi's heart stopped. "What… what do they say?"
    Briar opened her mouth to tell her and then shook her head. She began to whip around and walk away, but Elbi deftly