Page 37 of Bound By Blood

She wrapped her arms around him as his kiss grew deeper, more passionate. Maybe she was worrying over nothing. Maybe her father wouldn’t object to having Zack for a son-in-law. And maybe she was taking too much for granted. After all, no promises had been made, no words of commitment had been spoken between them.

Just because she loved him didn’t mean he loved her.

Chapter Sixteen

Eyes narrowed, hands resting on his knees, Lucien, Master of the Italian Fortress, regarded the woman standing before him. Nadiya Korzha was tall for a female, her bearing austere. Long straight brown hair fell over her rigid shoulders. Her eyes were the color of the sky on a cloudy day. He had been surprised by her request for an audience—doubly so because he had never met her. He knew who she was, of course. Rodin Sherrad’s fourth wife. He had heard rumors that Sherrad’s son, Drake, was interested in her whereabouts, though Lucien had no idea why.

Lucien gestured at the chair across from his. “Please, sit.”

“Thank you.”

“We can spend several useless minutes in small talk,” Lucien said. “Or we can skip the niceties and you can come straight to the point and tell me why you’re here.”

“It is well-known that you have long coveted the Carpathian Fortress.”

“Indeed?” Lucien lifted one brow, concerned that anyone should have such knowledge. The Carpathian Fortress was the largest of its kind. In days past, there had been those who had challenged Rodin for its possession. All had been defeated. But Rodin was no longer a threat. “Well-known by whom?”

“By myself.”

“You did not come here to tell me that.”

“No, I have come seeking your help in avenging my kin.”

Lucien frowned. “Explain.”

“Drake Sherrad killed my sons …”

“That was over twenty years ago,” Lucien interjected. “Wait a minute. Did you say ‘sons’?”

“Yes.” She had no proof that Daryn was dead, but she had not heard from him in more than a week. Only death would prevent him from contacting her. She didn’t know who had killed him, but of one thing she was certain—Drake Sherrad was involved.

“What is it you want from me?”

“There are those within the Carpathian Fortress who are not happy with the changes Drake has made since his father’s demise, but there are not enough of them to overpower Drake and assume control of the Fortress. They have pledged their allegiance to me.”

Lucien leaned forward. “Go on.”

“Together, we can overthrow Sherrad and claim the Carpathian Fortress.” Lucien wasn’t alone in his desire to rule Sherrad’s territory. She took a deep breath. “When it is ours, we can rule it together.”

He reared back, eyes wide with astonishment. “Are you proposing an alliance? Or marriage?”

“Whichever suits you best.”

“If you are thinking of going to battle, you will need a strong army. Or are you suggesting that I challenge Sherrad one-on-one?” He shook his head. “I know of no one who can defeat him with the sword.”

“Soon, I will have something to bargain with,” Nadiya said, her mind racing as a new strategy fell into place. “It will give us the edge we need.”

“What sort of edge?”

“When I have obtained it, I will let you know.”

“This is not something to be decided without a great deal of thought,” Lucien remarked. “Many lives hang in the balance. I will need time to think it over.”

“Take as long as you deem necessary,” she said.

He nodded. She must have the patience of a saint, he mused, seeing as how she had already waited over twenty years to avenge Florin’s death. He grinned inwardly. Of course, if Nadiya Korzha had a saintly bone in her body, she would not be seeking revenge.

“Where can I reach you?” he asked.

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