Free Dark Warriors: A Dark Lands Anthology (Darklands) by Autumn Dawn Page A

Internet in their quest to capture women. The pounding music helped her not to think.
    The rough rocks bit into her hands, wearing at skin that wasn’t as calloused as it was going to be, although the rag strips she wrapped around her palms provided some protection. She refused to ask for gloves. Her guard already frowned at her hours of exercise. Begging for anything from Dagon was out, and she didn’t know whom else to ask. After half an hour the blisters on her fingers mixed with sweat and oozed, making her grip treacherous. Since she was already quivering with exhaustion and dripping sweat, she let the wall carry her to the bottom and got off.
    A towel was thrust into her line of vision. She took it and stared at Ser, who reached over and turned off her music with a grimace.
    “You look awful,” he said, frowning at her.
    She let out a shuddering breath and mopped at her face. Maybe, but it let her sleep at night. Two days had passed since she’d been summoned to Dagon’s room. Two days in which she’d spent every spare minute trying to forget.
    Vana sat on the floor and took a huge gulp of her water bottle, vaguely surprised when Ser joined her.
    He looked at her. “You should ignore his temper.”
    She stiffened. “Did he send you?”
    He shrugged. “I like to interfere.” His teeth flashed in a quick grin. “And it’s painfully obvious he’s set on annoying me until I give him back the distraction of you.”
    She snorted.
    “It’s true. I haven’t seen him this broody since the birth of his last half-brother.”
    The admission earned him a grunt. It was all she was willing to contribute to the conversation.
    Ser glanced up at the wall. “Why do you do this? You’ve been offered a life of ease. Why don’t you enjoy it?”
    “I’m the captain of my own soul, and it’s a restless spirit. I’ll do it until I’m forbidden, and then I’ll do it in my own room where no one can watch to stop me. I need it.”
    Those knowing eyes studied her. “You’re afraid.”
    “We’re all afraid of something.” She gazed across the vastness of the training area. The unused portions were in shadow. For the second night running, she’d been alone. She doubted it was an accident. Either the men had been ordered away while she was there, or they avoided her workouts for cultural reasons. Both options made her feel depressed. Already she was more isolated than she cared to be, since the harem wasn’t a welcome place to be now that she’d adopted the boys: too many women turned their backs on her. Other than Jen, there hadn’t been that much time to connect with them, anyway. Not for an introvert like her.
    He followed her gaze. “This seclusion is not good for you.”
    She shrugged. Even back home she’d had a hard time making friends.
    “Where are your sons?”
    Did he ever give up? “Around. They got their figurehead and then scampered off to plot some more, according to their brother.” The mention of Dagon depressed her. She fiddled with her bottle.
    “They are unused to having a mother, which is what I think you wanted to be. Maybe you should make the first gesture.”
    “They don’t need me.”
    Ser glowered at her impatiently. “Are you always such a coward?” Before she could retort, he went on ruthlessly, “You have the Tzar of my people so stirred over you that he can’t sleep and the sons you professed to want in your hands, yet you won’t finish the run. Have you thought of the good you could do the women as queen? Or would you like the next one to be like the dowager Ellyn? What do you think Dagon could possibly do to you as his consort that would outweigh the power of that position?”
    “The position isn’t open,” she said through clenched teeth. “I don’t want it open. I don’t want him! I want to go home. Why should I get attached to anything or anyone here? I don’t belong here.” She stood up.
    He rose, towering over her. “You never belonged anywhere else. This place