Free Dragon Lords 4-Warrior Prince by Unknown

easily.
    "Ah, Pia, you didn’t need an excuse to fall into my arms. I’ll open them willingly for you," Zoran murmured annoyingly in her hair. He got the response he expected. She tried to slug him. He dodged her shaky blow.
    "I’d tear your arms from you before I’d fall into them," Pia said, trying to kick. To her satisfaction, she hit his shin and he frowned, letting her go. She stumbled away from him, out of breath. "I want to call the royal council! It’s my right to do so."
    Zoran froze. She was serious. His jaw tightened, as he inquired, "On what grounds?"
    "On the grounds that you forced me to marry you," she said, a smile coming to her face. She swiped at her nose, regaining some of her composure as she sniffed. "I did my research before coming here. You can’t force a bride to choose you. It has to be her free will. It wasn’t my free will. I told you no and you forced me to take off your mask. When I told you to put it back on, you burned it."
    His face turned red. He said nothing.
    "And then, this morning," she lied. "I was going to go tell the council that I didn’t choose you, but then you kidnapped me ... "
    His brow rose dangerously on his forehead.
    "Fine, you apprehended me, tied me up, and forced me to stomp on the crystal. I would say I have a pretty strong case and plenty of witnesses. I want to speak to the royal council--now!"
    A bitter look lined Zoran’s lips as he took a menacing step toward her. "Did you happen to research, wife, that the royal council is particularly busy this time of year with important matters of this kingdom? Did you also happen to discover that marriage disputes can only be claimed after a full year of marriage has been achieved and whereas the bride can prove that nothing of a sexual nature happened between the married couple for that full year? Furthermore, a decision usually takes another year to be reached, considering the royal council will not always agree and the dissolution of a marriage is a very serious matter to us. So I would say, you have at least two years as my wife, and that’s only if I don’t contest the divorce. And I’ll contest. Believe me, wife, you’re stuck whether you like it or not."
    "I don’t care if it takes five years. I’m not staying married to you."
    "I felt how you melted in my arms, Pia," Zoran murmured in a tone that sent chills over her spine. He came closer. His brown eyes held her. His knuckles stroking her face. "Do you think you could resist me every night for five years and never succumb?"
    Pia shivered. To her shame, she didn’t move away from him. Already a fire blazed from his touch and she knew she couldn’t--not if he looked at her like that. She’d relent in less than a week.
    "I’ll get my own place. I’ll find a job and support myself. I won’t even see you."
    "What job?" Zoran asked with an amused grin. Inside he boiled.
    "I’ll join your military," Pia announced, pleased with herself until she saw his look. He stayed his hand on her cheek, not moving and yet not leaving her soft skin. "Soldiers usually get free room and board."
    Zoran grinned like a fool. If she joined the military, she would be under his command, even more so than now. He didn’t let her in on the joke, as he said, "Women are rarely allowed to fight in the military--especially wives. Only widows can join."
    Her eyes rounded, as if to say, that could be arranged.
    "Don’t even think it," he said, his hand fisting next to her cheek. "I would snap your neck in an instant if you so much as tried."
    Pia backed down, finally managing to get the strength to pull away from his disarmingly gentle fingers. She scowled. "Then I’ll pray to every one of your Gods for your death in battle."
    Zoran sprang forward with a rage that took Pia completely off guard. His eyes glowed with a fire all their own, as he gripped her shoulders. His nails dug into her flesh and she wheezed in fear despite herself.
    "If you ever say anything like that again, wife,