Free Conquering Lazar by Alta Hensley Page A

those?"
    "They're flowers," she replied with a smile, arranging them in the jar carefully, sprucing them a bit. "Aren't they lovely?"
    "I can see that they are flowers, but where did you get them?" he demanded, his voice carrying a sharp edge to it that made her tense up.
    "I… I found them. They were growing near the door."
    "Outside? You went out there by yourself? After I told you not to!" He slammed his fist down on the table hard enough to make her jump, standing up abruptly, obviously very upset that his only request had been so blatantly disobeyed.
    "I… I went to get some water… to wash the dishes. I didn't go far. I'm sorry. I—"
    He cut her off again, before she could finish. "Do you realize how dangerous that was? There wasn't a soldier guarding you. If a Jaden soldier had been hiding in the dunes, that would have been the perfect time to strike and kidnap you. I told you how important it was for you to stay inside," he growled. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and lowered himself back down into the chair. "Do you understand how the thought of that terrifies me?" he asked, in a much calmer tone.
    Elbi wrung her hands in front of her. "You're right. I'm sorry. I guess I was enjoying playing house with you so much, I forgot that we are at war."
    "Forgetting such a thing will get you killed!" His deep voice caused her to jump. "This isn't the palace anymore. This is not a safe haven for you to have a momentary lapse." He stood up from his meal, walked toward her, and stopped mere inches from her face. She wanted to look at him, but her intimidation caused her to look at the ground, fidgeting with her hands in front of her.
    He stood there as if waiting for her to continue her excuse, but she had no reply. What could she say? She knew he was right, which just proved she wasn't meant to be in a battle-torn world. She had no chance of surviving.
    "Elbi…"
    She remained silent, not wanting to look into his disappointed eyes.
    "Do you stand there in silence in defiance? Are you angry at my zealous dictates?"
    She shook her head, but still remained silent as she stared at her bare toes peeking out from underneath her silks.
    "Look at me."
    She refused.
    "I said, look at me." He tilted her chin up with his finger until she was staring up into his eyes.
    His look of displeasure filled her with guilt. She wasn't a fighter, and now she couldn't even please a brother of Lazar with her harem skills. She had been groomed to be obedient, compliant, and certainly to follow the commands of a brother of Lazar. She had failed.
    "What has you in tears, Elbi? A simple scolding cannot have you so upset." She hadn't realized that tears were streaming down her face until that moment. "Are you afraid of me?" he asked, with concern in his voice.
    She shook her head.
    "Then what has you in tears? Answer me. I will not tolerate this act of silence any longer." Although his voice was firmer, there was still an underline of concern mixed with it.
    "I'm not meant to survive. I feel as if I should have died in the desert by the hand of General Rhys and saved the time of the inevitable."
    Malachi remained silent. Anger sizzled across his face as his eyes seemed to darken to an even deeper shade of brown.
    "What you require of us, I simply cannot do." She wiped her nose with the arm of her sleeve as she continued to cry, simple tears now turning into small sobs. "I'm scared, I'm weak, I'm lost!" she said, with a sob that shook her shoulders.
    Malachi pulled her gently against his chest, and held her firmly, soothing her until she dried her tears and sniffed back the last of her momentary breakdown. As he spoke, his voice reverberated against her ear. "That is what I am here for. If you are scared, I will protect you. If you are weak, I will make you strong. As for being lost… explain that in more detail."
    She hesitated in answering him, not sure what she truly meant by that statement. Or more so, not knowing how to verbalize