![The Princes Bound [The Princes Book 1]](/res/cobbf/book3.jpg)
direct center.
She smiled smugly and stepped back. “Your turn, Prince."
"Nice shot,” he praised. “But not good enough, I am afraid."
With amazing speed and accuracy, he shot two arrows directly in the center of the bulls-eye. The second arrow managed to crop the first in half.
Hugh practically danced with excitement. “I've never seen anything like that in my life! Have you, Nadia?"
The blood drained from her face.
A dress? She had to attend supper on the arm of a prince in a dress?
Why had she allowed him to prick her pride enough to accept his challenge?
Mathis handed the bow over to Hugh and came to Nadia's side. “It seems I have won. We dine at eight. I will meet you in the hall five minutes before it begins."
He crooked his finger at Hugh. “Come along, my boy. You may join me for my morning ride since your aunt has much to prepare for this evening."
If her eyes could shoot daggers, he would have been dead.
The prince strode away with her nephew in tow as she wondered where in the world she was going to get a dress in time.
"You need a what ?"
He may have had a couple drinks the night before but not enough to imagine this.
Nadia stood in front of him evidently frustrated beyond belief. He'd never seen her so agitated.
Talin tossed aside the papers he was reviewing and motioned for her to take a seat. He waited until she'd done so and then spoke. “You need my help in acquiring a dress?"
Twin flames of red colored both of her cheeks. “Yes. I couldn't fit into the one I have, and none of the dressmakers have a dress that can be altered in time to fit me. I'm too blasted tall!"
"May I ask why this sudden interest in fashion?"
"I lost a bet,” Nadia grumbled.
Talin was beginning to enjoy this. “To whom?"
She crossed her arms and looked completely put out. “Your brother."
So he'd been correct. Last night he'd begun to suspect something was brewing between those two. He'd even purposefully touched Nadia's hand to test the waters. Mathis may not have shown an outward reaction, but Talin had known his brother too long to not see he was upset.
Something must've happened this morning, but he did not want to delve too deep. His brother did not need him to play matchmaker.
Talin stood and stretched a hand to Nadia. “Come. We shall see what we can dig up."
He led her to the family wing of the palace.
He entered his mother's chambers, which had been left as it had been when she resided there. Some of her things were moved or given away upon her death, but many of her personal effects had been kept for the granddaughters that would someday be born. It had been years since he'd been in this room, but even now it was as if he could sense his mother's presence.
She'd been such a vibrant person, his mother. Full of warmth and humor, beloved by all her people.
The wasting sickness had taken her quickly, leaving behind a void he had yet to fill. The loss of his father nearly two years after his mother's death had almost destroyed him.
Mathis had suffered as well, but in his own way. His brother spoke of their parents often, publicly grieving when he'd learned of their deaths.
Talin had retreated into himself, hiding his grief from all but Collin. He owed his life to Collin, and now he could repay him somewhat by helping Nadia as much as he could.
He lifted the lid of a heavy trunk and removed several items lined with tissue. With care, he laid them across the bed.
His mother's clothes had been stored with sachets of dried roses, and the scent enveloped him. Roses had been her favorite, and he closed his eyes as her face flashed before them. Suddenly he recalled her lying there in bed, her thin body weak and riddled with pain.
He lurched backwards.
"Your Highness?” Nadia reached out a hand to him. “What is the matter?"
He cleared his throat and focused on the present, on Nadia. “You may take what you like from this trunk. You and my mother were of a similar frame."
Nadia's hand flew
She smiled smugly and stepped back. “Your turn, Prince."
"Nice shot,” he praised. “But not good enough, I am afraid."
With amazing speed and accuracy, he shot two arrows directly in the center of the bulls-eye. The second arrow managed to crop the first in half.
Hugh practically danced with excitement. “I've never seen anything like that in my life! Have you, Nadia?"
The blood drained from her face.
A dress? She had to attend supper on the arm of a prince in a dress?
Why had she allowed him to prick her pride enough to accept his challenge?
Mathis handed the bow over to Hugh and came to Nadia's side. “It seems I have won. We dine at eight. I will meet you in the hall five minutes before it begins."
He crooked his finger at Hugh. “Come along, my boy. You may join me for my morning ride since your aunt has much to prepare for this evening."
If her eyes could shoot daggers, he would have been dead.
The prince strode away with her nephew in tow as she wondered where in the world she was going to get a dress in time.
"You need a what ?"
He may have had a couple drinks the night before but not enough to imagine this.
Nadia stood in front of him evidently frustrated beyond belief. He'd never seen her so agitated.
Talin tossed aside the papers he was reviewing and motioned for her to take a seat. He waited until she'd done so and then spoke. “You need my help in acquiring a dress?"
Twin flames of red colored both of her cheeks. “Yes. I couldn't fit into the one I have, and none of the dressmakers have a dress that can be altered in time to fit me. I'm too blasted tall!"
"May I ask why this sudden interest in fashion?"
"I lost a bet,” Nadia grumbled.
Talin was beginning to enjoy this. “To whom?"
She crossed her arms and looked completely put out. “Your brother."
So he'd been correct. Last night he'd begun to suspect something was brewing between those two. He'd even purposefully touched Nadia's hand to test the waters. Mathis may not have shown an outward reaction, but Talin had known his brother too long to not see he was upset.
Something must've happened this morning, but he did not want to delve too deep. His brother did not need him to play matchmaker.
Talin stood and stretched a hand to Nadia. “Come. We shall see what we can dig up."
He led her to the family wing of the palace.
He entered his mother's chambers, which had been left as it had been when she resided there. Some of her things were moved or given away upon her death, but many of her personal effects had been kept for the granddaughters that would someday be born. It had been years since he'd been in this room, but even now it was as if he could sense his mother's presence.
She'd been such a vibrant person, his mother. Full of warmth and humor, beloved by all her people.
The wasting sickness had taken her quickly, leaving behind a void he had yet to fill. The loss of his father nearly two years after his mother's death had almost destroyed him.
Mathis had suffered as well, but in his own way. His brother spoke of their parents often, publicly grieving when he'd learned of their deaths.
Talin had retreated into himself, hiding his grief from all but Collin. He owed his life to Collin, and now he could repay him somewhat by helping Nadia as much as he could.
He lifted the lid of a heavy trunk and removed several items lined with tissue. With care, he laid them across the bed.
His mother's clothes had been stored with sachets of dried roses, and the scent enveloped him. Roses had been her favorite, and he closed his eyes as her face flashed before them. Suddenly he recalled her lying there in bed, her thin body weak and riddled with pain.
He lurched backwards.
"Your Highness?” Nadia reached out a hand to him. “What is the matter?"
He cleared his throat and focused on the present, on Nadia. “You may take what you like from this trunk. You and my mother were of a similar frame."
Nadia's hand flew
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