Page 7 of Vows to a King
“I moved in to be close to the Queen. Not… Adamos.” Her gaze shied away from his, making him wonder what she was hiding. “She personally requested me.”
He nodded and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Mama did always have a sweet spot for you. Good to see you’ve kept it well buttered.”
She frowned. “You promised to behave. And I thought you were smart enough to understand that I’m not your enemy.”
“You’re definitely not an ally.”
Her hands fisted by her side and she jerked into sudden motion. An angry flush spread up her neck. “I was foolish to think I could—”
“You could what?” he said, snagging an arm around her waist. Their legs tangled and her hands clutched his arm. The scent of her coiled around him.
Her shocked huff warmed the edges of his cold, frosted heart. He was aware that he was behaving disgracefully—like the verydevilhis father used to call him. But then, he’d always found it impossible to resist throwing himself against the barricaded armor of her propriety. Especially after she’d given him a forbidden taste of what lay beneath.
“Tell me.”
Her amber eyes held his. “I thought I could take control of my life for once. That I could be of use to you, to the crown, to the Queen. To Thalassos even. Instead of just being a pawn,” she added the last to herself, her lips curving down.
“And what does that mean? Is there a coup your dear papa is planning before my brother is cold in his grave?”
“No. But they’re going to pressure you into marriage and coronation per the original schedule. They know they have the Queen’s support.”
“What original schedule?”
“Adamos and I were to marry in three weeks, right before the coronation. The way I see it, you don’t have much of a choice. But with my help, you can twist this situation around to your advantage.”
His mind whirred, hitched on one word. “Withyourhelp? Pray, tell me, what does that entail?”
She pushed at his chest and he released her, almost reluctantly. A long breath left her. As if he were a wild beast that might turn on her any moment. “I’m your best bet at controlling the crown council, at ruling Thalassos with its well-being at heart.”
“You’re talking in riddles.”
“Your father’s dementia has been progressing rapidly. Getting worse each week. Only the Queen and Adamos and… I knew how bad it is. Now, with Adamos gone, if his condition gets out… Thalassos will plunge into political chaos. The talks for the renewal of the trade agreement are in bad shape. If you don’t agree to be crowned immediately…”
“Then what?” Adonis demanded.
She paled and licked her lower lip.
“Come, Princess. Who’s withholding trust now?”
“I trust that you want the best for Thalassos,” she said, granting him a conviction he wasn’t sure he deserved. “Adamos always spoke of how much you adore the kingdom.”
He didn’t bother to correct her or tell her that Adamos had tried to appeal to something in him that had long ago died. “Then what is it you don’t trust?”
“Your opinion of me,” she said, sighing. “But you’re the lesser evil so I must throw myself on your mercy.”
Despite the urgency of their discussion, his mouth twitched. “I would like to see that, Princess.”
She shook her head and started pacing around him. “If I tell you this…will you promise to at least consider my proposition?”
“Having you at my mercy begins to sound better and better.”
“Please, Your Highness. This is…my life I’m trusting you with.”
“You have my word,” he said. “And enough of that greeting.”
“My father and his cronies,” she said, stalling again, “not all of crown council though, have located some far-flung cousin of your father’s in the US. The man has a son who’s…barely fourteen. If you don’t fall in with their dictates, they plan to crown him King and rule Thalassos through him. The only option left is for you to be crowned immediately.”
“If I’m to be crowned…” he said, refusing to betray the tension that suddenly swamped him. He wasn’t sure he trusted her yet. But he could feel the noose tightening around his neck. “I need a wife.”
