Page 24 of Pregnant at the Palace Altar

“I know he still harbors regret for...well, for many things I don’t know. I still don’t fully remember what happened to me that night.” Zandra studied the piece of sausage on her fork and frowned. “Diamandis has not filled me in, and I have not asked. I suppose I should be more curious, but I think I’d rather not know. I’d rather focus on my future.” She smiled then, patting her stomach with her free hand.

Katerina smiled in return. That was the attitude she needed to have: focus on her future, on her children.

But Zandra kept talking. “The difference is, Diamandis knows. He remembers. He won’t speak of it. Not to me. Not to Lysias. He’s made some vague comments about not being fully in charge in the days after, but mostly he keeps everything that happened to him, everything he felt and still feels, under a very protective armor.”

Katerina was reminded of their night. The night they had conceived the twins, when he’d started this whole journey with a kiss. Because she had caught a glimpse of some of his feelings about his childhood tragedy. He had been brought to his knees by the possibility of Zandra being alive, of the woman Lysias had brought to Kalyva truly being his sister.

I do not know how to bear it if it is true, he had said. He voice had been rough. He’d clearly been holding on by a tiny thread.If it is a lie, vengeance is the only answer.

But Katerina had seen through his anger. She should have kept her observations to herself, but seeing him so close to breaking had stripped her of caution.

You don’t think it’s a lie.

He’d looked at her, pain so evident in his dark gaze, when usually he never let his emotions show.

No. I do not.

She’d crossed the room to him then, not knowing what else to do. She had firmly told herself it was afriendlyhug.

And it had been. At first.

He had let her comfort him, and even with everything that happened, even knowing that she should wish it different in the here and now, she cherished those moments where he had shown her some piece of himself that he did not show anyone else.

“I don’t think he will ever truly be at peace until he deals with it,” Zandra said. “Until he tells someone.”

Katerina did not disagree, but she understood what Zandra was getting at. She understood thatsheshould be the one to press, because Zandra thought she was a wife to Diamandis like Zandra was a wife to Lysias. That theirs was a union with love at its core. “I think you might misunderstand our relationship, Princess.” She tried to smile, as if to say it did not matter or that it was for the best.

Zandra studied her for much longer than Katerina felt was comfortable. Or necessary. As though she saw right through the gentle smile.

“He allows no one speak to him the way you do,” Zandra said thoughtfully. “Except maybe me.” She shrugged, but her sharp, assessing gaze did not match the careless gesture. “Perhapsyoumisunderstand your relationship.”

And Katerina had no idea what to say to that.

None at all.

CHAPTER EIGHT

DIAMANDISSATTHROUGHyet another tedious meeting, then moved to the next—this one about tomorrow’s ceremony and reception. It would be an all-day affair intended to allow the citizens of Kalyva to feel part of the new royal family.

Family.

Every time they said this word, something inside of him tensed, until his shoulders ached and his head pounded.

He needed to collect Katerina before he headed into the next meeting, as they would be going over a few last-minute details she needed to know.

He could have sent his assistant—useless as the fool was. He could have asked one of his staff members whowascompetent. But there was something he’d been putting off.

The ring. It sat in his pocket like a hot poker, and he felt a searing pain every time he thought about it. There were other options of course, but...

It was what his mother would have expected. And yes, she was long gone and would never know the difference. Even if she were still here, she would not approve of the way he’d handled this marriage—or of all that had happened to make it a necessity. So, to worry about it seemed wholly pointless.

But for the past few days, during which Marias had repeatedly informed him that Katerina not wearing a ring was causing whispers, Diamandis had tried to convince himself that he could use any of the other family jewels as an engagement ring. He’d put different ones in his pocket with the express purpose of giving them to her.

And never once pulled the trigger because his idiotic conscience wouldn’t let him.

His mother would have loved Katerina. Her strength and her poise. The way she was never afraid to stand up to him.

So he’d retrieved his mother’s engagement ring. The one his father had designed especially for her.

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