Page 29 of Pregnant at the Palace Altar

And still, excitement fluttered in her chest. She was to say “I do” to King Diamandis Agonas and she shouldn’t want to.

But she did.

A failing, certainly, but she was determined to be smart about it all the same. So she stood, ready and waiting for her cue, outside the grandiose doors of the royal chapel.

Alone.

Oh, not really alone. Attendants milled about. Some fussed with her dress, some with the flowers. But no one stood by her side ready to walk her down the aisle. Zandra would stand up with her, but because she was the princess, she was already in the chapel with her brother, awaiting Katerina’s arrival.

So Katerina stood alone, looking at an artistic representation of an ancient Kalyvan wedding depicted on the giant doors that would soon open for her.

She had no father to walk her down the aisle, and she knew of no demand of an invite from her mother. She had no family. She definitely did not wish her mother or her father were present, but she couldn’t help wishing for a friendly face. Someone to hold on to.

She smoothed her hands over her stomach. “I will always be a friendly face for you two,” she whispered so the attendants didn’t hear. Because she would always,alwaysgive her children everything she hadn’t been given.

Someone behind her cleared his throat and Katerina looked over her shoulder to find Christos there.

“Your Highness.” Christos gave a low bow. He straightened with a smile.

But he should be guarding Diamandis, not outside the chapel with her. “Shouldn’t you be inside?”

He held out his arm. “Diamandis thought perhaps you would like a friendly face to walk with you down the aisle.”

It was a kind gesture, but... “How did Diamandis know I would view you as a friendly face?” Christos was devoted to Diamandis and to the safety of the sovereign. Katerina had been friends with many of her coworkers when she was Diamandis’s assistant, but Christos had been something of a father figure. Someone who feltsafe. It was why she hadn’t known who else to go to when she’d needed help escaping Kalyva months ago.

It was somethingsurelyDiamandis did not know, or Christos would not still be his bodyguard or driver.

“I’m afraid I confessed to helping you leave only a few days after you did. I could not stand the worry over being caught.” He tucked her arm into his.

Katerina could not hide her utter shock. “And he didn’t fire you?”

“I expected him to. I even offered my resignation. But he said if you were so desperate to leave, then it was the right thing to do to help. He was glad you had someone to turn to in a crisis.”

Katerina couldn’t make sense of that. “I do not understand him,” she muttered.

“Perhaps he doesn’t understand himself,” Christos offered as the doors were opened—her signal to move forward. To sayI doto Diamandis. To the kingdom of Kalyva.

She walked down the aisle, toward Diamandis. Her king. Her almost husband. Handsome in all his white and crisp royal finery, a perfect contrast to his dark features. Her heart stuttered, traitor that it was.

He’d given her his mother’s engagement band. Had sent her a friendly face to walk her down the aisle as the entirety of the kingdom’s eyes were on her.

He was agoodman, underneath all those walls he’d built and the arrows he slung to protect them.

No, she did not think he understood himself—nor did he want to.

Christos bowed deeply to the king, then surrendered Katerina’s arm to Diamandis. He took it, drawing her up to the altar. She felt his gaze move over her, the heat in it, carefully banked but there.

It would always be there. Could she resist it forever?

The bishop began the ceremony, but Katerina couldn’t focus on the words. She watched Diamandis’s face. And he didn’t look away. He studied her as if he was having the same strange experience of feeling as if they were totally alone. As if they could still choosenotto do this if they wanted.

This man frustrated her, angered her, and could be such an utter and total ass. But he’d given her more than she’d gotten from anyone else: kindness, respect, trust. He’d believed in her as his assistant, and now as his queen. He’d never once acted as though she wasn’t up to the task.

Maybe he could never love her—or wouldn’t allow himself to—but he had still been there for her in so many ways that no one in her life had ever been.

If anyone had gotten close enough, her mother had driven them away.

She still could.It was a chilling thought Katerina could not focus on here under the gaze of so many.

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