of him wondered why he was making an effort. He failed, that was what he did. Their father had always been quick to remind him of that fact when they were boys, and still when they were men. Kairos was the responsible one, the heir, thankfully, as he took his role so very seriously. Andres had been the one his father could always count on to create a scandal, to make a mess, to create disaster.
There was a reason he’d been barred from official events as a child. Reasons he had spent state dinners locked in his room while the rest of the family put on a show.
Their father might be dead now, but the feel of his cold eyes on Andres remained. Of the hard disappointment that had laced every word the old man had ever spoken to him.
He had given Kairos his word, and he would not fail. Not again. In this, he would triumph.
It was only marriage. And she was only a woman. How could he lose?
He was a legendary playboy renowned for his skills of seduction. Surely he could seduce this scraggly waif easily enough.
“You will not refuse me,” he said. “What is it you want, anything besides freedom? I will see that you have it. Surely there must be something. Surely we can trade.”
She looked down, hesitating for a moment. “I wish to be sure my people are cared for. Beyond that, that those who raised me are safe.”
“Then those will be the conditions of us forging trade alliances with Tirimia. You will have much more power here, on this throne, than you will have hiding in the forest back in your homeland. That I can promise you. You will have the ear of the king who is both good and just. You will be a princess in her rightful place. Surely that is better than hiding in a burrow like a little mouse.”
She frowned, her dark eyebrows drawn tightly together, a crease forming between them. “You are fond of comparing me to animals.”
“You are closer to animal than human female at the moment, sadly for me.” And he was much closer to a wolf than a man. “So you will allow me to fashion you into a suitable bride. In return, I will give you what you want.” There was a knock on the door to his bedchamber. “That will be the servants, ready to take you to your room.”
She nodded slowly. “All right.”
Some of the fire had gone out of her in the past few minutes. He found he did not like it.
That makes no sense.
No, it didn’t. But nothing about the past twelve hours made any sense at all.
“We start tomorrow. Meet me in the general study after breakfast.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Tame you, of course.”
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