Forbidden Crown

by Victoria Pinder

  Someone banged on the door. Her hands shook. Antonio answered and she didn't wait for hello. "Korba is here. He tried to kidnap me."

  "Be right there." Antonio's words were like steel that helped brace her against fear from the ramming of the oak door outside.

  Then another man outside the door asked, "What's taking so long?" She didn’t recognize the voice.

  Instead of ramming, there was a jiggle at the knob. A second later the door of her closet opened and it was a young brown-haired soldier standing with Korba. She dropped the phone in her bra and made her hands into fists. The soldier tried to get her, but she kicked his leg, right at the knee cap. He shouted, "Ahh."

  Korba shook his head and stood more in position to defend himself. "No one likes assault, Princess." Korba commanded the soldier toward Kristin. "Get her."

  Footsteps marched in the hall. The soldier grabbed her shoulders and held her captive. The door swung open and this time Babik and two of his men pointed guns at them. "I command you to stop, Henri."

  The strong boy holding her neck must be Henri. Antonio had sent a rescue. She stilled in that moment.

  Korba then said, "Not a chance Babik."

  She reached up and got her hand underneath his and used that as momentum to swing out of his grip. Henri wasn't expecting her move. "What the..."

  Babik grabbed her and pulled her behind him. "Princess, come where you're safe."

  More guards marched into the room and immediately controlled Henri and Korba, handcuffing both men, despite their vehement struggles. Babik walked with her away from the scene so she didn't see much else. As they went down another hallway, she couldn't stand the silence anymore. "They were trying to kidnap me and wanted Antonio to marry another."

  Babik didn't blink. "Princess, it's best if I take you to your room. His Highness will meet you there, but on a personal note, I hope Prince Aussa marries you. You’re fearless."

  "That was adrenaline." She shook her head as her heart still beat wildly. The panic hadn't gone away. They neared her door and she massaged her forehead. "You can tell..." This political situation wasn't good for anyone in Antonio's family. She'd talk to him about that, not his general. She nodded and opened her door. "Okay. Thank you. I trust you."

  "Good." Babik closed the door behind her. She walked into her room and stared at the dresses still on racks and sat on the chair she had her makeup done in an hour ago.

  Everything had changed. Antonio targeted her specifically and lied about it, which gnawed at her from the inside. Then he had a political mess where there was clearly a plot for a coup. She should go, pack her bag and get out of here.

  Her lips still tingled with his kiss, which shouldn't make a difference, but to her it did. If she went home, no one would make her feel like that again. But a kiss wasn't love.

  Her head began to ache though at least her heart slowed to its normal pace. The door opened and she rose to her feet, expecting Antonio.

  Her eyes widened and she bowed her head and curtsied when she saw it was his mother. "Your Highness."

  Queen Anna Camilla stood in front of her. "I thought you were about to be my daughter-in-law. Why did you leave?"

  Kristin wasn't sure what to do. She glanced up and saw the queen was about to sit where Renee had her hair done with her. Kristin returned to her seat. "I thought you wanted Sophia to wed Antonio."

  The queen motioned for her to sit and once she did, she turned her knees toward her. "I want my son to inherit the throne and help us squash this coup in our small kingdom."

  Foreign affairs weren’t her cup of tea. She’d studied enough history to know monarchs tended to lose their heads against the will of the people. "If that's what the people want, democracy isn’t a bad way to go."

  "It's not." The queen spoke with such assurance that Kristin accepted it as truth. “But you’re under a bad impression at the moment. The citizens of Avce love us.”

  Kristin lowered her head and let the sense that Antonio was not going to die here wash over her. She could breathe easier as the queen said, "We are a constitutional monarchy and we were brought back by the majority over a decade ago. There are splinter groups loyal to other nearby countries, but they are not “the people.” You have already been told our attackers were outsiders."

  "Antonio said he’d lose his ability to see his family ever again if he doesn’t marry in two weeks. Would you really banish your son?"

  “No.” She sighed and leaned closer. "The laws are ancient and meant to preserve bloodlines that he didn’t know about until it was almost too late."

  “But…” Kristin pleated the red fabric in her fingers and tried to figure out how she felt. She chose her words carefully. "I don't know if he should marry me."

  The queen’s chin lifted in a royal manner but she reached out and patted Kristin’s hand. "You make him happy. I see it on his face and you look happy next to him."

  She lowered her lashes. "I was, but he doesn’t love me or believe in love."

  “From what I understood, you don’t believe in love yourself.” The queen stood, straightened any nonexistent wrinkles her ball gown might have and then said, "Argue about semantics later. He gave you a contract outlining duties you would perform for a fee, correct? Right now we have the press here and it's time we all do our duty."

  If she married him, then she needed to speak with him, alone, about his computer search. If people knew the playboy prince was actually looking for a wife, he would have been inundated, and he had no time to waste. Antonio was always so logical about everything. She swallowed her pride. "Where is Antonio?"

  The queen stopped at the door. "Antonio and Babik had to speak, but... well, here he is."

  Kristin's gaze locked on his. A different sort of rush pulsed in her veins now. She couldn't look away as she asked, "Can you give us a minute?"

  The queen answered, "Of course. Kristin, do not wash your knuckles or change out of that dress. I want the press to see that you can take care of yourself. Feisty American."

  Kristin tore her gaze off Antonio and stared at his mother. She truly was a master politician. "Yes, Your Majesty."

  The doors closed behind her and they were alone. She wanted to run into his arms, but she wasn't that weak. She hugged her waist to still her wayward thoughts. "Antonio."

  He came closer and traced her face. His touch ignited her cells and made her ache to be with him. "Kristin, are you hurt?"

  "I'm fine. Hold on." She tore herself away and marched toward her bag. She was about to do something possibly reckless, but she had to follow through. She took out the contract and dug for a pen. A moment later she signed it.

  Then she handed the papers to Antonio who asked, "What's this?"

  "The contract," she reminded him. She then straightened her dress and ignored the small tear near her knee. Her pulse raced as she said, "I'll still marry you."

  He reached out for her hand again but she kept hers at her side. This was a no love agreement. She stared down and asked, "So, you forgive me for leaving you at the table?"

  He narrowed his gaze and his brow furrowed. "I think I should be the one asking you. I should have told you about the computer program."

  It was not her style to let a computer give her an excel sheet of names and numbers of the men she might marry. She’d skipped Internet dating despite recommendations because she felt people lied in their profiles. But since she was part of his scheme, she wanted the numbers. "How many people did it find for you?"

  He crossed his arms. "After going through billions, you were the final choice."

  The only name was hers. Whoever he hired was both her fairy godmother and the devil himself, but if she chose to stay, then in time she'd figure out a way to win his heart too. Love had to exist, somehow. Right now she was still too angry to think clearly, so she pushed the contract into his hand and hoped this ended the conversation. "Well, here is the contract. We should be good, and I'll conduct myself properly from now on."

 
He reached out for her, but she avoided his touch. "Kristin..."

  If he touched her then she might let go of her anger and that had kept her alive so far. She needed the protection of her shield and he might take it away by being kind. "Let's go tell the press. I'm thrilled to be your bride."

  "Kristin, I'm sorry."

  Tears swelled in her eyes and she turned toward him. He pierced through her armor and she felt the waterworks growing that would run her makeup. She sniffled to stop it. "Don't. Let's just go."

  He came forward and brushed a wayward piece of hair out of her eyes. "There was only you for me. I can't imagine marrying anyone else."

  She hugged him and sniffed against his shoulder. His mother had wanted her to be strong, but now she'd be a hot mess. "Stop. I'll ruin my makeup and your mother wants me looking tough."

  He massaged her back which helped calm her as he kissed her forehead. "After? Can we talk, just you and me?"

  "Sure." What else could she say? She was tired. She knew he wasn't in love with her. She’d agreed to his terms of the contract. Now to navigate through her own heart to figure out how to live with this decision, because the truth was she wanted him. She wanted to be here and she wanted to be in his arms. And most of all she wanted to believe that love was real.

  Chapter 13

  Antonio felt ice still in his veins despite Kristin being saved from Korba’s clutches.

  Babik had told him that Henri and four other guards were in the communist bloc. One had joined earlier that day when Antonio brought Kristin home because he was scared his country might join Slovenia or Italy, as they were nestled between the two countries. The fears were irrational and based on history where their kingdom didn't maintain self-control.

  Henri hadn’t needed to threaten Kristin, and he empathized with the eighteen-year-old boy who just joined the guard to make money for his family and got misled by Korba. The courts would decide what was best for him, but he’d mention it in his written testimony.

  He had to reassure the people, but in front of the camera he couldn't say much. He’d always hated the camera which was why he normally pasted a fake, somewhat arrogant, smile on his face during interviews. He nodded.

  Kristin answered questions with a genuine smile. She wrapped her arm around his and said, "I'm delighted to marry Prince Antonio Aussa."

  One reporter asked her, "What brought the two of you together?"

  She nudged him. He met her gaze and then loosened his tight muscles in his shoulders as he tugged her closer for a side-hug. Her mussed hair was falling out of her up-do and her red dress was torn at the knee. "She applied to be my secretary. I saw more in her and it wasn't just her fighting skills."

  She laughed and beamed into the camera. "I don't remember boxing anyone during my job interview." She turned and stared at him again. "I was too busy gawking, unable to believe that I was in the room with you."

  He hugged her and wished the camera wasn't there. He'd kiss her and find a way to fix his mistake. "Her honesty and drive are part of why she is my perfect bride." He turned back to the reporter. This time he had a message and his shoulders tightened. "Now, I also hope anyone else who wishes for a coup pays attention. I will not allow one more person in this palace who threatens my family. The only way the Aussa reign will end is if in the election, the people choose a communist regime. Focus on winning the votes and leave my bride alone."

  Kristin blinked up at him. "What vote?"

  Goodness. Things had been so rushed since they’d met that she didn’t know… and of course this had to play out in front of the camera. He took a deep breath, showed his arrogant smirk and said, "I've not explained anything to my bride. I was too busy trying to get her to say yes."

  She laughed, so comfortable with the camera crew that they smiled back. "I'm not easy."

  He took both of her hands in his. "Right before our wedding, in three days, the nation decides if we are to return to the communist way that they lived under when my family was in exile or if we continue forward with capitalistic leanings, and our family, as a symbol for the people."

  “It’s his family that led us all to a place where we were blessed by the holy family.” One reporter added, “Any true citizen of Avce wants your family to remain in the palace, Your Highness.”

  Antonio felt his cheeks heat, but he glanced at Kristin. “No matter what happens with the vote, Kristin needs to know I choose to marry her and it’s not because of ancient laws.”

  The look of compassion in Kristin’s eyes while she spoke to the reporter made him think she was the prettiest woman ever. Then she tilted her head and stared at the camera. "So either I stay here as a princess, or just become your wife where we don’t have to rush into things. Either way I win."

  Natural ability did not begin to describe her with their audience. He’d taken years of study and still his stomach felt like it was in knots. He tugged at her to go.

  She waved at the camera and the reporter she just spoke to waved back. Kristin's charm was intoxicating and soon everyone would see how wonderful she was. He guided her away from the balcony and he felt calmer having her to himself.

  On their way to her room, he placed his hand on her back. She turned toward him, and stared at his profile. As they reached a window where the full moon shined on them, she reached out and asked, "I was happy Babik saved me earlier, but I felt better the second you came to me."

  “I was frantic that I didn’t have your location.” He decided to take her outside to the balcony. He opened the door so the cool, fresh air kept things between them easy and crossed his arms. "I called Babik but you never told me where in the castle you were. He found you first; my mother and I came here as soon as we knew where you were headed. She wanted a few minutes to talk to you, alone. Babik and I discussed the guards’ loyalty." She closed her eyes and nodded. Once she opened her eyes, he asked, "What I don’t know is what she said to you."

  "She said she loved you." Kristin went to the end of the balcony that overlooked the river and the forest beyond them. Everything sparkled from the moonlight and mist.

  He followed her and asked his next question though he was mesmerized by how the moon caught gold in her brown hair. "What else did she talk to you about?"

  She turned toward him with both hands on the balcony rail. "She talked about duty."

  "Now that sounds about right. What else?" If he understood why she became more distant emotionally, then he could fix it.

  She let go of the railing and stared at him. "She told me what I needed to hear so that I'd stay in Avce."

  He kept his voice low. She even made the night air smell better, with a hint of floral. "What did you need to hear?"

  "I told you." She looked into his gaze. "It was about duty and if I wanted to stay with you then it was time to follow through with my part of the deal."

  The sense she didn't want to be kissed hit him. He kept his distance, but offered her his hand. "Kristin, I should have told you..."

  "Why did Sophia have that ring on her finger?" She interrupted his apology; her palm brushed against his and then she tugged it away. "I would never presume to wear someone else's things."

  The truth was he had no idea. He’d intended to buy Kristin a ring from him, but between hostage situations there’d been no time. His heartbeat raced. "I don't know."

  She covered her lips with her fingers as if she wanted to hide. He had no idea what to say, but then she lowered her hand, placed it at her side, which seemed unnaturally stiff and said, "I'm not asking because I'm jealous. She knows your world, she wants to marry you. Why can't you marry her? Why did you resort to a computer search?"

  He leaned against the balcony rails. If he had met Kristin organically, he'd have chased after her immediately—wanting to know more. Right now he felt the money he paid IT was all worth it because she was here. He had to convey the truth. "I met Sophia when I was thirteen. She was introduced as a potential bride when we lived in England, and then she never left. I
don't remember holidays without her presence. I understand that my mother wants to ensure I continue the bloodline, but I felt trapped."

  She took a deep breath and then mimicked his stance and leaned against the rails. "So you relied on computer technology and trusted that?"

  The wind gently pushed Kristin's hair in his direction. He moved so she had less of a breeze in her face. "The last woman I was remotely interested in never spoke to me after meeting Sophia. I had to do something and she's always right behind me. I don't want to marry someone because all she sees is my title and a chance to be Queen."

  She reached out and brushed her hand against his. "You hardly know me."

  Her touch was like an electric rod. He scooted closer. "I know enough. Kristin, I want things back to where we were before dinner."

  She came closer and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere, but what's holding us back isn't the dinner or Sophia."

  "What's wrong?" Whatever it was, he'd fix it. Fast. Kristin was his.

  She swallowed as if nervous. "It's the contract. We agree that love isn't a factor. I'm in danger of violating that clause."

  Love. The word clung in the air. His parents married for love, and he only put that in the contract in case he wanted a way out of marrying a stranger. Everything was different now, but he didn't know the right words. He reached out and brushed the hair that stayed near her eyes off her cheek. "Kristin, tomorrow, after our day where you get fitted for a dress..."

  "Did you become your mother with talk about clothes for appearance’s sake?" She shook her head. “I’ve not thought about a wedding dress.”

  He patted her arm. "You need to, quickly. Tomorrow evening, can we spend the night together? I'll plan something special."

  She smiled at him and it felt like he’d won a marathon, but the only crowd that cheered was the one he needed. "You had me at tomorrow."

  "I promise I'll make things better."