The Most Powerful Of Kings - Jackie Ashenden Page 0,51

pain winding tight. His childhood had been so bleak, abusive even. He wouldn’t even know what joy was. But if there was ever someone who needed to learn, it was him. His father had brainwashed him into thinking his emotions were the enemy, but if he could learn how to isolate himself, he could also unlearn it. He’d already given in to the passion inside him, so perhaps he could also allow himself other things. Such as happiness and warmth. Joy and laughter.

Love.

And why not love? Who loved him? His brother did, but that was a sibling’s love. His daughter loved her father, yes, and his people loved the king, but who loved the man?

You can.

The thought had sharp edges, cutting her in places that were far too vulnerable and exposed, but she ignored them. Yes, she could love him. That was possible. No, it was necessary. He hadn’t had enough love in his life from the sounds of it, and he needed it. And so did his little girl. He had no one else to give it to him. No one but her.

And the convent? Your vows?

He was right; the convent didn’t need her. She’d never fitted in there anyway. And the Reverend Mother had been right, too, to send her to Axios, to a king desperate for what she had so much of to give: love.

And what about you? Don’t you need it?

The warning was loud in her head because if he couldn’t put his daughter before his country, then he would never put her first. He would never give her in return what she could give him.

But maybe that didn’t matter. She’d gone years without it, and he had passion at least. Maybe in time that would change. And there was Ione to think about as well...

Was it even a choice?

‘Yes,’ she said, her voice only a little rough, staring into those cold, implacable blue eyes. ‘Yes, I will be your wife.’

The fire in his gaze leapt high. He let go of her hand, his arms coming around her, drawing her in against him, into his heat. Then he turned them both and she found herself lying beneath him, caged by heat, hard muscle, and smooth, velvety skin.

He was above her, his piercing gaze holding her captive. ‘Then you’ll be mine, little nun. And in return you will be queen, your nights full of all the pleasure I can give you, and your days spent with a little girl who desperately needs you. You have a home with me at the palace, I swear it.’

You will be his. But he will never be yours.

A shudder moved through her, a fault line inside her reminding her that there were cracks in her heart. Cracks that hadn’t healed and perhaps never would.

But it didn’t matter. Her heart, cracked or not, was big enough for all of them.

Conviction settled down inside her as she looked up into his strong face. Yes, she was here for a reason and that reason wasn’t just a small, excitable girl, but a man. A king. A lonely mountain who needed someone, even if that mountain didn’t know it yet himself.

And she knew that the vows she was meant to take were never supposed to be ones of chastity and sacrifice, and her vocation wasn’t to be part of the church. Her vows were those of marriage, and her vocation was to be with him. He was her church and she was meant to worship him.

She didn’t speak.

Instead she reached up and pulled him down, taking her first communion from his mouth.

Adonis decided not to return to the palace that day. Or indeed the next. Or even the one after that. Instructing Xerxes to take over for a couple of days, he didn’t bother with an explanation, merely telling his surprised brother that he was taking some time off. He also issued another order for Ione to be brought to the island after a couple of days, allowing himself and Anna to have some time together before they broke the news of their impending wedding to the little girl.

He told himself that keeping Anna with him was necessary because they needed to discuss how a marriage between them would work, nothing at all to do with the raw possessiveness that gripped him, making it impossible to keep his hands off her.

They spent that first day in bed, disturbed only by palace staff arriving with clothing and personal items for them both, not to mention stocking