Wrong Prince, Right Lover Read online

  So sudden. So jarring. And so conveniently close on the heels of yesterday’s revelations.

  Santiago’s grip tightened. “Only half an hour ago,” he said. “The royal physician pronounced him dead when he arrived on the scene.”

  “He can’t be gone.” Grief for the man who would never love her mingled with instant sympathy for Santiago and his mother. “Everything we’ve sacrificed has been for nothing.” Her legs trembled, and she crumpled, sliding against the hard, muscular wall of Santiago’s chest.

  He released her hands and enveloped her in his arms. “The codicil is still in place,” he said. “You can still marry Valdoria’s king and save our countries from ruin.”

  Ilsa heard him take a deep breath, the shuddering release of the air from his lungs, and then she understood completely why Santiago had been summoned to deliver this terrible news. “The codicil stipulated I marry the heir to the throne,” she said as she pushed out of his strong arms to stand on her own.

  A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Yes.”

  “You’re Valdoria’s next ruling monarch.” She crossed her arms. “You don’t want to marry me, but you will to stop a war.”

  “Correct.”

  A thousand thoughts tangled in her brain. Did she dare break the terms of the peace agreement to save herself from a lifetime with someone who didn’t love her? No. She couldn’t let down her people or her family. Plus, Santiago had a vision for Valdoria she admired. One that would prevent these ridiculous arranged marriages from happening in the future. If she couldn’t have love, she’d make sure the next generation did.

  “Javier accepted the reality of our union,” she said. “We were groomed for our marriage. Despite discovering his lack of affection, I had his respect.” Though affection had been her end goal…

  “I respect you,” Santiago said.

  “You told me to get out while I could,” she said.

  He raked his fingers through his thick hair. “Yesterday, I wasn’t the King.”

  “Yesterday I told you I’d be your queen whether you liked it or not.” She closed the distance between them. “Today I’ll follow through on my promise to my country, yours, and to you. I will be your wife, but I expect some things in return.”

  “Name them.”

  “A chair on the royal council and I want to work with you to modernize Valdoria’s economy.” Maybe if she got to know Santiago as a partner, they could have a decent life together. Though they’d rarely had occasion to interact other than the formal royal functions, she’d had an interesting conversation with him two years ago during a brief escape from the crush of people at a royal ball.

  “Done.” He held her gaze. “I know this isn’t what you expected. Neither did I, but I’m committed to making our marriage strong. You?”

  His steady voice along with the steel glinting in his dark eyes brought a rush of warmth into her chest. She wanted to believe him, but how could she be sure he meant what he said? After all, his brother had lied to her. If Santiago wanted this marriage to be good, then he’d have to earn her trust.

  “Absolutely. In every way,” Ilsa said, though Santiago’s first test would happen after they said their vows because she had no intention of losing her virginity right away. She deserved time to make up for what she hadn’t experienced yet. And Santiago had to show her he wanted her as a woman, not just as a queen.

  Chapter 2

  Santiago heard the determination beneath her tone, but he’d bet his new crown she’d go through with the ceremony for the good of their countries. Not for him. How could she when she didn’t know he cared about her? “You won’t regret your decision,” he said.

  “I don’t see any other way of preventing a war,” she said. “Plus, I’m the epitome of the word dutiful, remember?”

  His stomach knotted. She’d overheard more of his argument with Javier than he’d thought. “I remember,” he said. “I’m sorry for my careless remark.”

  “I accept your apology,” she said coolly, then moved to where she’d dropped her outfit and picked up the hangers. “Give me a few minutes to pull myself together. We’ll inform our parents and the royal council of our decision. The sooner we act, the faster we’ll immobilize the unrest that’s brewing in Menkara.”

  The tangle in his gut tightened. He’d gotten the woman he wanted because of his brother’s sudden death, but would he ever have her heart? “Agreed. I’ll meet you in the salon outside.”

  He left her alone in the dressing room, only to be greeted by her father. “Your brother’s body is at the coroner’s,” King Kees said without preamble. “They’re conducting a full autopsy to determine why Javier lost consciousness and fell. How is Ilsa taking the news?”

  “As well as can be expected.”

  “And the wedding? Will she go through with the marriage?”

  “Yes.”

  Her father pressed his palm against his chest and exhaled a long breath. The relief on his face affirmed Santiago’s decision to honor the pact between their countries. “You know of the warships poised to strike off the northern coast,” Santiago said.

  Kees nodded. “I ordered them to go there,” he said. “Not my choice, but my hands are tied by the pact’s codicil. I couldn’t risk a military takeover of Menkara. The political situation is extremely unstable right now.”

  “More than one entity is involved in this attempted coup,” Santiago said. “Someone is manipulating us. They want to overturn the pact and will stop at nothing to do so. Whoever is working against us thrives on chaos.”

  “I will do everything in my power to find the culprit,” Kees said.

  “And I’ll do what I can to prevent another tragedy from happening.”

  Kees lightly touched Santiago’s shoulder. “Your brother was a good man,” he said quietly.

  Santiago’s throat constricted and pain scraped along the insides. Yes. Javier had been stuck in his ways, but Santiago genuinely grieved his sudden death in this moment. He swallowed hard. “Yes, he was,” he said as the dressing room door opened and Ilsa stepped into the salon.

  “Ilsa,” Kees said when she reached his side. “My dear, dear girl. You’ve made me very proud today.”

  “I had no choice.” She indicated the exit. “We have a lot to do before we address our citizens to reveal our renewed commitment to the pact.”

  Her tone was brittle, clipped. Distant. Adrenaline zipped along Santiago’s spine, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand at attention. Had he signed up for a lifetime of a loveless marriage? He’d seen sparks of fire beneath her cool exterior. For his brother. For her country. But not for him.

  Not yet.

  “Should we scale down the scope of the wedding next week?” she asked as they entered his brother’s office. “To honor Javier’s memory?”

  “I’d love to keep the ceremony private,” he said, still unable to fathom the turmoil facing them even after they got married. “But the Menkaran military threat won’t back off if they don’t witness our wedding. There’s no way they’ll believe we’re married unless we do so publicly.”

  “That’s why we’re broadcasting the entire ceremony throughout the world,” her father said before taking a seat in front of the antique desk. “But we must address your brother’s loss too.”

  “We’ll hold a state funeral for him after we receive the coroner’s preliminary report,” Santiago said, helping Ilsa sit next to her father.

  She pressed her palm against her stomach. “When?” she asked.

  “Next week. Before the wedding takes place.” He circled Javier’s—no… his desk. “Then we’ll go straight into preparing for the coronation. Not the greatest way to start a marriage, but we’ll have a lifetime to make up for it.”

  “I’m prepared to do what’s right,” she said quietly. “That’s all we can ask of each other right now.”

  He took his seat. “Agreed.”

  The high-backed chair’s leather scent mingled with his brother’s cologne
. A band tightened around his lungs and he struggled to take a breath. Even now his brother’s presence lingered and though he had no intention of erasing Javier’s memory, he had to build a new regime with the woman who’d pledged herself to country before herself or any other man. Would she ever see him as more than a king?

  “Can you make the union look believable?” her father asked.

  Suddenly, his mouth went dry. In eight days, he’d kiss Ilsa for the first time for all the wrong reasons in front of millions of people. But he knew he’d have no problem making the world buy into how much he cared for her. He couldn’t say the same for her. But he’d damn well make their first kiss one she’d never forget. And one she’d want more of, too.

  Santiago glanced at her beautiful face. She’d clenched her jaw, and the shadows beneath her eyes stood in stark contrast to the pallor in her translucent skin. But still she held her head high. “I’m committed to this plan for all the right reasons,” she said. “We have a mutual desire to protect our countries because we love our citizens. I won’t fail them. I trust Santiago to do the same.”

  “We have more in common than not.” He held her gaze with his. “I’m certain that’ll be clear to anyone who witnesses our vows.”

  They barely knew each other… and yet… they’d be intimate eventually. Then the only people who’d be in the room would be them. Only then would he know if he’d made a monumental mistake that would haunt him throughout his life.

  “Santiago has many plans for Valdoria,” Ilsa said. “Perhaps we can avert another potential war, make our alliance stronger for future generations by incorporating his ideas into Menkara’s economic growth.”

  A jolt went through his body and his breath bottled in his chest. Not only had Ilsa overheard most of his argument with Javier, she’d agreed. And had given great thought into how to incorporate his vision for Valdoria into one for Menkara too. “I hadn’t considered the possibility before…” his brother had died. Javier never wanted them to bring in the corporate giant with financial incentives. Ilsa’s request to work side by side with him to bring about his vision could draw them closer together.

  “I’m intrigued,” Kees said. “But tonight isn't the time to discuss how we’ll address the failing economies of our countries.”

  “True,” Santiago said. “However, once we get the wedding and funeral behind us, I’d welcome your input. We’ll create a task force composed of representatives from Valdoria and Menkara.” He’d never have wished his brother’s death to get this opportunity to put his plans into action, but Santiago relished the thought of building an alliance with Menkara along with bringing in the finest minds and industry giants into their countries.

  “Are you sure you want to add that to your duties as Queen of Valdoria?” Kees asked, patting her knee.

  “I believe I’ve done enough in the name of duty,” she said firmly.

  Santiago licked his lip with cautious hope and the weight of his decision lifted from his shoulders. Did Ilsa’s parents only see her as a commodity? A puppet to put through their machinations at their will? No wonder she asked to have a real voice in the shaping of his country’s future. Now his agreement to her terms made him realize they both had a stake in his proposal’s success.

  And that could lead to more, given the right amount of time.

  “Sí,” Santiago said. “Ilsa’s degree in International Business Affairs makes her an excellent candidate for developing our countries’ mutual economic strategies.”

  She touched her throat and swallowed hard. “Thank you, Santiago,” she said after a small beat of silence.

  “Your Uncle Pieter should be part of the board too,” her father said. “He’s our top economic advisor.”

  She nodded. “I’ll bring him on board after the wedding,” she said. “Now we must take care of more pressing matters. How is your mother holding up?”

  “She’s a mess,” Santiago said and pushed out of his chair. “I’m going over the funeral arrangements with her tonight.”

  “Would you like me to go to her suite with you or would you rather handle it yourself?” she asked.

  “I’d welcome your support,” he said. He’d never been his mother’s favorite son. A band squeezed around his lungs and pain lanced behind his sternum. He didn’t even know how to comfort her, given that she’d have to bury the boy she held dearest while accepting him as her king. Perhaps Ilsa would have a better handle on how to deal with his mother’s grief.

  “We should see her now,” she said, standing. “Tell her we’re going through with the wedding. Perhaps that’ll bring her a measure of peace. Father, would you like to join us?”

  “No.” Her father joined her. “Your mother is waiting with your sisters in our guest suite. She’ll want to know about your decision.”

  “Yes. I’m sure she will.” Ilsa kissed her father’s cheeks one by one. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Kees returned her kisses. “My darling daughter,” he said as he cupped her cheeks. “In eight days you’ll become the future queen of Valdoria, but you’ll always be my little girl.”

  “Daddy…” Her voice was raspy. “I love you. Always. Now go. Santiago and I have a long night ahead of us.”

  Santiago took her hand and when she didn’t tug away, his heart thundered in his ears. He’d been in the shadows his entire life, fighting for his voice to be heard and battling his frustration over the insane peace accord preventing him from having Ilsa. She didn’t love him. She didn’t know he’d wanted her for years, but he had a chance now.

  Yes, his brother’s memory would be honored, but the future belonged to him and Ilsa in a thousand unborn tomorrows. They could literally rewrite the rules together.

  For themselves. For their families. For their children… and their children’s children.

  He only had to convince Ilsa that she’d gotten the right prince after all. Then he’d make sure she loved more than the throne he’d gained. He’d make sure she cared for the man wearing the crown.

  * * *

  “Thank you for consoling my mother,” Santiago said after escorting Ilsa to her suite of rooms.

  Something she’d realized quickly wasn’t in Santiago’s repertoire of abilities… at least not where Queen Constanza was concerned. He’d been awkward, reserved… tense. Now, standing in front of the double doors leading to her suite, she wanted to comfort him too.

  Her pulse slowed and her heart ached for him. She’d arrived in Valdoria with a very different opinion of Santiago than she had now. He’d come across as confident and assured whenever she’d spent time with him. And during his argument with Javier, he clearly had a solid plan in place to save Valdoria.

  Something she could wrap her brain around. Working side-by-side with Santiago could create a way for her to connect with him other than as a woman he’d merely married to stop a war.

  “Standing by you is part of the package when you signed on to marry me, Santiago,” she said coolly, though she still wanted to smooth the lines in his brow and brush the tendrils of dark curling hair from his forehead.

  “You’ve been through hell today. I shouldn’t have asked you to come with me, but I’m glad I did,” he said.

  “Hell would be an understatement for both of us. You lost your brother, Santiago,” she said, suddenly caving to the yearning to connect with him on some level, to caress his stubbled jaw. “Your mother lost a son.” And she’d lost a fiancé. One she’d genuinely cared for even after she’d overheard his casual dismissal.

  She paused, but before she could remove her hand from his handsome face, Santiago captured it in his. “Sí,” He brought it to his lips. “But we’ll get through this together. Buenas noches, preciosa. We’ve got much to do before the wedding.” He released her hand to open the door.

  The soft brush of his mouth against her skin sending tingles along her nerves and into every woman part she possessed. She could say one thing about the de la Fuente men… they were sexy as hell, but
Javier had never loved her. And why should she trust Santiago to feel anything for her beyond mere respect? “Until tomorrow,” she said, stepping into the room and closing the door.

  As she crawled into bed, she hugged a satin-covered pillow, tears spilling freely for the man who’d been taken far too soon. Someone she’d planned to love, honor and cherish who’d never reciprocated her desire. And more followed for the guilt she carried deep down. Was it wrong that she’d been relieved… just a little? That when Santiago’s mouth pressed against her skin, she’d been given a hint of what could be? And that was better than what she’d expected to happen?

  The flurry of nerves, the sensations curling her toes and making her nipples pebble even now along with the exquisite ache tugging down low weren’t new. She’d experienced this before even when she’d kissed Javier… she punched the pillow and buried deeper under the silk duvet and sheets.

  No. She wouldn’t think about Javier. Not now. He’d died. She’d been passed over to the heir.

  Still, those tingles muddled her mind and she couldn’t let a physical reaction to the man cloud her senses and give her false illusions about how he actually felt for her. She’d made that mistake once. She wouldn’t do it again.

  The following week went by in a blur of holding Javier’s funeral, contacting the foreign heads of state along with the Menkaran government officials with their renewed commitment to the marriage and renewing negotiations with the tech giant Santiago wanted to bring to Valdoria. They still awaited results from the medical tests the medical examiner had conducted, but the wedding couldn’t be postponed.

  Not without setting a war into motion.

  Now Ilsa’s stylist fussed over her hair and nails and finished buffing every inch of her body with cream. Her sisters, Liliana and Olivia, hovered and did their best to take her mind off the events which had occurred during the last week.