âCome here,â he said.
Andres didnât wait for her to obey. Rather he wrapped his fingers around her arm and pulled her deeper into the corridor, around the staircase.
Zaraâs breath caught as he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small velvet box. The ache in her chest split openâharsh, tearing pain now. And along with it fear.
âNo,â she said.
âI never pretended this was anything but inevitable.â
He opened the box and revealed exactly what she had feared. She looked down at the beautiful, ornate ring. A platinum band with a large square-cut gem at the center.
âNow itâs time for us to go in.â
He took the hand he had just put the ring on, curling his fingers around hers, leading her back toward the entrance to the ballroom. And she went. Because she was numb, and putting up a fight when you werenât entirely sure if your feet were still on the ground was difficult.
No. This wasnât what she wanted. She needed more time. She wasnât ready.
He said he would marry you by Christmas. By the end of the month. You only have a few weeks. What did you think?
She hadnât been thinking. She had been in denial of the fact that she had been brought here, given to Andres as though she were an object. A Christmas present for the man who had everything.
PRINCES OF PETRAS
Wed by royal command!
In November ⦠Playboy Prince Andres of Petras is bound by royal duty and must finally pay the price for his past sins. He has to marry the lost Princess of TirimiaâZara! From fiery passion to sinfully seductive kisses, is this one Christmas gift the Prince will be keeping ⦠for ever?
In January 2016 ⦠King Kairos proves that underneath his calm and collected mask is a proud, passionate and powerful ruler who wonât let anything get in the way of his responsibility. Even the wife who so clearly loathes him! But, on the brink of breaking point, Tabitha has some shocking news. Now the King must claim his Queen once again ⦠and his new heir!
Donât miss this sensational new duet from Maisey Yatesâavailable only from Mills & Boon Modern Romance!
MAISEY YATES is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than thirty romance novels. She has a coffee habit she has no interest in kicking, and a slight Pinterest addiction. She lives with her husband and children in the Pacific Northwest. When Maisey isnât writing she can be found singing in the grocery store, shopping for shoes online, and probably not doing dishes. Check out her website: maiseyyates.com.
To Dean Winchester. Carry on my wayward son.
PROLOGUE
THE GIFTS HAD been on parade for the past hour. Shows of wealth from Tirimia being trotted out before King Kairos as though he were a boy and this was Christmas morning. Baskets overflowing with the finest fruits grown in the orchards from Petrasâs neighboring country. Art and jewelry from the most celebrated painters and silversmiths. But certainly the ambassadors from Tirimia had saved the most spectacular gift for last.
Kairos looked down from his position on the throne at the men who were standing before him, clearly awaiting his awe, and listened as they began to introduce their final treasure, the one they were calling the jewel of their collection.
âThis will please you, my king,â the man, known as Darius, was saying. âThe ultimate in Tirimian beauty and grace, for your palace. For the continued health of relations between Tirimia and Petras. The representation of how far weâve come since the revolution. It was bloody, and we cannot erase that history. We can only show we are committed to moving forward.â
Darius was speaking of the overthrow of Tirimiaâs monarchy some fifteen years earlier. Kairos had not been on the throne then, but his father had made sure heâd been well educated in what was happening. At the time, the rebels in Tirimia had even posed a threat to the borders of Petras. Earning back trust between the two nations had been slow. Which was why they had requested an audience with Kairos today. He was the newly installed king, and they were clearly keen to make the most of the clean slate they felt he might offer.
Too bad for them he wasnât easily impressed with baubles. However, they had quite a few natural resources he was interested in, and war was never in the best interest of the nation. Which was why he had granted them the audience. And watched with decreasing patience as they brought forth their offerings.
âAs a token of goodwill between our nations,â Darius said, a film of oil coating each word, âwe present to you Princess Zara.â
The doors to the throne room swung open and there, standing in the center of the doorway, flanked by two large men, was a woman. Her hands were clasped in front of her body, bright gold cuffs gleaming from her wrists.