скачать книгу бесплатно
Pretender to the Throne
Maisey Yates
A duty to the past…After fifteen years in self-imposed exile, haunted rebel prince Xander Drakos must walk back through the palace gates and assume the role he once abandoned.Only one woman can restore his good name – the woman he left behind. But when Xander finds Layna Xenakos he’s horrified to see the effects of the turmoil he left behind written in the scars across her body.But her scars have given her strength, and Layna refuses to bow to his royal command. Now Xander must use his practised charm to convince her to become his bride, securing his legitimate place on the throne.‘Such excitement and adventure! Maisey’s books are always entertaining.’ – Linda, 57, AberdeenDiscover more at www.millsandboon.co.uk/maiseyyates
“You speak of the crown as though it’s a poisoned cup,” Layna said, her words muted.
“It is in many ways. But it is mine. And I have spent too many years trying to pass it off to others.”
Yes, as far as anyone knew the crown was Xander’s. It was the expectation. What he had trained for until he was twenty-one.
The truth was another matter. But it didn’t change the reality.
It didn’t change what had to be done.
“A conscience, Xander?” she asked, using his first name.
The sound sent a shiver through him. A ripple of memory.
“I’m not so certain I’d go that far. Maybe a bit of forgotten honor bred into me. Thanks to all that royal blood,” he said, his tone dripping sarcasm. “Imagine my disappointment when I realized I hadn’t replaced it all with alcohol.”
“A disappointment for many,” she said.
She sounded more like her old self now. He’d officially destroyed her serenity. Perhaps a lightning bolt would be in the offing after all.
“I’m sure. But I had thought there might be a way of softening the blow.”
“And that is?”
“You,” he said. “I’m going to need you, Layna.”
THE CALL OF DUTY
When legacy commands they must obey!
Don’t miss any of the books in this powerful trilogy by Maisey Yates!
A ROYAL WORLD APART Desperate to escape her duty, Princess Evangelina has tried every trick in her little black book. But where everyone else has failed will her new bodyguard bend her to his will? Pity the Princess who draws such a devastating gaze!
AT HIS MAJESTY’S REQUEST
Prince Stavros Drakos has ruled his country like his business: with a will of iron! And when duty demands an heir this resolute bachelor will turn his sole focus to the task …
But will he have finally have met his match?
PRETENDER TO THE THRONE
Newly returned Prince Xander Drakos was raised to sit on the throne … But was the crown ever really his to wear? One thing is certain—this prince is determined to right the wrongs of the past and do his duty for his family and his country.
But first he’ ll need the woman he left behind at his side.
Pretender to the Throne
Maisey Yates
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
MAISEY YATES was an avid Mills & Boon® Modern™ Romance reader before she began to write them. She still can’t quite believe she’s lucky enough to get to create her very own sexy alpha heroes and feisty heroines. Seeing her name on one of those lovely covers is a dream come true.
Maisey lives with her handsome, wonderful, diaper-changing husband and three small children across the street from her extremely supportive parents and the home she grew up in, in the wilds of Southern Oregon, USA. She enjoys the contrast of living in a place where you might wake up to find a bear on your back porch and then heading into the home office to write stories that take place in exotic urban locales.
Recent titles by the same author:
FORGED IN THE DESERT HEAT
HIS RING IS NOT ENOUGH
THE COUPLE WHO FOOLED THE WORLD
HEIR TO A DARK INHERITANCE
(Secret Heirs of Powerful Men)
Did you know these are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk
To my readers.
This book exists because you asked for it.
And I’m so very glad you did!
Contents
CHAPTER ONE (#u41a94db0-c68f-5e54-be3b-fbf87cbd74e3)
CHAPTER TWO (#u6df30c2a-9dcd-5936-8c38-3f1f7dc2438f)
CHAPTER THREE (#u05943552-0fc3-52e3-b83a-7a94db0d6ed1)
CHAPTER FOUR (#u2edb59fe-d2e3-591e-96b2-5318154b6961)
CHAPTER FIVE (#u1358ebf3-24a2-5c62-a3d6-4020af47374a)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
EXCERPT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE
“EITHER DIE OR abdicate. I’m not particular about which one you choose, but you’d better make a decision, and quickly.”
Alexander Drakos, heir to the throne of Kyonos, dissolute rake and frequent gambler, took a drag on his cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray and dropping his cards onto the velvet-covered table.
“I’m a little busy right now, Stavros,” he said into his phone.
“Doing what? Throwing away your fortune and drinking yourself into a stupor?”
“Don’t be an idiot. I don’t drink when I gamble. I don’t lose, either.” He eyed the men sitting around the table and pushed a pile of chips into the pot.
“A shame. If you did, then maybe you would have had to come home a long time ago.”
“Yeah, well, you haven’t seemed to need me.”
It was time for the cards to go down, and those who hadn’t folded earlier on in the round put their hands face up.
Xander laughed and revealed his royal flush before leaning in and sweeping the chips into his stack. “I’m cashing out,” he said, standing and putting his chips into a velvet bag. “Enjoy your evening.” He took his black suit jacket off the back of the chair and slung it over his shoulder.
He passed a casino employee and dropped the bag into the man’s hands. “I know how much is in there. Cash me out. Five percent for you, no more.”
He stopped at the bar. “Scotch. Neat.”
“I thought you didn’t drink while you gambled,” his brother said.
“I’m not gambling anymore.” The bartender pushed the glass his way and Xander knocked it back before continuing out of the building and onto one of Monaco’s crowded streets.
Strange. The alcohol barely burned anymore. It didn’t make him feel good, either. Stupid alcohol.
“Where are you?”
“Monaco. Yesterday I was in France. I think that was yesterday. It all sort of blurs together, you know?”
“You make me feel old, Xander, and I am your younger brother.”
“You sound old, Stavros.”
“Yes, well, I didn’t have the luxury of running out on my responsibilities. That was your course of action and that meant someone had to stay behind and be a grown-up.”
He remembered well what had happened the day he’d taken that luxury. Running out on his responsibilities, as Stavros called it.
You killed her. This is your fault. You’ve stolen something from this country, from me. You can never replace it. I will never forgive you.
Damn.
Now that that memory had surfaced another shot or four would be required.
“I’m sure the people will build a statue in your honor someday and it will all be worth it,” Xander said.
“I didn’t call to engage in small talk with you. I would rather strangle myself with my own necktie.”
Xander stopped walking, ignoring the woman who ran into him thanks to his sudden action. “What did you call about then?”
“Dad had a stroke. It’s very likely he’s dying. And you are the next in line for the throne. Unless you abdicate, and I mean really, finally, abdicate. Or you know, chain a concrete ball to your neck and hurl yourself into the sea, I won’t mourn you.”
“I would think you’d be happy for me to abdicate,” Xander said, ignoring the tightness in his chest. He hated death. Hated its suddenness. Its lack of discrimination.
If death had any courtesy at all, it would have come for him a long time ago. Hell, he’d been baiting it for years.
Instead, it went after the lovely and needed. The ones who actually made a difference to the world rather than those who left nothing but brimstone and scorch marks in their wake.
“I have no desire to be king, but make no mistake, I will. The issue, of course, lies in the production of heirs. As happy as Jessica and I are with our children, they are not eligible to take the throne. Adoption is good enough for us, but not sufficient per the laws of Kyonos.”
“That leaves...Eva.”
“Yes,” Stavros said. “It does. And if you hadn’t heard, she is pregnant.”
“And how does she feel? About her child being the heir?”
“She hates it. She and Mak don’t even live in Kyonos and they’d have to uproot their lives so their child could be raised in the palace, so he or she could learn their duty. It would change everything. It was never meant to be this way for her and you know it.”
Xander closed his eyes and pictured his wild, dark-haired sister. Yes, she would hate it. Because she’d always hated royal protocol. As he had.
He’d taken her mother from her. Could he rob her of the rest of her dreams, too?
“Whatever you decide, Xander, decide quickly. I would ask that you do so in two days’ time,” Stavros continued, “but if you want my opinion...”
“I don’t.” He hung the phone up and stuffed it into his pocket.
Then he walked toward the dock. And he wondered where he might find a concrete ball.
* * *
Layna Xenakos dismounted and patted her horse on the neck. Layna was sweaty and sticky, and the simple, long-sleeved shift she was wearing didn’t do very much to diffuse the heat.
