Scorched

  It didn’t make up for the fact that Adriane hadn’t given her any choice but to stay in his country, but she would enjoy showing the island to her children one day when they were old enough to visit.

  “What do you think of Corythia?” Adriane asked quietly, then continued speaking before she could answer. “It is quite beautiful. I’m still hopeful you will fall in love with my country and won’t be in a hurry to leave. ”

  Rachel looked at Adriane across the table and didn’t know what to say. Yes, Corythia was beautiful, and she was enjoying the small café he’d brought her to, their table sitting on an open deck overlooking the ocean. But this wasn’t her home, and it never would be.

  Add to that the fact that she was still in shock after learning a few days ago that she was going to have not one but two babies, and in less than six months — she couldn’t seem to process anything at the moment. Even Adriane’s words were taking longer to filter through her head.

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  Still strongly against the idea of marrying a man for the sake of children, she was confused beyond that point. Should she try to get to know Adriane? They were both going to be parents whether they were ready or not.

  If she left Corythia now, she would know virtually nothing about him. Yes, he’d been wrong in taking her from her home, but he hadn’t done so out of malice; he’d acted out of loyalty to the child — or children — she carried in her womb.

  If he’d been monstrous toward her, then she’d have her answer. But he hadn’t been. He’d pushed her, and tried demanding marriage and talking her into ha**ng s*x again, but he hadn’t actually forced her to do anything besides stay in his castle.

  It was time to get to know him. That wouldn’t happen if she were focused only on escape.

  “I’m not going to marry you, Adriane, but I have decided to spend one month with you — not in a sexual way,” she hastened to add when he began to smile. “I believe it’s important for me to know the father of my children. When the time comes, I will be leaving, though, either with your blessing or under fire from your guards. I will not be held against my will any longer. ”

  Rachel didn’t take her eyes from Adriane; she wanted to watch his reaction. She was hoping she would be able to trust him at some point. There was no way she’d allow her children to spend time with him if she feared she wouldn’t get them back.

  “I can agree to a month,” he said, and from the expression on his face, she had no idea whether he was speaking the truth or not.

  Only time would tell.

  “So you will stop with all this insistence on marriage?” she asked, needing his promise.

  Adriane grimaced, but he didn’t turn away from her.

  “I will stop speaking of it,” he said.

  That wasn’t a good enough answer.

  “Look, Adriane, on the jet you said you would back off on the marriage thing, but you haven’t honored that promise. If you want me to trust you, then you have to give me a reason to do so. You have to keep your word. ”

  She looked him dead in the eyes as she spoke, letting him know she was serious and wasn’t going to back down.

  After a long pause, he nodded. It wasn’t agreement, but it was the best he was going to give her right now. Because she didn’t want to fight, she decided to let this one thing go. The next time he brought the subject of marriage up, she’d light into him.

  She enjoyed their meal, and they spoke about safe topics through the main course. For the first time since the two of them had met again after Florida, they’d agreed to a cease-fire, and Rachel felt a smidgeon of hope that the two of them could become friends.

  “Did you always know you were going to be king?” she asked as their dessert was placed before them, an elaborate chocolate torte.

  “No. My older brother was supposed to take the reins of the kingdom, but he left when we were teenagers. My father was heartbroken. There was never any question that I would step up, though it wasn’t something I wanted. ”

  “What if you had said no?”

  Adriane looked at her with surprise, as if such a concept was completely foreign to him. “That was never going to happen. ”

  He didn’t elaborate.

  “Would the country fall apart? What happens if no one wants to be king?” It was something she’d never really thought about before.

  What if Adriane had no more children and the babies she carried didn’t want to ascend to the throne?

  “Corythia has always been ruled by the direct descendants of my family line. Each father has passed the crown to the eldest son, unless something happened to that child; then it went down to the next-eldest son. If there is a male heir, which there always has been, then the oldest living son takes the crown. If there were nothing but female heirs, the crown would be passed to the next line of male heirs, such as an uncle or the closest in line of the male cousins. That has never happened here. There has always been a male heir. ”

  “That’s sexist,” Rachel said.

  “There’s a reason behind this, Rachel. The king is supposed to be able to lead his troops into battle,” he said, as if that were a perfectly acceptable reason.

  “A woman could just as easily lead the troops,” Rachel interjected.

  Adriane sighed as if speaking to a small child, and he looked at her indulgently. “The women are to be protected,” he said, then with a glint in his eye, added, “so that they can tend the home front, prepare the meals and serve their husbands. ”

  Rachel looked at him and couldn’t tell if he was kidding or not. The gleam in his eye seemed to say he was trying to rile her, but she was worried.

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  “My children will not be raised thinking that women are the weaker sex, Adriane. I think men should cherish and protect their women, love them, but also give them respect. The way you are talking are the ways of our ancestors. Women can now protect their husbands, too. Today, there isn’t anything a man can do that a woman can’t. ”

  “I disagree. There are many tasks that are more suited to a man than a woman. But don’t fret, there are also many tasks that are more suited to a woman than a man,” he said, obviously trying to rile her now.

  “Do I dare ask which tasks are suited to which sex?”

  “Well, men are the hunters, the ones to bring home the food and keep the home safe. Women keep the home fires burning, so to speak, having the home ready for her warrior when he returns home with provisions. ”

  Rachel’s mouth dropped open as she looked at this modern king, wearing his hand-tailored black Armani suit and silk tie. Had he really just said that?

  “Did we just lose two hundred years? Am I missing something?” she finally asked.

  “I am pushing you a bit, Rachel. I’m sorry, I can’t help myself. The fire that lights in your eyes is too irresistible. However, I don’t like all this modernization the world is so into these days. ”

  “You don’t like phones?” she asked with open sarcasm, not even close to forgiving him.

  “That’s not what I’m speaking of. I don’t like the fact that women are now sent off to war, only to return in a flag-draped casket. I think it’s wrong that a man so easily walks away from his children to leave the woman to struggle, tearing up her hands while she tries to earn the barest pittance so her young ones won’t starve. It is wrong that the men of today don’t take care of their families. That is our duty, our responsibility. What is so wrong with believing that a woman should be looked after?”

  His words were wrong, in thinking women lesser than men, but she could see that his heart was in the right place. He thought it a man’s responsibility to take care of his woman. She couldn’t fault him for that — she even respected him a little for it. However, he would have to learn that women could do whatever it took to survive. And not only that, they could make a great life for themselves without the aid of a man if
they so chose.

  “I don’t see that we are going to come to an agreement on this subject. I was taught from a young age that I could do anything I wanted. Yes, there are tasks more suited to the male or female sex, but not what you’re speaking of. There were many things I tried just because I had watched my brother or sister try them first and I wanted to be just like both of them. I went through a phase where I refused to wear a dress because it slowed me down. I have slid into home base in the rain, covering myself from head to foot in mud, I have pitched my own tent, and I’ve even taken a class to learn how to change a tire and handle basic auto mechanics. Women are capable, Adriane. It’s their choice which direction they want to take their lives in. ”

  “You do amaze me, Rachel. I know your family, know how you grew up. You are not what I would expect you to be,” he said as he reached across the table and took her hand, lifting it to his mouth and kissing her knuckles before laying their entwined fingers down on the table.

  Before Rachel could respond, there was a racket inside the restaurant, and suddenly the doors that separated them from the rest of the diners flew open and slammed against the wall. The two guards on duty while they were out had their guns drawn; they spoke in rapid French, yelling at the intruder to stand down.

  Adriane jumped from his seat, immediately thrusting Rachel behind his back as he yelled to the waiter, who ran over and grabbed hold of Rachel, pulling her away from the scene, toward what she assumed was an emergency exit.

  “I’m getting my sister right now!”

  Rachel froze at the sound of Rafe’s voice, nearly tripping as the waiter continued tugging on her.

  “Rafe?” Rachel called, shocked to see her brother burst through the doors in a rage.

  His eyes connected with her, and he rushed forward.

  “Fire!” one of the guards cried.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “NO!” RACHEL SCREAMED as she struggled furiously to get free of the waiter. “Don’t touch my brother!”

  Before the guard was able to shoot, Adriane called out an order and his men turned toward him in confusion. The waiter who held Rachel lost his grip in his surprise. She couldn’t tell what Adriane had said, but it was enough that it allowed Rafe to get onto the deck and rush forward.

  He reached her, and the waiter placed himself between her and Rafe — a stupid move on his part. Without pausing, Rafe lifted his fist, dropping the waiter with one solid punch to the jaw, and then he pulled Rachel against him in an embrace that was warm and full of relief.

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  “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. Ari thought you would want the time to get to know Adriane better. I disagreed, but she insisted. So did Lia and our mother. Women!” Rachel gave him a severe but affectionate look, and he continued. “Oh, sorry, Rachel. Anyway, then, when I was unable to get through to you, I panicked, thinking I’d made the wrong decision. It took some major connections of mine to help me find out where you were today, but I got here as quickly as I could. Have you been harmed?”

  The world saw her brother as a heartless business tycoon. She knew the truth. He was a good man, one who loved his family more than anything else in his life. He had been an ass when it came to his personal relationships, but being with Ari had changed him. He was back to the brother she’d always loved and respected.

  “I’m fine, Rafe. I promise. I came out to this nice little café without being dragged. I’m glad you love me enough to risk your life to rescue me, and a few days ago I would have run away with you in a heartbeat, but Adriane and I are talking now. He’s a fool to think he can demand marriage, but if I can get the chance to know him a little more for the sake of my baby, then I think I owe that to…him or her, and to myself. ” She was afraid to mention that there were actually two babies, fearing that her brother would pass out.

  “You can tell me the truth, Rachel. I’m not afraid of Adriane or his guards. If you want to leave and you’re worried about what will happen, you don’t need to be,” he said, looking carefully at her expression in case she might be sending him a secret signal.

  “I promise I’m doing fine now, Rafe. I wouldn’t lie to you. I need to stay for just a little longer, but when the time comes for me to leave, if Adriane gives me any trouble at all, I will contact you — well, I will if I can get through on the freaking phone line,” she said, looking past her brother to where Adriane was glaring daggers at Rafe, obviously not happy about this intrusion. He was most likely worried that Rachel would try to leave now.

  Soon. But not now.

  “I need to be certain. I’m not going anywhere until all of us speak,” Rafe said, turning his head to meet and return Adriane’s glare.

  “You could have gotten yourself killed, Rafe. You should know better than to burst in the way you did,” Adriane said as he approached.

  “And you should know better than to kidnap my sister and then not allow her to contact me,” Rafe snapped, keeping his arm protectively around Rachel.

  Adriane noticed the gesture and he didn’t seem to like it.

  “Why don’t we head back to the palace, where we can speak privately?” Adriane suggested.

  Rafe looked as if he wanted to refuse, but Rachel threw him an encouraging smile and he nodded his head.

  “Good,” Adriane said, and he turned and walked stiffly toward the open doors, where his uneasy guardsmen stood by.

  The waiter Rafe had knocked out was now rising to his feet and looking none too pleased. Divining that he might be happy to stab her brother with a steak knife, Rachel positioned herself between the two of them without her brother’s knowledge.

  Adriane had a short conversation with one of his men and then the guards followed them out, watching Rafe as if he could be a snake about to strike.

  They all left the restaurant and made their way to the vehicles parked out front.

  The drive to the palace was silent and tense, and when they arrived and walked inside, they moved through the palace with distinct uneasiness.

  Once Adriane had led Rafe and Rachel inside his sitting room, he headed immediately to the liquor cabinet, dismissing his guards so the three could be alone. Rachel had no doubt the men were pressed up against the door, waiting for any aggression on Rafe’s part.

  “Your week is up, Adriane. I’ve come for my sister. ” Rafe walked up beside him and took a glass without bothering to ask. He also ignored what Rachel had just said to him at the café. Pouring himself a large glass of whiskey, he then moved over to the couch and sat down as if not worried in the least about the way the confrontation would end.

  “Your sister and I will wed,” Adriane said, speaking calmly as he sat across from Rafe.

  Rachel was irritated as she watched the two men puff up their chests. Shouldn’t she be the one speaking? What she would say, though, was a bit of a problem, for after wanting nothing more than to leave for the past week, she was now confused by her desire to stay. She’d probably start off by expressing her disgust for the ludicrous display of testosterone in front of her.

  Before she could say anything, Rafe jumped in again. “She hasn’t agreed to marry you. Rachel wouldn’t do that without talking to her family first. ”

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  “Did you bother to ask your family’s permission before proposing to your bride?” Adriane countered.

  “They all love Ari. ”

  “That’s not the point. Rachel is an adult who can make her own decisions. She doesn’t need your blessing in order to be married. ”

  “Well, she sure as hell needs to agree, and not be forced to marry you!” Rafe thundered.

  “She carries my children,” Adriane thundered back.

  Rafe sank back at Adriane’s words before he turned his head in Rachel’s direction.

  “Children?” he asked.

  “I’m having twins,” she admitted, as a smile turned
up the corners of her lips and she fought back tears. Finally, she was telling Rafe something firsthand. Well, sort of, since Adriane had been the one to blurt out the word children. She was glad that her brother was sitting down.

  Rafe was stunned speechless, something she’d never seen before. It was almost enough to make her giggle — almost, but not quite. Not with the amount of tension in the room.

  “Are you happy, Rach?”

  Was she happy? No. There was too much pressure weighing down on her right now. But she was glad to be carrying her twins. She felt protective, felt like a mother. She was looking forward to meeting them. By then, she would have a clear plan of what she wanted to do.

  “I’m not unhappy, Rafe. I already love these tiny babies growing inside me. ”

  “I think you need to just come home with me. You need your family right now,” he advised her.

  Rachel saw Adriane tense at those words. It was obvious he wasn’t going to allow that to happen without one hell of a fight. Would the battle be worth it? Rafe could get hurt or even killed trying to protect her. Then, she would never forgive the father of her children.

  “I will come home soon, Rafe. I promise you. I want to spend time with mother, and I need my sister and best friend. Oh, my gosh!” she exclaimed as her eyes widened.

  “What?” he asked, tensing with concern.

  “I have been so wrapped up in myself this week, I haven’t even thought of poor Ari and the wedding. Adriane told me the wedding was put off because of this situation. I’m so incredibly sorry, Rafe. That shouldn’t have happened. How is she doing? Are you both OK?” she asked as she stepped up to him.

  “We are both fine. I want to make her my bride as soon as possible, but she won’t go through with it without you. That’s just another reason for you to come home with me,” he said.

  “Oh, Rafe. ” Talk about feeling torn.

  As if Adriane understood her indecision, he popped in with a proposal.

  “We will hold the wedding here. It would be my honor to host it in the royal cathedral. ”

  Both Rafe and Rachel turned toward Adriane, who was looking quite pleased with himself for finding an adequate solution to the problem.

  “Your family can all be guests here at the palace,” Adriane continued. “Then Rachel can also visit with her mother. I am quite certain our mothers will get along remarkably well. They will probably drive the staff crazy,” he said with a fond smile. It was obvious his mother had a special place in his heart. That was something that was certainly in his favor.