Captured and Crowned Read Free

his veins.
    Just an hour ago he’d tasted Demetria’s full, sensual lips. He’d held the weight of her lush breasts in his hands, known the silken texture of the skin, the tight budding of her nipples.
    Gregor, unaware of the fury building within Kristo, escorted his fiancée toward him. Her polite smile vanished the moment their gazes locked. Her soft lips parted. Her face drained of color.
    â€œDemetria, this is my brother, Prince Kristo,” Gregor said. “I doubt you remember him, since it’s been some time since you’ve seen him.”
    An hour ago, Kristo thought morosely. One damned hour ago, when he’d brought her to a shuddering climax.
    Yet how could he tell his brother that the woman he was to marry was unfaithful? He was just as much to blame for not recognizing her.
    â€œYour Highness,” she said, and dipped into a deep curtsy that felt like a mockery in the face of what had transpired between them.
    â€œMy pleasure, Demetria,” he said, hating the coil he was caught in with her.
    She forced a smile and mumbled an appropriate greeting.
    In that moment he knew she’d not confess her sin either. And why should she?
    Wealth and position awaited her.
    Damn her for her perfidy! He hated her more than he did anyone on earth.
    After today, he vowed to avoid the royal palace and his brother’s unfaithful fiancée.

CHAPTER ONE
    P RINCE K RISTO S TANRAKIS had never thrown a royal fit of anger in his life, but he was moments away from doing so just now. He flung his tuxedo jacket on a red brocade Louis XV chaise and ripped open his stark white shirt, sending a row of diamond studs flying. One pinged off an inlaid table before falling to the gold Kirman carpet, while another chinked as it hit a window.
    This urgent meeting with the future King, his lawyers and the highest officials was over. Angyra would face change yet again.
    His life had just been turned on its heel and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do to evade his fate.
    No! His duty !
    He paced the impressive length of his apartment. Duty! How he hated that word. How he hated her !
    Just one month ago they’d buried their father, the beloved King of Angyra. She’d come to the funeral and sat with her father and sister, looking solemn and royal and aloof. Looking sexy as hell in a black sheath that had hugged her luscious curves.
    He hadn’t seen her in almost a year, yet the moment their eyes had met he’d been slammed him back to that day on the beach. A roiling mix of guilt, rage and desire had boiled in him.
    He wanted nothing to do with her. Yet he still wanted her more than he’d ever wanted a woman.
    Being near her needled him with guilt for betraying his brother and he did not like that feeling one bit. But he’d been prepared to suffer through her return in less than two weeks to marry King Gregor. Except that would not happen now!
    The rap at his door was preceded by its opening. He whirled to find Mikhael striding into his suite, with a bottle of ouzo under his arm and two glasses clutched in one hand.
    â€œI thought you could use this,” Mikhael said, and promptly poured two drinks.
    He took the offered liquor and tossed it back, relishing the bite to his senses. “Did you have any idea that Gregor was ill?”
    Mikhael shook his head. “He’s seemed tired of late, and complained of headaches, but I attributed it to the stress of assuming Father’s duties.”
    The same thought had crossed Kristo’s mind. He’d never dreamed that Gregor had secretly seen a doctor just before the King’s death, only to discover two days ago that he had inoperable cancer.
    The prognosis was grim. With death imminent, Crown Prince Gregor had chosen to abdicate before the State Council proclaimed him King of Angyra tomorrow.
    That official announcement had been made just one hour ago.
    By order of birth, the crown now passed to Kristo. He was now Crown