The Prince’s Pregnant Bride Read Free

brought their knowledge back to Rahiri.”
    “But your father’s a professor, isn’t he?” AJ leaned closer, until his masculine scent tickled her nostrils.
    What was he trying to prove?
    “Of geology. He encouraged me in my studies, and I was going to read history at the university, but I left my studies when I became queen.”
    Vanu hadn’t liked to see her with her head in a book. He said such a pretty head should be completely empty.
    “You should start again. Why not?” He shrugged. “I never had the patience for school. I’m at my best running around on a set.”
    “You’re happy in L.A.?”
    “Ecstatically so. I can honestly say I don’t miss Rahiri one bit.”
    “Your mom misses you.”
    “I know. That’s why she comes up with so many excuses for shopping trips to Rodeo Drive.” He grinned. “I enjoy her visits and I think she single-handedly keeps the U.S. economy afloat.”
    “Is this your first visit to Rahiri since the wedding?”
    “Yes. Maybe I should feel bad, but I’m busy and I don’t fit in here.” He pushed a hand through his thick black hair and leaned back in the woven armchair. The heavy muscling of his body was visible even inside his dark suit.
    She was still surprised that he hadn’t visited once. And they expected him to become king?
    Not very likely. Which meant she was off the hook as his wife.
    She blew out a long, slow, silent breath. The sooner he left, the better.
    “It is beautiful here, though.” He stared out at the mist-shrouded horizon, a crevice of gold and blue sky nestled between rainforest-covered hills. A toucan flew up into a nearby baobab tree, its bright beak held aloft. “I’d forgotten how beautiful it is.”
     

    His mom’s quest to convince him to stay continued unrelentingly over the following days and nights.
    “Here, sweetheart, have some coconut stars.” Her favorite treat hovered under AJ’s nose on their tooled silver platter.
    “No, thanks, Mom, really.” After three days of funerary feasting, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to eat again. “Did I tell you my plane leaves at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow?”
    “What?” Her eyes widened with horror. “You can’t. You’ve barely had time to get to know Lani.”
    He glanced around, making sure the woman in question was nowhere nearby. “I’ve spent hours and hours with her. She’s sweet.”
    “And she’ll be a good queen, with you as her king.” His mom folded her arms. Her gold bangles clinked together.
    “Not possible.”
    “Not only is it possible, it is inevitable.” Steel shimmered in his mom’s voice and gleamed in her eyes. “Although it took a tragedy to bring you together, you and Lani are destined to be together.”
    “I’m destined to begin post-production on Hellcat Four: The Aftermath in three weeks’ time. And after that, if the funding comes together, I’ll be making Dragon Chaser part five.”
    His mom waved her hand, jangling her bracelets. “Part four, part five. What will it matter if there are so many already? There is only one Rahiri, and you are our ruler.”
    “People are counting on me. There’s a lot at stake.”
    “My sentiments exactly.” She leaned in, giving him a whiff of her familiar honeysuckle perfume. “We’re all counting on you. I am counting on you.”
    AJ’s back tightened. No one here had counted on him for anything before. He wasn’t the heir, the chosen one. Now suddenly everything had changed, but he was still the same person inside.
    His mom grabbed his arm. “Here comes Lani. Don’t tell her you’re leaving. You’re not leaving.”
    AJ jerked his arm back. “I’m leaving. But I’ll be nice to Lani before I go.”
    He smiled at the stunning young widow as she walked into the room, her embroidered pale-gold dress gleaming in the candlelight. Gold earrings glittered in her lobes and a ruby hovered at her throat. Decked out for sacrifice.
    His stomach turned that she was so willing to go along with his mother’s foolish