Page 33 of Cruel Romeo

“And if you change your mind?”

“Then I’ll find another woman willing to give me a child.”

The thought of him with other women leaves me cold, unsteady. Admittedly, I was not prepared for it. It’s a business arrangement—what the hell am I getting jealous for?

A different woman on his arm each night. A different plaything laughing at the dinner table, younger and younger. A parade of dolls and humiliation.

My father’s face flashes into my mind. My lips press into a line, my fists balled up at my sides.

This isn’t about Petyr. This is aboutme. Specifically, me not ending up like my mother. I almost feel relieved to be realizing it, but the bitterness of what he just said lingers on my tongue. The images, the wounds they’d be opening back up…

“No.”

He tilts his head. Just slightly. Just enough for me to know he isn’t pleased and would like to give me a chance to think it over again. “No?”

“No other women.” Despite my assurances that this has nothing to do with Petyr or jealousy, I find myself flushing. “Promise me you won’t be with anyone else while you’re… doing this with me.”

My tone is frailer than I’d like. It shows weakness. Any moment now, this man is bound to take advantage.

Petyr studies me for a long beat. Then, against all reason, he nods. “Fine. You have my word.”

Wait, what?

“You…” I clear my throat. “You mean it?”

“I do.”

The room spins. It dawns on me, finally, that I’m really doing this. Getting into bed with the enemy—literally.

But it’s a small price to pay for everything I’ve ever wanted.

So, against my better judgment, I nod, too.

13

PETYR

When Sima nods, relief settles over me.

Good.I don’t let her notice, but I can feel the tension finally slip off my shoulders. Not that I would have had any qualms about option B, but a willing ally is always better than an unwilling prisoner. Less of a hassle and far more useful.

No more chasing my new bride down the driveway in the middle of the night.

No more sirens blaring in the house.

No more risking her falling into the wrong hands because she’s delusional enough to think she can outrun me.

This will make everything easier.

I haven’t decided how I will use her yet. Right now, she’s my way out of my father’s pesky terms and conditions, but any woman could have served that purpose. That’s not why I marriedher.

Sima Danilo. Knocking her up and holding that over the Danilo family head would be the obvious choice. It kills two birds with one stone: fulfilling my father’s will while driving Nikolai Danilo and his psychotic son Anatoli insane in the process.

That said, I could just kill them instead of irritating them. I could bathe the streets in Danilo blood and honor my deal with Sima at the same time.

It wouldn’t give me the satisfaction of making my enemies dance in the palm of my hand, but it would be practical. Honorable, even.

I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. Right now, the heir takes precedence. I need to secure my crown first—kicking others off their thrones can wait.