LITMIR.BIZ

       Chapter 3

      The king of Valencia had been battling brain cancer for two years. Numerous surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation had broken his eighty-year-old body but not the cancer. The king’s imminent death was the Valencian government’s worst-kept secret. Though no media outlets were reporting it, those closest to the king—and Demetrius, via his spies—knew that he had made his peace and was ready.

      Emmanuel Floros the First was a man Demetrius respected. Though his personal life was a mess, the king was a fair and honorable man when it came to his politics and his decisions regarding Valencia.

      As they drove from the airport to the palace, Demetrius conveyed to Iliana what he thought might be useful information about the king. He hoped to distract her and take off some of the pressure she surely felt from learning she was the king’s daughter and knowing this may be her only shot to get answers from him. She seemed nervous and had been strangely quiet—due in part to punishment for him, no doubt—but given the king’s condition, this visit needed to happen today. Every hour that passed, the window of opportunity closed further.

      “The king has had three wives and five children. His first wife gave him three, the second two and his third wife is rumored to be barren. She has been running the country for the past several months. Though she claims she consults the king on matters of importance and relays the information, I suspect the king doesn’t govern much in his current state.”

      “I have half siblings.” Iliana sounded mystified.

      She wasn’t focused on the politics. She was focused on the heart of the matter. “Yes.”

      “I always wanted a sister. I didn’t think I would have one. Are there others like me? Other illegitimate children?”

      “None who the king claims,” Demetrius said. The king had slept around on his wives, but it seemed he had been more careful with other mistresses to ensure they did not become pregnant. “Your father and the king were boyhood friends. The king knew you would be safe with him, and, to ensure that, he cut ties with your father completely.”

      Her eyes darkened with anger. “Safe from whom?”

      “Your half brothers and sisters. The king’s wives. Any number of interested parties would want the king’s love child dead. The king has land and holdings to be divided among his wives and children. Though his first two wives were given large settlements after their divorces, they will receive small parcels of land as tradition dictates because they are the mothers of his children.”

      Iliana stared out the window with a faraway look in her eyes. “I should get nothing. I have no claim.”

      “The king has named you in his will.” Her eyes swerved to meet his, and he felt the heat and passion in them. He loved that she lived so vibrantly, so fervidly.

      “How do you know so much about the king’s will?” she asked.

      Demetrius heard the anger in her words. That he had expected, but he had not expected to care as much as he did about her feelings. He usually made decisions, and dissention was ignored. He found it harder to follow that policy with Iliana. “I have a friend in the court system who keeps me informed on these matters.” Since the king had mentioned his illegitimate daughter years earlier, in passing, during a drunken poker game, Demetrius had considered how he could leverage that information to help his brother. Demetrius’s friendship with the king had been precipitated by Demetrius needing influence in Valencia for Alexei.

      Little by little, Demetrius had acquired the information about the king’s as yet publically unrecognized daughter until he had gathered enough details to locate Iliana.

      “You knew about me before we met. That’s why you were so interested. All that attention you gave me, the time you spent with me and the words you said to me, it was all leading to this.”

      The crux of the matter. Nothing he said would convince her that his reasons for marrying her had to do with more than her inheritance. His initial interest was her connection to the king of Valencia, but after he had met her in person, it had developed into much more. “I will state again that I married you because I wanted to do so.”

      She frowned at him and then turned her head away again. Demetrius left her to her thoughts.

      At the sight of the king’s country estate, Demetrius felt his adrenaline kick up. Demetrius and his servicemen would stay close to Iliana. Though few knew of their visit, those closest to the king would, and they were the people most dangerous to Iliana.

      It would have been safer for Iliana to remain in Icarus. It wouldn’t have changed Demetrius’s plans, except Iliana wanted to speak to the king. Not giving her this opportunity robbed her of something she couldn’t reclaim, and Demetrius wouldn’t do that to her. No one should lead a life of regrets.

      The king’s wife, Stella, was waiting at the door for them. He’d expected her interest, but Demetrius wondered how involved in the king’s affairs Stella was and what exactly she knew about Iliana.

      “President DeSante. I heard that you had an appointment with my husband. Surely you know he is unwell.”

      “I am aware of his condition. I need to speak to him.”

      Stella didn’t move to allow them to pass. “I didn’t realize you wanted to say goodbye in person.”

      Demetrius had met Stella on several other occasions. She was older than Demetrius by a few years and far younger than the king. Their brief courtship and subsequent marriage had been questioned by the country, but if Stella had been unfaithful, she had been discreet about it.

      Stella was digging for information, and Demetrius would reveal nothing. He owed Stella zilch. Until he knew who was targeting Iliana, everyone was a possible enemy. It was a hard way to live, but he had been living with enemies at his back for decades. “The king is waiting.”

      Stella looked at Iliana. “You must be Iliana Kracos. I saw your name on the visitor request form.”

      Iliana stepped forward, extending her hand. No curtseying, though that would have been the accepted practice, and as the personal secretary to the queen of Acacia, Iliana would be well aware of it. Iliana was not playing subservient, and Demetrius loved her for it. “Iliana DeSante now.”

      Stella appeared surprised. “You’ve married Demetrius? How...interesting. I wasn’t sure what to make of you accompanying Demetrius on this visit.”

      Demetrius wondered how much Stella knew about the king’s will.

      “I hope we’ll have time to visit later,” Iliana said. She smiled, and Demetrius hid his amusement. She was giving Stella no information, and she was playing as phony as Stella was.

      Stella was standing between him and the hallway leading to the king’s bedroom.

      “Excuse us,” Demetrius said. Circumventing the older woman, he and Iliana followed the king’s steward to the king.

      * * *

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