“So let’s talk about business.” She said as we continued our walk.

“Cards on the table Bette, my mother is ill. They have only given her weeks to live. I need to be married before she passed or the thrown goes to my cousin Candace… You know what she’s like. And you know why I can’t let that happen.”

I kept walking. Candace and I had once been lovers. She lied and said she was pregnant with my child. Of course that child never came. But the trouble it had caused, almost ripped my family into pieces. Candace simply wanted the thrown to Vito and was capable of doing anything to get it.

“Not to mention if we don’t marry we will both be vulnerable to Queen Faye Buckly.”

Her name sent a chill down my spine.  She was our ultimate enemy at least in our universe.

“Why would she attack you?” Queen Faye Buckly had been after my world for years. My mother Olivia always managed to defeat her. Never her army but enough to stop her before she concurred my world. That’s what made my mother known for her expertise. She stood strong in front of hundreds of thousands and yet they didn’t accomplish what they wanted. Fangura. 

“I have the man power of thousands fully capable to defeat her. That’s why your mothers want our alliance. She can’t defeat us and in return I will give you the thrown. Your first born will be crown princess but I need us to have a child of our own.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. She didn’t want my heart which I already knew but she wanted my children and I had already promised Tina my womb. A silent promise that didn’t require words.

“I can’t give you that.” She stopped walking again. Turned and looked at the distance the guards fallowed. Once she was satisfied, she kept walking.

“I can’t give you that either.” She simply stated.

Not I was really intrigued. “What do you mean?”

“I want you because I know you can produce but ultimately I can’t.”

I kept walking in silence waiting for her to explain herself.

“I just can’t. So my deal is you can have your freedom as I will have mine but it will stay in silence. In public we will be the perfect couple. However you will help me defeat our enemy. Then you can have a second wife which I feel safe to assume you already have picked her. Nobody can know about this. Not even your loved ones. I do mean nobody.”

“You do realize Angelica will heir your crown.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.” I could see the smile on her face but she didn’t turn to face me.

“So we don’t have to sleep together?” I questioned how much I would have to betray my heart and Tina’s.

“Not unless you want too. Other’s will have to believe we go at it like rabbits. I do mean everybody.”

How could I deny such a proposition. I could still love Tina and eventually make her my wife. Something did bother me.

“If you want me to keep your secrets and truly believe you speak the truth, tell me why you don’t want my children.”

I noticed her eyes got teary but she didn’t let them roll down her cheeks. She nodded in understanding. If this was really going to be just a business arrangement. We both needed to trust the other.

“I’m in love with another…. and I’m ill as well. My days are also numbered.”  I squeezed her hand in sympathy for her pain. Throughout my visits I gotten to know the princess and how fragile she truly was.

“So what do you say?” I could hear the hop in her voice.

I hadn’t noticed we had walked this far. We were already at my palace gates.

“Welcome to my palace my Princess.” I simply stated with a smile. With an offer like that how could I refuse.

She smiled. “Good, now you do realize your daughter is in danger. There are many who will go after her before she comes of age.”

I knew this. I knew this the moment Carmen told me Tina had given birth to my child. I had promised to do whatever it took to protect her. I was bothered that I couldn’t tell Tina of my arrangement with Princess Xio.

“I will protect her.”

“You do realize she needs to be away from you for awhile for her true safety.”

I knew this was true. I would find away. I kept silent because I wasn’t about to jeopardize their lives as I came up with a plan.

TBC