Eternal Vows by Chrissy Peebles Read Free Book Online

her to get revenge on his rival. He’d said so himself. She tried to control the quiver in her voice. “Of course you have other choices. If you’re the king, you get to make the rules—or aren’t you that powerful?”
    “Your father must pay for his sins and transgressions, and he will one way or another—soon and very soon.” He stroked a stray hair from her eyes, but she averted her gaze. His hot breath hit her cheek as he continued, “I think I’ll extend an invitation to him. There will be some tears shed. That we can count on.”
    “You’re all crazy and in dire need of meds.”
    King Victor whispered in her ear. “Don’t act so sad. You just might enjoy it.”
    What kind of sick freak is this guy? Enjoy having my head cut off by some guy with a giant hatchet and a black hood? Some king this guy is. The only royal thing about him is that he’s a royal pain in the—
    “I can’t wait to see your father’s face.” He smirked.
    She pushed him back, her stomach fluttering from the thought of her own execution. Will it be quick or long and painful? “You’re nuts! How can you order the execution of an innocent woman? No wonder this Gloria’s father is after you.”
    “Execution? Princess, I’m not going to kill you.”
    “Said the spider to the fly.”
    “Spider? Fly? Pardon me, but I do not understand what insects have to do with any of this.” Victor shook his head. “I have much more…pleasurable things planned.” He squeezed her tight against him.
    Her breath caught in her throat as she realized the meaning of his words. He couldn’t possibly want… She pushed him hard. “Let me go!”
    “Do you know what would make your father’s blood boil even more than seeing your pretty little head roll?”
    She didn’t need to hear the words, as the grin on his face said it all. She squirmed in his grip, struggling to keep her wits and silence the screaming voice in her head. “Haven’t the slightest clue.”
    “Me, his most hated enemy, taking his only daughter as my mate.”
    Sarah gasped, even though it was exactly what she’d expected. “What?”
    “Marriage or execution. Either one will break your father, and I’m leaning toward the former.”
    “I think you’ve fallen off your horse and hit your head one time too many. This has to be the worst proposal of all time. But out of curiosity, when’s the big day? I need some time to gather up something borrowed and something blue.”
    “When the sun sets.”
    “Tonight? What happened to courtship? Chivalry? I don’t even know your bad habits, like if you leave the toilet seat up or…” She scanned the room, at a loss for words. “What if you snore like a chainsaw or have some psychological disorder that prevents you from refilling the ice cube tray?”
    His eyebrows raised. “Toilet seat? Ice? Forgive me, but I believe you have fallen off your horse. Maybe we should take you to the healer after all.”
    Throwing my own insults back at me. Wow. How creative . She regarded him intently, but his expression remained confused. “Maybe we should have you evaluated and put on some psych meds.”
    “I was thinking of discussing wine selections later today.” King Victor tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear again, and it felt just as ridiculous as before. “Or maybe floral arrangements. What do you think, my love?”
    “I’m thinking if I ever get my hands on that Gloria chick, she’s dead meat.”
    “Meat? If that is your desire, I shall send my cooks to the fowl cages. Yes! We shall enjoy a feast of roasted quail, turtle dove, partridge, and braised peacock. And, of course, the butcher can supply ample calves’ heads and fish if you so wish.”
    “I’m going to throw up.” She swallowed the bile in her throat. “I want no part of your delusional world.”
    “Surely your knights taught you how to maintain this unpalatable guise,” King Victor said. “I’m impressed—I really am—but you’ll eventually break. For