Free The Defiant Princess by Alyssa J. Montgomery Page B

desperation. She fidgeted with her fingers in her lap. “I don’t want Mustaf to continue to rule Rhajia, but I can’t be the ruler either.” She stopped fidgeting and put her hands up in an imploring gesture. “You could rule, and though you don’t possess all the skills your brother did, you’d have to be better than Mustaf.”
    Once more her words slapped at him. Rage boiled in Khalid’s veins. That this supposed Princess would be so insulting beggared belief.
    â€œI may not possess all the skills my brother did, but I certainly possess more diplomacy in my little finger than you possess in your entire body.” Each word was delivered in razor sharp tones. He looked around the room, wondering if they kept any hard alcohol in the place because a couple of hours with this woman was driving him to drink! The lace-edged curtains and floral fabrics didn’t inspire him to search. He’d probably only find crème sherry or some brandy for their Christmas pudding.
    When he looked at her again, he noted she’d cringed back into the chair and eyed him as though he would hurl deadly throwing knives in her direction at any second.
    â€œI’m so sorry.” She raised the fingers of one hand to her mouth in distress. “That was insulting, and I didn’t mean to be.”
    â€œEven worse that your insults were uttered without intention. You’ve just proved, beyond any doubt, that you’d be totally unsuitable as Rhajia’s ruler. God only knows what sort of diplomatic messes you’d plunge your country into each time you opened your mouth.” He’d have to speak with his father and find another way.
    She straightened and her chin thrust forward again in defiance. ‘You’re not exactly known for your experience in international affairs, Prince Khalid. Unless, by international affairs, you mean ones that take place in the bedroom with foreign women.”
    Khalid was torn. One part of him wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled for daring to speak to him that way, the other part of him wanted to kiss her into senseless submission.
    â€œIs that a challenge, Princess?” He took a step forward and leaned to place a hand on each armrest. “Do you require first-hand proof of my experience in international affairs ? Is that why you wish to become my wife?”
    â€œThat’s just the sort of egotistical, arrogant comment I’d expect from someone like you.” Even as she shrank back further into the chair, she retaliated. Her retort proved she wasn’t a woman who would back-down easily. “I’ve already told you, the one reason I’m proposing a name-only marriage is to find a solution—a better future for Rhajia, and to protect anyone I’m close to. I have no interest in marrying you for your charm or body.”
    â€œGood.” He straightened and moved away from her. “Because I have no interest in being shackled to a shrew for a wife.”
    Inaya would be calm. Respectful. Dutiful. The wife he needed.
    â€œWe are at an impasse, Prince Khalid. I won’t return and make a claim for the throne if I am to be held to that position permanently. A marriage to you can end in a quick divorce. You rule, I return, and everybody wins. Those are my terms.”
    Her words were grounded on her own lack of understanding of the situation, but they reminded Khalid of all that was at stake. First priority was to get her back to the Middle East. Despite his misgivings about her ability to rule wisely when she seemed to say whatever she thought without regard for the consequences, returning her to Rhajia was the only way Mustaf could be deposed.
    â€œIf I agree to the betrothal arrangement, you will accompany me to Turastan?” He could say yes to the betrothal without technically agreeing to proceed with the marriage.
    For a moment, she paled. He watched as she pressed her lips together to stop them