‘The law was created two hundred years ago, when the eldest of King Helios the Second’s illegitimate children fought with his lawful heir for the right to take the throne. To prevent such a situation happening again it was explicitly spelt out in the constitution that only legitimate heirs can be recognised.’
‘But Toby wasn’t born in wedlock, so he’ll be illegitimate regardless.’
‘Our marriage will legitimise him. There is nothing in the constitution that states that the child must have been conceived or born in wedlock—only that they must be a child of a lawful marriage.’
Her hands fluttered to her throat. Her head shook slowly from left to right as she tried to take in exactly what he was saying. ‘We can’t marry. The idea is just...stupid.’
‘Do you think I want to marry you?’ he said harshly. ‘It’s the only way I can claim Toby as my own and give him the protection of the Kalliakis name.’
‘He doesn’t need protection. We live in Middle England—not a war zone.’
‘The minute it’s made public that I have a son he’ll be a target for kidnappers the world over. But that’s missing the point, which is that Toby is my son and deserves to be recognised as such. He deserves to be allowed to inherit my personal wealth.’
‘What would you do if you were already married?’ she challenged. ‘Because you surely couldn’t marry me then? Unless bigamy is legal on Agon?’
‘We are not in that situation, so that’s irrelevant. Let me put this in simple terms for you. You and I will marry as soon as we can. If you refuse you will be escorted—alone—off Agon and never allowed to return.’
‘You wouldn’t...’ She shook her head, swallowing back her fury and distress as the full weight of his threat hit her like a brick.
His nostrils flared and he eased himself away from the door. ‘Try me. If you refuse to marry me Toby will be raised on Agon without you. He will know the reason he’s not recognised as a member of his own family and is unable to be my heir is because of his mother’s selfishness.’
The room swam. ‘Would you really stoop so low as to keep us apart and twist his mind against me?’
He raised a strong shoulder and sauntered to stand before her, where she still stood rooted to the spot beside the bed. ‘Whatever I tell him would be nothing compared to the conclusions he would draw on his own. Now, do I have your agreement?’
She backed away lest she give in to her fingers’ need to slap him. She wasn’t being selfish. She wasn’t. What Theseus demanded of her was unconscionable.
A thought raced through her, which she grasped and clung on to. ‘You can’t marry me—you have to marry a princess. Remember? You told me that yourself.’
‘No, I have to marry someone with royal blood—which you have.’
‘But my blood is so diluted it’s weaker than supermarket own-brand blackcurrant squash!’ She clung on to the thought desperately, too scared to let go of this last glimmer of hope. ‘My family don’t have titles or acres of land. There’s not a lord or a viscount in sight!’
‘It’s enough to satisfy the constitution. It would be different if Helios was in my position—he is expected to marry a princess, or someone of equal heritage. Now, for the last time, do I have your agreement?’
With her stomach curdling and her skin feeling so tight she could feel her bones pushing through the flesh, Jo blinked frantically to keep her focus, to maintain some measure of control.
There was no way out. No other avenue to take. Theseus had thought of everything and had an answer to everything.
But she wouldn’t let him have it all his own way.
‘Seeing as I have no choice, I’ll marry you. But only for long enough to satisfy whatever draconian law your ridiculous island insists on before we can divorce.’
He shook his head, his mouth twisting into a rueful grimace. ‘It is illegal for members of the Agon royal family to divorce.’
‘That’s not possible.’ Coldness like nothing she’d experienced before crept through her bones.
‘The constitution—’
But she cut him off before he could say another word. All the fear and anger that had been brewing within her converged to the point of explosion and she launched herself at him, pushing him onto the bed, her fists striking his chest.
‘Your constitution can take a running jump, for all I care, and so can you,’ she raged. ‘I’m not giving up my entire life for you.’