Carrying the King's Pride(27)

It was the wake-up call Nik had needed. Sofía had been right. His grief was ruling him. He had been allowing his emotions to dominate his thinking, gut reaction to rule, something that might have worked in the eat-or-be-eaten world he’d inhabited in Manhattan, but couldn’t be allowed free rein as king of his country.

It didn’t matter if he hadn’t wanted it, if he was still railing against the unfairness of having his life in New York ripped away from him, he had a nation depending on him to make the right choices at perhaps the most crucial period in its history. He could no longer be the one-man show he’d been in New York where risk taking had been the oxygen he’d breathed, he had to rule by consensus. He had to listen to all the voices.

He had a choice to make. He could accept the role he’d been given and everything that came with it, truly accept it and move forward, or he could continue to fight it. There was no question which way it had to go. He needed his peace of mind back.

An alliance with Aristos Nicolades in place in exchange for Nik’s support of a casino license for the billionaire, Nik had come to Carnelia, his enemy’s turf, to give diplomacy a shot, a council-approved plan in his hand. Although he was convinced the council was wrong in its estimation Idas was bluffing at future aggression, he would give the plan a shot, knowing a more robust armed forces was on the way as insurance.

He stood, looking out at a picture-perfect view of the mountainous Carnelian countryside, a host of emotions running through him as he waited for the king to arrive.

Athamos had perished in those mountains from which Akathinia had once been ruled, his car plunging to the rocky shore below in a death too horrific to imagine. His great-grandfather Damokles had fought for and achieved Akathinia’s independence over a century ago on the Ionian Sea he could see sparkling from the king’s personal salon, winning his nation’s right to self-determination.

It could not be allowed to be taken away.

A door opened behind him. He swiveled to face the king, who entered the room alone. His surprise must have shown on his face for Idas shot him a pointed look, his hawkish face amused. “You came by yourself, Nikandros. I am assuming you are interested in having a frank discussion.”

“Yes.”

Idas waved him into a chair and sat down. “Allow me to express my condolences once again for your brother’s death. It was difficult to do so with so many others in our last meeting.”

Nik lifted a brow. “Kostas couldn’t have said that to me personally?”

The king’s eyes flickered. “My son has taken Athamos’s death badly. They were rivals, yes, but their history is long, filled with a mutual respect that went very deep as you know.”

“Was it a woman that provoked their disagreement?” He couldn’t prevent himself from asking the question that wouldn’t leave his head.

Idas shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t answer that question. Perhaps in time, we will both learn the answer.”

He got the sense the old man was telling the truth. Idas rested a speculative gaze on Nik. “Congratulations on your match to the beautiful American. The star-studded engagement party is tonight, is it not? A message to the world, perhaps, Nikandros? That you have the international community behind you?”

“But we do,” Nik said smoothly. “The world will not sit by and watch you do this.”

The king sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “The international community seems to have a different opinion on territories with historic ties to one other. Particularly when segments of the population would prefer a return to the old boundaries. It tends to view them as local issues. Problem spots they don’t want to get their hands dirty with.”

“Not Akathinia. It is a former colonial jewel. Internationally loved. It would be seen as outrageous.”

“Outrageous is something I’m comfortable with.”

Nik’s fingers bit into his thighs. “We don’t need the world’s help, Idas. We have the strength to make this a very bloody and costly war should you choose to take a wrong step.”

“How?” the king derided. “Your military forces are nothing compared to ours.”

“You have old information. Your spies should do better reconnaissance.”

The king regarded him skeptically. Nik sat forward. “It’s common knowledge Carnelia is struggling. Thus your need for Akathinia’s rich tourism and resource base. That will never happen, but we are open to the idea of expanding trade talks with you. Lending you some of our natural resource expertise so you can further develop your own base. But this,” he stressed, “is contingent on your ceasing your rhetoric in the media. On your agreement to respect Akathinia’s sovereignty as we pursue discussions.”