Page 49 of Royally Tempted

“Who the hell is—”

We both froze as we watched King Lucian himself step forward, beaming at this gorgeous creature and then placing an arm around her and hugging her close.

Oh, shit.

“That, dear brother,” I said slowly, putting the pieces together. “Thatis King Lucian’s daughter, Princess Ilana Morningstar of Avlion.”

Caspian whistled lowly.

“Well, this is going to be a problem.”

This was going to be abigproblem.

Because I knew right there that the same lightning I’d just felt had hit Caspian too. She’d caught us up like a damn spell, and with one look, I knew were both thinking the same thing.

Shewas it. She was everything. There was no denying it. We’d given up on finding the one thing we were looking for, but there in that ballroom, just when we’d least expected it, she’d found us.

Something told me, King Lucian’s virgin, oldest daughter, was completely off the table when it came to being shared by the two of us.

Well, except I had no idea how wrong I was.

Chapter 3

Ilana

“We shouldn’t have just lefther alone with him, you know,” Adele muttered under her breath as my father left us to go mingle with some other dignitaries.

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head as I turned back to her. She was talking about leaving Imogen with Prince Magnus back there, after he’d come striding over and zeroed right in on her. Yes, the man had a reputation as long as his — well, as long as that other bit of reputation, if the tabloids were to be believed. And if we’d been anywherebutour father’s palace, surrounded by people, and guards, and all that, then no, of course I wouldn't have left my younger sister alone with him.

“Imogen’s a big girl, she can handle herself.”

“It’shimhandling her we should be worried about,” Adele muttered.

I laughed, my jaw dropping. “Wow, Adele Snow! Where’s this sassy version of you coming from?”

Adele, our cousin by way of our father’s brother, the king of Berne, was usually much more reserved than she’d been since she’d arrived earlier in the afternoon to attend the ball that night. She was usually softer and quieter, but tonight, she’d been edgy, and sharp-tongued about all sorts of stuff.

“Sorry.” She looked down, sighing.

“No, it’s fine,” I smiled, putting an arm around her “You okay, though?”

“Yeah,” she made a face. “Just stuff with Mallory.”

I made a stink face at her, which made her laugh.

Neither of us liked her stepmother, the new queen of Berne. After all, Kathryn, Adele’s mother, had beenlovedby everyone who met her. Kind, gracious, regal and just so freaking classy all the time. A car accident had claimed her almost ten years ago, though, and a few years after that, Lorne, her father, had met and quickly married Mallory.

…We’d called her the “wicked stepmother” ever since we were little girls, and the name fit like a glove.

Mallory was everything Kathryn hadn’t been — cold, cruel, vindictive, vain, and full of petty jealousy and insecurity. She’d married a king to be queen, but she’d been quite firm from the start that she hadn’t done so to be someone’s mother. As sweet as our cousin was, Mallory hadzerointerest in her. That was, until she’d gotten older, and started turning into the beautiful young woman she was today. At that point, Mallory had gone from total disinterest to keenmeannesstowards her.

It sucked, and I knew everyone saw it. But my uncle Lorne was under her spell, it seemed.

“Sorry, Adele,” I gave her a harder squeeze.

She waved me off, smiling. “Eh, it’s fine.”

“Well you look freaking amazing tonight, if that helps”

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