Page 17 of His Hidden Royal Heirs

But it decidedly had not.

Until he spoke his next words. “Once my doctor is able to make the trip, we will do a paternity test.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

CRISTHIANHADBEENcareful not to look too much in Zia’s direction since she’d appeared. There was a danger in her beauty, in the way those fluffy sweaters hugged the fascinating bump she’d grown since he’d last seen her.

So he didn’t look at her for more than the briefest of seconds, until he’d delivered his current challenge. Her eyes went wide, her mouth a little slack. He’d certainly shocked her. She blinked once, and when she spoke it wasn’t with that haughtiness she’d come into the dining room with this morning.

“You brought me here and you don’t believe me?” she asked, sounding...younger and more hurt than she had any right to.

He could let her think that he didn’t believe her. Hewantedto let her think that. But every time his mercenary instincts wanted to take over, he was reminded of his parents. Of the way they had worked together—no matter all their outside problems—to ensure he was safe and well.

His parentshadloved each other, so it was different, but everything he had been able to rise above had been because they had started his life out in a safe, loving place.

He wanted the same for his children, and that meant he could not be cruelto their mother, even when it would be a solid weapon to use to save himself.

But that made every step he took more complicated than he was used to. There was no clear enemy here. For all Zia represented a complicated issue, she was not like his mother’s family trying to use him. The paths ahead were all thorny. And he did not doubt his ability to maneuver through them and come out on top. He was just uncomfortable with the timeand care it would take to accomplish the perfect, controlled outcome. One that did not leave him open to being used. One that did not result in rash decisions to run away, and the punishments that came from that.

So sometimes he would have to give her the truth. Even when he didn’t want to.

“It is not about belief. It is about everything legal that will plague us. Inheritances, trusts, titles.” He wanted to blame her for bringing those things to the table, but she was a little too on the nose about all the royal things he disdained...but hadn’t formally denounced. That had been the deal he’d struck with his aunt. That had been the condition in getting his freedom, his own life.

Most days, he considered that a great win. Standing up, not running away. It grated that in the face of Zia it felt less a win and more a concession.

His feelings, however, did not matter. Only settling this did. “We will need to have incontrovertible proof that our children are biologically ours in order to move forward.”

She swallowed at that, and he had to look away from the way her emotions chased across her face. They had to work together in order to make the world a safe place for their children, but that did not mean he needed to concern himself with herfeelings.

“I suppose that makes sense. But you said we’d be stuck here for at least forty-eight hours.”

“Yes.”

“What shall we do in the meantime?”

It wasn’t meant to be flirtatious. He could tell by the way her gaze was on her food, the way she didn’t offer him any sultry looks. But when he didn’t respond right away, when he let the silence settle after her question, she must have realized what it sounded like. Because her cheeks turned a faint shade of pink.

She cleared her throat. “What I mean is, how do you entertain yourself in this large castle?Alone.” She tacked on the last word forcefully enough he could not quite resist the slight curve of his mouth.

“Did I say I spend a lot of time herealone?” he returned, when that’s exactly what he did. Of all his estates, this was the one he considered his personal, private sanctuary, when he wanted nothing to do with the world around him.

It was happenstance it was his closest holding to her home country, which was why he’d brought her here. Geography.

She sighed. “I suppose you have a parade of women littered at every spot. Women do love a prince.”

He knew she was poking at him, and yet he couldn’t stop himself from scowling.

Her smile went sharp, delight in a barb landed. That look shouldn’t hit him like a blow, knocking enough sense out of him he remembered all too clearly what she tasted like.

“However,” she continued, “unless you have someone locked away in an attic, I believe we—and your minimal staff—are all that are here in the moment. So what do you suggest we do for the next forty-eight hours? Get to know one another?”

“I thought we werewellacquainted, Zia.”

She rolled her eyes. “Perhaps it is worth mentioning that there are many things I shouldn’t do in my condition.”

He could ignore her meaning. He probablyshouldignore her. But he couldn’t help himself. “Is that pointed, Zia?”

Her gaze didn’t flutter. She didn’t look away from him. She lifted her chin, all royal and dignified. But he had seen herveryundignified, and that memory served neither of them.

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