Page 86 of Trapped with the Undercover Prince

Chapter Fifteen

Zar had little timewith Anna the next day or the day after that. Dealing with the fallout from the bombings and other attacks took almost all of his attention. The government was in an uproar, the public was in shock, and the queen growled at everyone.

Anna, with the Zar’s encouragement, had spent the last two days at the hospital or getting to know Grandmother. She’d presented two days of formal training on her surgical techniques to the entire surgical staff. It cemented her reputation as a skilled physician and a woman who cared about other people.

Their evenings were spent in his suite, talking and making love.

Tonight was the ball, and it felt like the whole damned country was invited. Zar had hoped to spend more time with Anna today, but his sisters had whisked her away to be pampered at their favorite spa, after which she’d be busy doing other girl stuff. He shouldn’t expect to see her until the ball was underway. And he hadn’t.

He escorted his grandmother to the ballroom and seated her at a table with old friends. She shooed him off, and he joined Nicolas, who was in his formal uniform, standing not far away.

They listened to the majordomo announce a steady stream of arrivals, members of government, titled nobility, and even celebrities. The surgical team who’d worked with Anna arrived as a group and were ushered in with impromptu applause from everyone present.

Anna had been vocal of her regard for the medical staff she’d met and worked with and attributed Luke’s continued recovery to their excellent care. As a result, they too were enjoying some celebrity status.

He put a hand to his breast pocket. The Ice Blue ring was still there, like it had been the last time he’d checked.

“Your Highness,” Nicolas said, his tone oddly tentative. “May I ask a question?”

“Of course.”

“Are you planning to ask her?”

There was only one thing the other man could be referring to. “You mean, am I planning to ask her again?”

Nicolas blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“I asked, she declined.”

“Declined?” Nicolas sputtered. “Why?” He shook his head. “She confuses me.”

Zar studied the leader of the Guard. “You’re going to dig until you discover all of Anna’s secrets aren’t you?”

“Your Highness, my job—” Nicolas began.

Zar cut him off. “I know what your job is.” He sighed. “I’m going to tell you something that is intensely personal, do you understand?”

Nicolas studied Zar for a moment before bowing his head slightly. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Anna had cancer, and now...she can’t have children.”

Nicolas rocked back on his heels, his eyes wide for a moment. “I see.” He pondered that for a moment. “Yes, I do see.”

“Good,” Zar said. “Because I don’t care.” He glanced at the entrance hoping for a glimpse of her, but she wasn’t there. “I still want her for my wife.”

“But—”

“If you’re going to say something about a need for me to produce heirs, don’t bother, because I don’t. I have three older sisters who all want children.”

“None of them have children as of yet.”

“Only because of the jackass,” Zar said, thinking of Brigette.

Next to him, Nicolas tensed. Zar glanced at him and saw that his fists were clenched.

“It wouldn’t be hard to find him,” Zar said, as if he were suggesting a pleasant pastime. “Get him alone somewhere and punch him in the face a few times.”

“You have no idea how often I consider doing just that.” Nicolas’s voice was as sharp as a blade.

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