Page 17 of His Highness's Hidden Heir

An old suspicion tickled at her. She had always wondered if Hadley had set her up with those drugs. Her father had refused to hear it, but Hadley had been a little too happy that she’d lost that superhero role. Then, after their father died, he had talked her into that reality series, constantly pushing an image of her as a sexpot, spoiling her chances at roles with more substance.

She began to shake with a mix of fury and fear, incensed with herself for being blind to what seemed obvious, now that it was pointed out to her. She was also daunted by the fight ahead of her, but her gut told her she had to cut ties with X-Calibur and Hadley and Janet along with it.

“Firing them will be a nightmare.” She was thinking aloud. “They have the machine in place to destroy me before I could pull myself free. I would need resources I don’t have.”

“Vijay also has a machine.” Magnus broke into her thoughts, making her heart lurch. “One that caters to clients with more to lose than an acting career. I’ll cover whatever expenses exceed your budget.”

Ulmer cleared his throat, registering his disapproval.

It was demoralizing enough that Magnus was learning how badly her family treated her—and was offering to give hermoney. It was even worse that the judgmental Ulmer was witnessing all of it.

She gathered what little dignity she had left and said, “That’s not necessary. I’ll figure it out.”

“I have a vested interested in keeping my name out of it,” Magnus stated, turning the knife. To Vijay, he said, “Whatever it costs to tidy this up is fine.”

You bastard, Lexi thought, fighting the heat that rose behind her eyes. Last night, he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Today he would pay any amount to have his hands washed clean of her.

“Once I sell my share in the agency, I’ll have ample funds to pay you back.” She would sell her soul to ensure she cleared any debt she incurred with him. “Why don’t we take this to my room so we can hammer out an action plan?” she said to Vijay.

Magnus rose as Vijay did.

Did Magnus think he was invited? Hell, no.

“Vijay can keep you updated,” she said, channeling the most haughty of daytime soap divas. “To reassure you that none of this will splash back on you. Thank you for your assistance, Your Royal Highness. I feel I’m in better hands already.”

Did her comment border on bitchy? Yes. But she was feeling stung and cheapened andpaid for.

The glint of cynical amusement in Magnus’s eye told her the remark landed, which gave her no satisfaction. She only felt obvious in her disgrace.

“Your things have already been returned to your room, Ms. Alexander.” Ulmer moved to the door. “Any future communication may go through Mr. Sahir.”

It was an ultra-politeI hope we never hear from you again.

As she walked out the door, she flickered him a dour look that said,Same.

CHAPTER FIVE

“LET’SGETTHISover with,” Magnus said as he strode into the queen of Isleif’s formal receiving room.

“Do not be so dismissive,” Katla said coldly. “No, you may not sit. And you. Out.” She waved Ulmer and the palace secretary, Yngvar, from the room.

Ansgar Palace was built behind the original castle, which stood on a bluff overlooking Isleif’s main port. This room of relics and modern conveniences had a sunny view past the north tower in the mornings, but today the harbor wore a carpet of mist that obscured all but the highest rigging on the container ships unloading their wares.

“I am thirty-two years old, Your Majesty,” Magnus said with pithy, exaggerated patience. “I do not appreciate being treated as though I’mtwo.”

“Welcome to the royal family, Magnus. It comes with expectations that you behave like an adult in order to be treated like one. When you fail to do that, you will be scolded. What were youthinking?” Her voice was not overloud, but held enough dismay to ring in his ears.

“That I wanted to get laid—which is a very adult occupation.” His aim was to offend, but he immediately regretted his crudeness. Vijay might have handed him a bouquet of red flags where Lexi was concerned, but she had been more than a piece of tail.

“Get yourself a wife if that’s what you want,” Katla said.

“What century is this? I won’t marry for sex.”

“You’ll marry because you must.”

“No.” Despite the way they locked horns, he didn’t hate his half sister. He hated the way he had found out about her. He hated the world she had dragged him into. He hated the power she had over him, not because of her title, but because he liked and respected her. He hated that she held him to a higher standard than he wished to adhere to. He hated that he hated to disappoint her. He hated that she was almost alwaysright.

“I can’t have children, Magnus. I have tried.” Her voice was pitched between the weariness of having to repeat herself and the steely tone she used when her emotions were riled. “It falls to you.”

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