Page 21 of His Highness's Hidden Heir

They were standing on the terrace of a villa, listening to someone drone on about winning a painting at an auction when Magnus felt the air change.Charge.It was as though a thunderstorm gathered, but the sky remained clear and the breeze stayed soft.

He swiveled his head to the party inside and took an invisible kick to his gut.

Lexi. She stood at the top of the three shallow steps that led from the foyer into the columned living room. She was looking to the right while leaned down to hear the chic, gray-haired woman beside her.

Someone moved and Magnus was able to see her gown was an ethereal blue that looked as though it had been designed by the ancient Greeks. Its one-shoulder style was held up by braided silver cord against her golden skin. A matching band underscored her generous breasts while the skirt fell in a graceful curtain that hid the navel he’d kissed. The hips he’d bracketed with his hands. The thighs he’d pushed apart, then felt grip his waist.

He never allowed himself to search her name, even though she was top of mind from the moment he woke and through his colorless days, then into his fitful, erotic dreams. The few times he had broken down for a glimpse of her, all he saw were trolls and clickbait nonsense. That made him furious on her behalf, which brought on a wave of guilt because, for a few minutes that morning in Paris,hehad thought the worst of her.

Aside from early attempts by the press to link them, however, she had managed to quash speculation that they were romantically involved.

Being a card-carrying hypocrite, he was quietly furious about that, too. He wanted her to betray some hint that she was as obsessed as he was. Because he still wanted her. She was an itch within him he couldn’t scratch, one that was driving him mad.

His blood caught fire as he stared at her through the crowd.

She nodded at her friend, then cast her gaze around the party—and froze. Her pink lips parted in shock before she abruptly looked down at the steps and melted into the crowd.

There was a ripple of laughter in the people around him so he pulled his attention back to the conversation even as Annalise excused them, saying she was cold and wanted to step inside.

“Did you already know the punchline of his story?” she asked as they reentered the din of the party.

“No.” Magnus didn’t even remember what the man had been talking about.

“Oh. I thought you were bored with them. You seemed to check out on us. That’s why I said we should come in.”

What could he say? His inner beast was off-leash, stalking the crowd for—

“Oh, look! It’s Paisley Pockets!” Annalise clutched his arm with subdued excitement.

No.His adrenaline surged and he followed her gaze, locking on Lexi, but whatever came into his face made Annalise sober.

“You didn’t like her show? It’s all I watched growing up. Ilovedit.” Her tone panged with nostalgia.

“Are you referring to Lexi Alexander?” He glanced again in Lexi’s direction, trying to sound disinterested while swallowing her with his eyes.

She had her back to him. Her hair was loosely braided. The tail sat between shoulder blades that struck him as tense, even from across the room.

She’s been in trouble with the law.

That’s what he should have said, but he couldn’t bring himself to denigrate her. To gossip like a busybody neighbor.

“Would you like to meet her?” He was beingpolite.

“You know her?” Annalise brightened with curiosity.

“We met briefly in Paris earlier this year.” It had been brief. Too brief.

“Will you think me ridiculous if I say yes?”

She didn’t know the meaning of the word. This wasabsurd, but he took her across the room to where Lexi was speaking to the gray-haired woman and a heavyset man.

Lexi was an exceptional actress because, after the slightest stiffening of shock, she beamed with courtesy and welcome.

“Your Royal Highness.” Her gaze flickered over his tuxedo in a way that made him wish it was her hands before she swept her attention back to his face. “How nice to see you again.”

“Ms. Alexander.” He held her gaze, quietly affronted by her use of his title. He was Magnus and she was Lexi. God and goddess. Or had she forgotten? “Lady Annalise wanted to say hello.”

“I was such a fan growing up,” Annalise gushed, clasping both her hands around the one that Lexi offered.

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