Page 31 of His Highness's Hidden Heir

“You see?” Magnus said mildly. “Even Ulmer doesn’t have a choice. He has to be nice to you, now that you’re a member of the royal family.”

“But I’mnot. And I don’t intend to become one.”

“Let’s talk about that while we eat.” Magnus escorted her to the dining room where they were seated in a sunny corner in an otherwise empty room.

Exasperated, she looked over her shoulder, suspecting Ulmer was gaining access to her suite despite her lack of permission for him to do so.

“Look, I accept that the baby deserves to know their father.” She was trying to sound reasonable but also in charge. “Your having a say in our child’s life was always on the table.”

“Good. I want my child born in Isleif. All of Isleif will want their future ruler to be born there.”

“I—” She clacked her teeth shut, feeling outmaneuvered. With a jerky nod, she said, “I can see that. But it doesn’t mean I need to go there now. It doesn’t mean we have to marry.”

“We’ll go there now because you’ve been cleared to travel. That could change as things progress. I had plans, too, you know.” He waited until they’d been served cucumber water and a wedge salad before he continued. “Before I learned who I was, I aspired to ski in the Olympics. The minute I arrived at the palace, Katla told me that racing was too risky for a future king. I had to give it up. Where are you at with this film of yours?”

“If you’re about to suggest I give that up, you’ll hear another hard no.” She had worked too hard for this chance to revive her career.

The truth was, however, acting was something she did because she was good at it and it provided the income she needed. As an art form, it allowed her to temporarily reinvent herself into someone else so she could escape the messiness of her real life, but she had often wished there was another way she could make her living that didn’t cost so much of her soul.

Not that she was willing to confess that to Magnus.

“The film is based on a book about a sex worker, isn’t it?” he asked. “That’s not an ideal topic for someone taking on the role of my wife.”

“Oh, is your wife arole? Why didn’t you say so? Is there a script I could read before I commit? What’s my character like? What’s my motivation?” She blinked with facetious interest.

“I understand your resentment, but you’ll have to let it go.” Magnus let his eyelids droop to a bored half-mast. “It’s not appropriate to take things out on staff. Ulmer and I play a game of tit for tat, but he won’t be able to retaliate with you. I won’t allow it. Take a swipe at the queen at your own peril. She’ll find a way to punish you that won’t allow me to take the fall. That leaves bickering with me and that’s not a healthy way for us to behave as parents.”

A sting of helplessness rose behind her breastbone. She had weathered difficult times before. She had always found a way to move forward. To retrench and rebuild.

This was different. This wasn’t a case of checking her contract and threatening to quit if it wasn’t followed to the letter. She had a baby to think of.

Magnus was thinking of their baby, too, in his way. He might not be acting like the most lovingly engaged father in the world, but he didn’t want their child to be harmed the way he had been when he’d learned the truth about his own paternity. She had to respect his desire to be part of their baby’s life. But marriage?

“Look, I will concede to going to Isleif to have the baby. Okay? But surely we can wait on marrying? See how we feel?” She used her most reasonable tone.

“Our marriage is for your protection, Lexi. If I have any tips on navigating what you’re about to face, it’s to grab any power that you’re offered.”

“That sounds horribly calculating. Is that really how it is for you?”

“Often enough that you should get used to it,” he said drily. The pensive tension around his mouth told her he wasn’t joking. Not really.

“I don’t want to get married, Magnus. Not like this.”

“Like what? For the sake of our baby? What would you rather? Something romantic? A declaration of love?” He was looking bored again.

“No, actually. I don’t care about that.” She did, though. She blindly stared out to the glare on the pool, thinking she had always wanted someone to love her. Her. Not Paisley Pockets or the girl in the bikini or any of the other roles she had played.

Her baby would love her, but could Magnus? Ever?

She had her doubts and she refused to hitch her life to something so futile.

“I’m not a romantic. I haven’t been allowed to be.” She chased a cherry tomato with her fork. “I’ve always been a product. A vehicle for someone else to make money on. My own parents did it.” She shrugged that off, even though it was one of her deepest agonies. “People seek me out because I can make an introduction, or I’m a stepping stone to raise a fan’s profile online. The love I receive is always superficial, but the transactions around it give me something—income or free publicity or a favor I can call in later. Marrying you gets me nothing. In fact, I would lose my identity to a man who doesn’t even want me.”

“We’re talking about Monte Carlo again?” He hadn’t finished his salad, but he pushed it aside.

“You only spoke to me because your friend wanted to meet me.” The creak in her voice was humiliating, but she pressed on. “You refused to see me when I asked, but the minute you learned about this—” she waved at her middle “—you want to marry me. Do you have any idea how debasing that is? How unimportant I feel?”

“Yes.” He didn’t move, didn’t blink. “As someone who carries DNA that forces me to live a life I didn’t want, yes. I completely understand your bitterness.”

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