Page 13 of Impossible Heir for the King

‘Any chance of a lift to the next island?’ she asked the older man at the first boat.

‘Not stopping there, sorry.’ He glanced at her for a moment. ‘Try Tai further on the dock. White stripe. He’s heading to Mica first.’

‘Thanks.’

Mica was only two islands up the Piri-nu archipelago but it was a start. She took a steadying breath feeling more vulnerable than she’d ever felt in her life but she straightened her shoulders. No one knew her—or the secret she carried. She was still dressed like a worker. Which was exactly what she was.

‘Tai?’ She addressed the man with his back to her.

He turned and she blinked. He was younger than she’d expected. But she saw the glint of a wedding band and the distinct—usual—lack of interest in his gaze. ‘Any chance I can get a lift to your first stop?’

If she could get to one island, she could then get another boat and could hop her way through. The sooner she got to the first, the better chance she had. No one knew she was missing yet and she was sure King Niko wouldn’t want a scandal given he’d gone to such lengths to ensure her arrival at the palace was unknown.

‘It’s a ninety-minute run,’ Tai said bluntly. ‘Do you get seasick?’

She stiffened. ‘Not usually.’

‘Can you help with the ropes at the stern?’

‘Of course.’

‘Then step on board.’

She studied the boat as she did. It was old but well maintained. Safe enough in this weather. She headed to the front of the boat, eager to help them get moving before her disappearance was discovered. Hopefully she had a couple hours yet before one of those maids appeared with a dining tray.

The boat rocked as she moved forward but she felt the ripple of freedom. She released the line then coiled the rope neatly. The boat manoeuvred away from the dock. It seemed the young fisherman was keen to get underway too. She remained at the stern, looking towards the sea as the engine chugged, getting them out of the inner harbour and hoping the next phase would go as smoothly. She was finally enacting the desperate escape scenario she’d imagined from her father’s boat for years but never had the courage to attempt before now. Ultimately she would aim for somewhere as far as New Zealand or Australia. Once she was there she’d try to get a job in a cafe. If she could find someone to give her a chance she was sure she could prove herself. It wouldn’t be for that long of course. She had no intention of hiding from Niko forever. She just needed time and space to figure out how to managehim.

‘Where is it we’re going, Maia?’

She closed her eyes, rooted to the spot.

Of course it was too good to be true. Of course it had been too easy.

She heard a splash and reluctantly turned, opening her eyes in time to see Tai—if that was even his name—swimming to shore. Leaving her alone with her captor king looking at her with condemnation in his deep brown eyes.

Well, she wasn’t going to cower before him and apologise. It was his own fault for assuming so much yesterday. As if sheeverwanted to be his queen? As if she ever could do as she was ordered for the rest of her life? As if she could let her childseeher do that?

‘How did you know which boat I was going to choose?’ she asked.

‘I didn’t. I had a man on all of them.’

Her stomach knotted. ‘You followed me from the palace.’

‘You even used the door I showed you.’

So he’d predicted her every move, and the barely leashed fury in his eyes revealed the temper that could explode at any moment. And wasn’t he justified in that? Could she really blame him?

She’d thought she’d been so brilliant but all she’d done was poke the bear and now things would only be worse. ‘Are we not turning round immediately?’

‘We are not,’ he said. ‘You’ve just proven that I cannot trust you, Maia. So now we change the plan.’

She chilled. ‘You’ve sent the fisherman away.’

‘Thesoldieraway, yes. But you can trust me. I can steer this boat.’

‘So can I.’ She suddenly lifted her chin in brave—possibly foolish—defiance. ‘So if you happened to go overboard in the middle of the ocean I could journey on and find my freedom forever.’

‘Are you threatening the king?’ He laughed briefly—bitterly—before stepping close. ‘Would you want such an accident to befall the father of your child?’

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