Page 47 of Impossible Heir for the King

But it was because of Niko that she now could. Because of this impossible mess that she finally had one element of freedom. Now she would push for everything.Nothingmattered more.

She looked at him. ‘I’m not going to marry you, Niko.’

His expression hardened. ‘I don’t think—’

‘You can consider me your concubine, but I will never be your bride,’ she added.

‘Mywhat?’ He halted, startled.

‘Concubine. It’s an apt word. Evokes a sort of decadence that’s perfect for you.’ Andthem—the passion they shared for now at least.

‘Maia—’

‘You can declare our child your heir without us being married. You’re the king. You know you can do this.’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘But you can. There would be no question.’

‘Is the thought of marrying me really so distasteful?’

She actually couldn’tbearthe thought of being married to him. She would be his lover—happily, for as long as they were both interested in that element of their relationship. She would always be the mother of his firstborn child. But she shouldneverbe his wife. She couldn’t cope with that.

Because she was so far in love with him it was cruel.

She wasn’t good enough. The last twenty minutes had cemented that fact. For a moment there she’d thought she was. Her father had ruined it. But the reminder was a good thing. Everyone would have found out soon enough anyway.

‘Thanks to my father the world now knows I share your bed.’ She tossed her head. ‘They know I’m your lover. Soon enough they’ll know I’m going to be the mother of your heir. That isenough.’

‘You must let me give you the protection of my name. They’ll vilify you.’

‘I know you care what they will say about me. But you also know they’ll only say even more if I were to become yourwife.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s too permanent, Niko. As your lover I’ll be tolerated. Not as your wife. I’m not the right choice. I’m not your equal. Not in any way. And as for my father...my mother...’ She shook her head at him. ‘You never would have chosen to be with me if it weren’t for everything and we both know it.’

He stared at her, an obstinate expression building in his eyes. ‘How we met is irrelevant. We must do what is right.’

‘But marriageisn’tright,’ she argued all over again. ‘If we do it this way, then there won’t be any kind of perceivedfailure. No public end of a relationship or the breaking of promises made. There’s just been a liaison and an accident. I am your lover. I know there will be no escape for good, Niko. I’ll always be near the palace. We’ll always be part of each other’s lives. We have to be because of this baby. But you and I, this intimacy, will end eventually, you know it will.’

He suddenly paused, whirling to face her. ‘Is that whyyoudid it?’ he questioned sharply. ‘Did you give me your virginity so you could cast yourself as a seductress?’

Maia stilled, suddenly hurt. Suddenly scared. He had no idea, did he. Of how she really felt. And perhaps that was for the best. ‘I—’

Niko turned at the bloody knock on the door. ‘What is it?’ he snapped.

But he took one look at Williams’ face and walked out of the room to speak with him in the corridor. Frankly he needed the breathing space from Maia’s defiance. Herluminescence. The quiet dignity in her declaration of her integrity had stunned him. More stunning was her display of power and serenity since. Her sudden stubbornness that he had the sinking feeling he wasn’t going to be able to sway. She was rejecting him. And he was suddenly incensed becauseshewouldn’t see sense.

‘What is it, Pax?’ he asked heavily.

‘The investigation into the medical facility is complete.’

Niko stiffened. ‘And?’

‘Genuine mistake,’ Pax confirmed. ‘It was the same clinician who retrieved the wrong sample and who treated Maia in the rooms. She isn’t well herself. Her vision. But she was hiding her declining eyesight because she needed the job.’

‘Money?’ Niko slumped against the wall and bowed his head.

‘Family commitments, yes.’

‘Poor woman.’ Niko didn’t have it in him to be angry with someone other than Maia right now and certainly didn’t have the heart for recriminations. ‘Is she okay?’

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