Page 49 of Impossible Heir for the King

His unusual pallor instantly raised her concern. She’d never seen him pale.

‘Has something else happened?’ She swallowed. ‘My father—’

‘Has gone. It’s not him.’ He paced to the window.

She watched, her anxiety spiking as he seemed pull his thoughts together.

‘I just wanted to clarify your...’ He hesitated and cleared his throat. ‘Proposal for how we might move forward from here.’

Her mouth dried. ‘Oh?’

‘You were saying that you’re happy to continue being my lover, but that you won’t marry me. Is that correct?’

She nodded, unsure about the rapid return to that awkward conversation and the even more awkward way he was summing it up. He was like a robot all of a sudden.

‘How long did you think the intimate aspect of our relationship would last?’ he asked.

‘I...’ Nowshehad to clear her throat. ‘As long as it was convenient, I guess.’

He nodded thoughtfully. ‘And we would remain exclusive for as long as that was convenient too. Is that what you were thinking?’

Her stomach churned. She didn’t want to answer that. She didn’t want tocontemplateit.

But Niko didn’t give her long to answer anyway. ‘What happens when one or other of us wants to change the situation?’

Did he mean when he was tired of her?

‘Then I would live somewhere else,’ she said mechanically. ‘Somewhere nearby. I mean, the palace ishuge...’She watched him warily. ‘Or I could find a small apartment in a building not too far away.’

‘But what about work? What would you like to do?’

Honestly, Maia hadn’t thoughtanyof this through and she didn’t know. Why did all that need to be decided now? Couldn’t they just stop the marriage pressure and figure other things out as they went along? But there was an implacable set to his features and she felt a qualm. He was still—only—fixated on duty. He was only offering marriage because she was pregnant and her father had forced him into moving on that even more quickly. But he was wrong. Of course she wanted what was best of this baby but they could achieve that—better—without being married. Because she now felt a strong, desperate need to ensureshetoo was safe. Last night she’d realised the extent of her feelings and if she were to marry him, it would destroy her. Because he didn’t feel the same.

‘I don’t know,’ she admitted softly. ‘I could always go back to the island.’

‘But you enjoyed last night.’ Inexorably he found fault with her suggestion. ‘You wanted more in your life than what the island offers. You want to be able to shop or go to the theatre, the movies even, a sports game. All those things.’

‘That doesn’t matter,’ she mumbled.

‘What you want doesn’t matter?’ He looked at her intently. ‘That’s unacceptable to me, Maia.’

But what shereallywanted was impossible. Unspeakable.

He folded his arms across his chest. Looking bigger, tougher. Closed off. ‘You’re going to Australia this afternoon.’

‘What?’

‘Australia. This afternoon. The tickets are just being arranged right now. We’re expediting a passport for you.’

‘What?’ She couldn’t have heard properly. She stared at him as the words sank in. He’d been gone so long and this was what he’d been doing? ‘You’re sending me away?’

‘Yes.’

She stared at him, trying to work out why. Last night had been amazing. She’d felt on top of the world. But there was a catch because it wasn’t actuallyreal, was it? It was a pretence. A convenience. It meant nothing. And he’d had enough of her. Already. So quickly. The novelty of her had worn off and there was nothing left to interest him. Only she couldn’t quite believe that all those moments had been that shallow. She couldn’t believe that he feltnothing.

‘Is this because I won’t marry you?’ She began to get angry. ‘Are you so annoyed that I won’t agree toeverythingyou want that you’re punishing me?’ She stepped closer in disbelief. ‘Are you that spoilt, Niko?’

‘This is not a punishment.’ He stared at her. ‘That’s the opposite of my intention. I want you to have your freedom, Maia.’

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