Page 51 of Impossible Heir for the King

‘It’s irrelevant because youcan’t.’ He stared at her stonily. ‘BecauseIdon’t want you to.’

And what he wanted happened.

‘I only want what is best for you,’ he said.

‘You only want what’seasy,’ she shot back.

‘You think this is easy?’ he retorted furiously. ‘It would bemucheasier to make you stay here with me, Maia, and you knowexactlyhow I could get you to set aside your resistance.’

She stared at him, her heart shattering as he admitted using his skill to seduce her. To manipulate her. But she also knew he was wrong. ‘But you can’t, can you, Niko? You’ve realised you can’t. You can seduce me to a mindless mess but I’ll still say no to marriage. You know I won’t change my mind. And you can’t cope with that.’

They glared at each other.

‘You’re right. I don’t want you forced into staying here.’

‘But I do want to stay. I just don’t want to marry you.’

‘Why not? Why am I good enough to sleep with and not good enough to marry?’ he asked.

His twist of reality all but destroyed her and the truth spilled out. ‘Because this isn’t going to last. Because you’re not in love with me.’

He stared at her. ‘You do not need me. You do not needthis. Go, Maia. You be everything you want to be. Do it all. Discover everything. Please, I want that for you.’

NotI want you.ButI want thatforyou.

She heard the nuance and understood. He really didn’t want her.

‘You’ve been fighting for your freedom for all this time and now I want to help you get it and you’re suddenly all angry with me?’ He threw his hands up. ‘I can’t win.’

‘Because everything’s changed.’ She stared at him pleadingly. ‘Hasn’t it?’

He shook his head. ‘It’s just been an intense few days.’

‘No. That’s not all.’ She stared at him, willing him to admit even just a little to the truth of their connection.

‘Don’t, Maia.’

‘Don’t speak the truth?’

‘You can’t even know what that is,’ he said heavily. ‘You have no basis for comparison. You’ve been isolated your whole life. You haven’t had the chance to find out what you might want. How can you really understand anything you think you feel?’

So hewasusing her inexperience against her. There was nothing she could say to convince him otherwise. Because he still wasn’t listening to her. He wanted hergone.

Badly. Because he cared. But not enough abouther. Not in the way of him actually wanting her. Not enough to try.

‘I want you to be free to be who you are.’

‘I am with you,’ she said. ‘I don’t hold back with you. I’m not afraid of you. And I’m not afraid to ask for what I want with you.’ And she couldn’t be afraid now. ‘It’s just that I want more. Of you.’ She drew a deep breath. ‘I only wantyou, Niko. That’s all.’

She wanted the best for him too.

He flinched. ‘You’re not staying here, Maia. Do you understand? We’re not ever getting married. I will never ask you again.’

She froze. ‘But you said—’

‘It doesn’t matter what I said. I was wrong. It’s not in your best interests.’

He was being so patronising. Furious, she glared at him. ‘And the baby?’

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