Page 53 of Impossible Heir for the King

‘No, it isn’t.’ Niko dismissed Pax’s apology and welcomed the rising concern. They’d been there for each other since boarding school and he would do anything he could for his friend. ‘Everything is settled here now.’

Pax’s gaze turned sardonic but Niko didn’t want to talk about Maia anymore. This was exactly what he needed. Something to think of outside of himself. Only Niko knew the secret his security chief had hid for the last decade—Pax Williams wasn’t only a soldier. Pax Williams wasn’t even his name.

‘You must go,’ Niko said firmly. ‘You must do what is right.’

Pax looked at him steadily. ‘As must you.’

Niko stiffened and his resolve hardened. ‘Yes. I’ll go with you.’

‘No.’The cloak of obedience fell away and Pax denied him imperiously. ‘I’ll handle this my way, Niko. Youdohave matters to attend to here,’ he added with the implacable authority of the prince he really was. ‘Perhaps it’s not only about doing what is right, but also doing what youwant.’

Niko didn’t appreciate the unwanted advice. Besides, hadn’t Niko been doing only what hewantedfor years?

He shut down the conversation by bowing to his friend instead. ‘If you need anything—’

‘I know.’ Pax nodded brusquely.

But Niko knew he wouldn’t take up the offer because Captain Pax Williams was the long-lost Prince Lucian of the Central European kingdom of Monrayne. And if he was finally ready to reclaim his title, he now needed no one.

Niko stared at the door long after Pax had shut it behind him and desperately determined that he needed no one either.

Notever.

In theory Maia could do anything she wanted. Go anywhere. See anything. She had money, a maid in the rooms next door. She had a driver and a car at her disposal 24/7. For the first time in her life, her time was completely her own. And she had no idea what to do with it.

She’d promised Niko’s scary silent soldier friend that she would stay in the city, and she genuinely didn’t want to cause any of them any more trouble.

She’d said Niko was a coward. He wasn’t. He’d been braver than she had. It was mortifying but he’d been honest in refusing her offer of compromise. He wouldn’t take advantage of her any longer. It was her own fault it had happened in the first place. She’d made it so easy for him. She’d launched herself into his bed within twenty-four hours of meeting him. So starved of attention she’d said yes in seconds. She’d behaved exactly how those horrible guests on the boat had once joked she would...

But oddly she couldn’t regret it. It had been good. And if it were only a good time then maybe she’d be able to get over it swiftly.

But it hadn’t only been a good time. It had beenhim. He’d made herlaugh. He’d made her feel seen and heard. He’d made her feel strong and beautiful and special. And he was too easy to like—not just tolustafter but actually like. He was sharp and kind, incisive, amusing, outrageous. And hurt. There was that deeply hurt side hidden in him too.

He’d wanted to do what he believed was right. So he wasn’t all that selfish and spoilt really. He was dutiful and aware of the impact of his world upon others. But he didn’t love her. For about five minutes there she’d thought she could have it all. But he didn’t want that. Not with her.

Maia needed that. She needed a man who loved her. Someone who was honest and brave.

So she needed to figure out what to do with her new-foundtime. It wasn’t enough to not have to worry about her money. She needed purpose and dignity and a passion for herself. That she could put everything into before the baby arrived. And then she would pour all her love into that sweet child.

And she would be okay. She would survive. She had no choice but to.

It was almost two weeks before Niko braved the island but in the end he had no choice. The hellish headache had been building for days. A migraine, he figured. His first. Some small semblance of the sort his mother had suffered.Stress.

In the end he took the helicopter. He’d stay just the one night. He’d relax and shake off the relentless throb in his temple. But as he stared moodily across the water and the house came into view he’d honestly never felt more miserable. It was self-indulgent and weak. He dropped his bag in the bedroom. He’d asked Aron to remove the hammocks before he arrived but he still saw them in his mind’s eye. Every damned room was haunted by her presence.

He walked out to the pool and saw the small carving on the table Aron had set for one.

‘Where did you find it?’ he asked the elderly man when he wheeled a silver trolley out.

‘It was tucked away in a little corner of her deck. I found it when I took down the hammock as you requested. I’m not sure if it was meant to be found.’

No, she’d have thought she’d stowed it safely. Leaving a little marker of herself hidden away.

He picked up the beautiful sea turtle and studied closely the intricate way she’d inlaid some small stones into its shell. The stones he’d found on the beach. The ones she’d won from him. She’d used a couple of obsidian chips for eyes. A tiny tormenting treasure to remind him not just of her, but of her skill. And her strength in adversity. She created beautiful things out of whatever little scraps she had to hand. So what would she build if she had more resources to play with? Something infinitely beautiful.

Somethingpriceless.

He became aware that Aron was scrutinising him equally closely.

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