Page 53 of Mistaken as His Royal Bride

Had it been a mistake to bring her today? To let the public see her like that? The people had loved her. But, as Maddi had pointed out, they would never see her again.

Ari hadn’t really paused to consider the consequences—which was not like him. He’d brought her with him, he realised now, because he’d wanted to see her in action.

As if his gut had already told him what a natural she’d be.

As if his gut was already telling him things he didn’t want to consider intellectually.

Things like the fact that he had to acknowledge his marriage with Princess Laia was becoming less and less likely. Not just because of her obvious reluctance and absence, but also because something inside him had shifted.

He’d taken it for granted for so long—when you were told at eight years old that something was destined to happen, it wove its way into the fabric of your life. You didn’t question it. But Ari realised now that he’d been arrogantly blinkered about the marriage. He’d merely had it slotted into his schedule like any other meeting or event. He hadn’t actually considered the human factor. The possibility that Laia was an autonomous woman who might not want or expect the same thing.

It had taken meeting Maddi to make him see that. And he found, as he considered this now, that it wasn’t making him angry or frustrated. If anything, he felt a sense of liberation. As if he’d been carrying a weight for a long time and someone had lifted it from him.

He felt a frisson of excitement. Tantalising possibilities he’d never considered before were opening up. The fact that he could have a queen by his side who he actually liked. Who he liked spending time with. Who hewantedwith a hunger that grew daily.

But she’s not of royal blood.

She was a commoner. Which was why she’d connected so effortlessly with his people. A revelation that Ari didn’t like to acknowledge now.

Was he really contemplating a scenario in which a woman like Maddi could be his Queen? It was an impossibility.

No King of Santanger had ever married a commoner. Their family line was one of the most ancient in the world. Academics came to study their family tree because there had never been any dilution of the royal lines on either side. Ari might be intent on bringing Santanger into the modern world, and as much as the people had welcomed the changes, he knew that underneath it all was a love and reverence for their royal family, who epitomised an ancient tradition that had been lost almost everywhere else.

Ari’s frisson of excitement was fading. He might not be marrying Princess Laia any more, but Maddi certainly couldn’t be a contender. So, no matter what happened, this was still just an affair and he would have to choose a royal bride. Irritating, but not insurmountable.

So why did he suddenly feel burdened again?

Maddi moved minutely on the bed, her eyelashes flickering. Ari welcomed the distraction from those revelations. He took off his jacket and shoes and got onto the bed beside her.

Her eyes opened and focused on him.Dios, but she was beautiful.

He traced her jaw with his finger. ‘Nice nap?’

She nodded. And then she made a face. ‘The truth is I’m starving...for food.’

Being with this woman was not necessarily good for Ari’s ego. He laughed.

A little voice whispered at him.You haven’t laughed so much in years.

He pushed it down. ‘I’ll order something, shall I?’

Maddi looked almost comically grateful, ‘Yes, please.’

When Ari had ordered the food, he felt her arms slide around his waist from behind and his body responded predictably. With a hunger that was as sharp as it had been the first time he’d slept with this woman. A sense of desperation made him feel slightly panicky.

He turned around. Maddi looked up at him.

‘Thank you...’ she said. ‘Maybe before the food comes there’s time for a little...appetiser?’

For a second Ari’s head told him he had to stop this now. Push her away. Send her back to Isla’Rosa. Princess Laia had made her point. He needed to move on. But Maddi’s body against his was a provocation that he couldn’t ignore. Or resist.

Feeling reckless and desperate at the inevitable prospect of this ending soon—because it would have to—Ari cupped Maddi’s face in his hands. ‘I think there might even be time for a little more than an appetiser...’

A few days later

The palace garden party for frontline workers—nurses, police officers, paramedics, fireman, among many others—was a roaring success. There was a bouncy castle for their children in one corner. Face-painting. Clowns. Local vets showing off exotic animals and puppies. Buffet tables were laden with food and refreshments. There would be a fireworks display soon, as the sun set.

It was an annual fixture—something Ari had introduced to open up the palace and say thank you to the people of Santanger. His father had preferred to keep the palace closed off—a place that only the select few got to visit. A place where he could conduct his affairs in private. Hence Ari’s decision to do the opposite.

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