Page 66 of Mistaken as His Royal Bride

‘How dare you come back here?’

He stood up and put his hands on the table. Was he, in fact, dreaming?

She moved forward and took off the hat. Her hair spilled down around her shoulders. She was wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants. Black shoes.

Her voice was husky. ‘I’m sorry... I needed to see you.’

‘How did you get in here?’

‘I... I contacted someone. It doesn’t matter who. They helped me.’

Ari still wasn’t entirely sure he wasn’t dreaming.

‘Come closer. I need to be sure it’s you and not Queen Laia. Perhaps you’re not done playing your games.’

Maddi stepped forward. She looked pale. ‘It’s me.’

It was her. He wasn’t dreaming.

There was such a mix of volatile emotions raging in his gut that he had to take a second to try and contain them. He’d never had to deal with emotions before.

Damn her again.

He said, ‘To what do I owe the pleasure of a midnight visit from the newly crowned Princess Maddi of Isla’Rosa?’

Maddi tried not to quiver under the scathing tone and icy glare of Ari. She’d known this would be difficult, but she wouldn’t be able to move on completely until she’d faced her last fears and told him how she felt. She refused to let fear rule her life again.

She swallowed. ‘I came here because I want to tell you something.’

Ari put out a hand. ‘Please, be my guest. Would you like a drink? Perhaps some of that whisky?’

Maddi felt a flicker of anger at Ari’s bullish mood.

She lifted her chin. ‘Actually, yes, that would be lovely—if it’s not too much trouble.’

‘Oh, it’s no trouble at all.’

He went into the living area and Maddi followed him, drinking him in. He was wearing jeans and a shirt, sleeves rolled up, top button open. There was stubble on his jaw and his hair was mussed, as if he’d been running a hand through it. When he turned around to hand her the glass she noticed that he looked a little drawn.

Her heart hitched.

Because of her?

Was he having crazy dreams too?

She downed the shot and handed back the glass. ‘Another, please.’ She needed all the courage she could muster.

He looked at her for a long moment, but then took the glass and refilled it, handing it back. She downed this one too, and put the glass on the table. Her head was spinning momentarily, and heat flooded her upper chest.

He folded his arms. ‘So, you wanted to tell me something?’

Maddi wondered if she had gone totally mad. She was literally inviting him to inflict even more pain on her than he had done already. But if she didn’t do this...she’d regret it for ever.

She said clearly, ‘Yes. I came here to tell you that I love you, Aristedes. When you asked me if I was looking for a declaration of love and I said no, I was too scared to admit it, but actually I was.’

She held up a hand, even though he hadn’t opened his mouth to speak.

‘And donotpatronise me by telling me I fell for you because you were my first lover and all that nonsense. This is a once-in-a-lifetime love that transcends sex. I think you have feelings for me and that’s why you’re so angry,’ she went on. ‘Because you didn’t want any of this either. And because I didn’t tell you who I really was. I need to explain why...’