Chapter Six #2
He shook his head, and this close, his expression looked more like regret than anger. ‘I read it all and my personal staff double-checked every file. There’s nothing negative except an acknowledgement of losses by a few farmers, and a plan to recompense them generously for losing their land.’
Annalena gaped. ‘I knew the process was rigged. But this…!’ It was inconceivable. ‘How could they do that?’
‘My father didn’t like dissent, particularly when he’d already made up his mind.’
Benedikt’s expression was so grim it cut through her fury. What had it been like, growing up with a father like that?
Worse than growing up fatherless.
He spoke again. ‘I’m rapidly learning how deeply that’s affected the administration here. I suspect that to keep their jobs, staff learnt to tell him only what he wanted to hear.’
‘To the point of falsifying public records?’
‘So it seems.’ For a moment he was silent. ‘The next ruler will have plenty to deal with.’
There was deliberate provocation in the way he watched her. As if daring her to reassert her claim to the throne. Almost as if he’d like her to take it. But that couldn’t be.
More to the point, did she believe that he hadn’t been part of this corrupt plan?
Her position would be much easier if she doubted his word. The trouble was that she couldn’t typecast him as a villain. He was so angry and resentful about what his father had done. And looked serious about the task ahead to make things right.
‘So you’re not pro-dam?’
‘Not if the evidence proves it’s a bad idea.’
‘I can get you that evidence today.’
Her fingers itched to reach for her phone but now wasn’t the time. He was right, there was more at stake than a single infrastructure project.
‘Do that. Nothing will proceed until it’s reassessed.’
Relief was a mass of butterflies in her stomach. ‘Once you have proof of the true situation you’ll stop the project.’
She made it a statement, not a question.
Yet instead of agreeing, he stepped up to her, making her pulse thrum and her breath catch.
‘I could say the same to you, Annalena. You know the precarious situation created by your claim to the throne. Unless it’s settled definitively the country faces a possible power vacuum and uncertainty in all levels of government.
That could take ages to sort out. Just when we need stability and good leadership more than ever.
’ He leaned close and the air between them fizzed with energy.
‘If you’re as principled as you imply, you’ll do your part to rectify that once and for all. ’
She swallowed, almost choking on the knot of dismay clogging her throat.
‘By marrying you.’
Her tone was supposed to be scoffing. Instead it was a raw whisper. But he heard it. How could he not when he stood so close that his body heat made her temperature spike?
‘Exactly.’
What worried her most wasn’t that he looked triumphant or smug. He didn’t. This wasn’t the expression of a man who wanted to marry her. He looked determined and expectant.
Her brain whirled with all the reasons marriage was impossible. But every objection she could raise faded before the need to put her country first.
And he knew it. She saw it in his eyes.
Her upbringing had centred around duty. To family, to her people, to Edelforst, and yes, to Prinzenberg.
From a child she’d learned to put others first. Her grandmother had seen to that and had provided a strong role model, counselling, leading and representing her people for decades.
Annalena had always known at some point in the future she’d carry on that role after her grandmother. That was why she’d come here.
But not to marry a stranger!
‘There must be another option.’
The lift of one dark eyebrow told her what Benedikt thought of that. ‘If you can come up with a better solution, let me know.’
He didn’t look any more impressed by the idea than she was. After all, he’d already chosen a suitable bride. He didn’t want Annalena any more than she wanted to tie herself to him.
Maybe she could use that to her advantage.
‘Marriage between us wouldn’t work.’
‘We’d make it work.’
Annalena looked away. ‘We’re not compatible. That would make for a very uncomfortable marriage. And everyone would see through the sham of it once we were in the spotlight together. The days are long gone when royals marry solely for dynastic reasons.’
‘Not compatible?’
His voice held a note she couldn’t identify, but it made her turn to meet his stare.
Instead of looking argumentative, his expression was even blanker than before. As if he couldn’t even be bothered to argue the point. Those brief moments of connection she’d felt earlier must have been in her head.
That bland stare riled her.
Once or twice, early in her career, male colleagues had tried to blank her, pretending her input wasn’t as valuable as theirs. They’d attempted to undermine her confidence and others’ belief in her. It didn’t happen any more because she refused to be put down.
Her hands found her hips as she stared into Benedikt’s strong features. And noticed again how disturbingly good-looking he was.
Her pulse quickened in self-castigation.
‘Exactly. Not compatible. Not attracted.’
It was only a partial lie. She might be strangely drawn to him but he’d given no indication he felt the same way about her. These inconvenient feelings were one-sided. The gleam she’d seen in his remarkable eyes was impatience, not attraction.
For the longest time he said nothing. Annalena was about to turn on her heel and head into the palace when he said, ‘I disagree.’
Just that. As if his opinion were all that counted.
Maybe he was like his father after all.
She shrugged. ‘There’s no point discussing this any further. I’ll—’
‘It wasn’t discussion I had in mind.’ His voice dropped to a low burring note that rolled across her skin, making the fine hairs on her arms lift.
‘Sorry?’
Suddenly he seemed much closer, though she hadn’t noticed him move. ‘No need to be sorry.’
Annalena frowned. It hadn’t been meant as an apology.
‘Can’t you feel it?’
Now he did move nearer. Their feet almost touched and his breath warmed her face. To her dismay that made a decadent little shiver unfurl down her spine.
Light sparked in his eyes and she caught once more the glimmer of gold in dark brown irises.
Something whispered through her. A warning? An invitation? Whatever it was, it evoked a strange quiver in her stomach. She swallowed. ‘Feel what?’
His head tilted closer, as if he wanted to read every nuance of her expression.
Not , absolutely not to kiss her.
Even so her heartbeat became a rapid flurry, as when lazy flakes of snow turned into a sudden blizzard.
Her nostrils flared as she detected an intriguing scent. It reminded her of verdant forests and crisp mountain air with a warm undertone of virile male. She inhaled deeply, drawing it in and feeling something tight in her chest give way.
Her brain blared an alarm but her body didn’t notice.
She leaned in, chin rising, as if inviting him to close the space between them.
The realisation shuddered through her and she snapped her head back. She was about to move away when his hand closed on her shoulder.
His grip wasn’t hard. She could step free, if she wanted to.
But there was something about the touch of those hard fingers through the cotton of her T-shirt that made her want to stay.
‘This. Between us. It’s been there from the first.’
An automatic denial formed in her head. She’d seen his initial reaction to her and it wasn’t attraction.
He was just pretending to make a point. But despite knowing that, her objection didn’t make it to her tongue.
Because, even understanding this was one-upmanship, she couldn’t bring herself to stop it.
Another little tremor down her spine, through her legs and right to the soles of her feet.
That golden gaze dipped to her mouth and the beat of her blood turned to a roar in her ears. Her lips parted so she could suck in more air.
His eyes lifted to hers and the world telescoped so there was just him. Him and her. Every sense clamoured and her toes curled as awareness stirred.
Softly, so gently she thought at first she’d imagined it, something stroked her cheek. She caught a glimpse of his raised hand and his finger skimmed from her cheekbone to her chin, creating warmth deep in her body.
She had to break free. Now.
Resolute, she grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away just as he leaned closer. Her breath snatched as his heat engulfed her. Wide shoulders filled her vision and gleaming golden-brown eyes fixed on her mouth as he brought his face to hers.
Annalena told herself to step back but was transfixed, waiting for the moment his mouth touched hers.
Surely one moment of curiosity was allowed? One moment before sanity returned.
He was so near her vision blurred, her eyes fluttering closed.
The moment stretched, her every sense on alert.
But when his mouth touched her it wasn’t on the lips.
She felt his mouth caress her earlobe as he whispered, ‘Actually, we’re very compatible.
Attuned, even.’ His voice was a rumble that turned her insides to a quivering mess and her knees to jelly.
‘You’re shaking in anticipation, did you know? If you’d just relax…’
‘What? You’d seduce me in your summerhouse?’
Her nails dug into his wrist as she flung his hand away and stepped back. Eyes snapping open, she saw him blink, his expression for a second almost confused as he straightened to his full height. Her one consolation was that he looked almost as dazed as she felt.
But Annalena couldn’t let that show. Desperately she reined in her anger, knowing if he saw it he’d realise it had its roots in disappointment.
He’d be right. She’d felt the drag of attraction from the first, while he’d felt nothing . He was playing on her weakness.
She thrust her shoulders back, hoping he wouldn’t notice the way her nipples had hardened.
A lifetime concealing feelings behind a smile came to her rescue. Yet she didn’t trust herself to meet his eyes. Instead she focused on the tiny scar above his left cheek.
‘I’d rather you didn’t practise your wiles on me, Benedikt.’ She dragged air into too-tight lungs. ‘This situation is hard enough without pretending attraction that’s not there.’
‘Annalena—’
‘Let’s talk later. I’ve had enough for now.’ She turned and strode out the door.