Chapter Twelve
Ten days later…
THE STREETS OF New York were too busy. Loud. Jarring. Ares had done his best to re-acclimatise since his return but the place he’d called home for years now felt like an alien planet.
Had it always been so grimy? So grey? So…closed in with tall buildings? Everyone seemed so much in a rush. So desperate. No one smiled.
A few days before when Ares had been leaving his office building after his final meeting, he’d smiled at his security guy.
Who hadn’t smiled back. Ares had realised he was smiling like a loon, in some attempt to be polite, or nice, and the man had been frowning at him as if he had two heads. ‘You OK, Mr Drakos?’
Ares had promptly broken out in a cold sweat. What the hell was wrong with him? Smiling at people and expecting the same in return? He was in a city where that could be considered slightly homicidal behaviour. He’d once been a fully signed up member of the make-no-eye-contact, unsmiling public.
Before he’d met her. So now he was scowling as he pushed open the doors to his offices. He’d just taken a meeting with a new client in a hotel downtown and had walked all the way back, feeling too restless to sit in a car or take the subway.
He barely noticed the same security guard behind the desk, too busy fighting off memories and images.
He kept seeing Cassie disappear into the back of the SUV, the door closing behind her.
The reality that he would never see her again, except on a TV screen or perhaps somehow through Caius, was like a burr under his skin.
He’d had a dream the night before, of watching her get married to some faceless chinless prince. Beaming at him. Confetti. Kissing him.
Ares had woken in a sweat, heart pounding. He did smile now as the elevator carried him up to the penthouse office but it was grim. It was small comfort that nightmares of boats had been replaced with nightmares of Cassie with another man.
He got to his office—empty because his staff had long finished for the day.
It was late. But he was still too restless to go back to his empty apartment nearby.
It was on evenings like this he would have sought out the company of someone like Caius, but Caius was in Sadat, because the coronation was happening any day now.
Everything seemed to circle back to Cassie.
He could call up a woman. Sex. Surely that would alleviate this building sense of panic?
But the thought of a woman who wasn’t Cassie…made his insides churn. Irritated with himself and his inability to just…settle back into his life, Ares poured himself a slug of whiskey and turned on the TV.
A news channel came on and as if the universe was intent on punishing him, or torturing him, it showed images of Sadat Sur Mer and the reporter was gushing about the excitement of the upcoming coronation as images of Cassie proliferated in the background.
Cassie as a baby, then as a small cherubic child, and a slightly gawky teenager with braces and now… His heart ached. As a beautiful young woman ready to step into her own power. And what power that was. She was magnificent.
Then an image of a man came on the screen.
Some blond pretty man. With a toothy smile.
Ares turned up the volume as the reporter said breathlessly, ‘Prince Stefan has been invited to the pre-coronation ball tomorrow night. It’s widely rumoured that after the coronation there will be an announcement of nuptials… ’
Ares muted the sound, unable to listen to any more. He could see that man and Cassie together. They’d make a photogenic couple. They’d have even more photogenic kids. Royal kids.
Something hot roared to life inside Ares, deep down, rising up. Jealousy. No. More than jealousy. She was his. Not that insipid man’s. She’d told him she loved him.
Desperation replaced the panic. He couldn’t let this just…
happen. He needed to see her. Look in her eyes.
See the moment when she’d show regret for what she’d said because she couldn’t have possibly meant it.
And then maybe he could walk away and feel some peace.
Well, not peace, he’d never feel that again, but some measure of being able to get on with his life.
If he knew for sure that she didn’t want him.
Ares’s heart pounded at the thought that he might look into her eyes and see something else entirely.
He should leave her be. But it was too late. She’d melted something inside him. Rewired him. Made him want…connection. A chance to strive for another kind of existence. Happiness. Love. He knew he loved her. He’d known it as soon as her happiness had become paramount to him.
Before he could overthink it, Ares dug out his phone and dialled his assistant, issuing instructions. After a few minutes his assistant said, ‘Sorry, boss, it looks like tomorrow is the earliest I can get you out of here.’
Ares cursed. It would have to do. ‘Book it.’ On his way back out of his office building Ares stopped in his tracks by the security guard’s desk. The man looked up. Ares said, ‘You know, it wouldn’t kill you to smile once in a while.’ And then he walked out. Smiling.
Cassie’s face hurt from smiling so much. She’d never felt less like smiling in her life. And her hand ached from greeting all of the dignitaries. And her feet ached in the high heels.
She was in full crown princess uniform in her midnight-blue silk dress with voluminous silk skirts overlaid with tulle.
The strapless bodice was boned, tucking her in and allowing only an acceptable amount of cleavage.
Family heirloom jewels, sapphires and diamonds, glinted at her ears, neck and wrist.
She wore a white sash across her dress, adorned with ceremonial ribbons and brooches to signify her country’s glorious military history and its independence.
Her hair was up and teased into a complicated chignon and she wore a diamond tiara that was weighing heavier and heavier on her head.
Unfortunately Caius hadn’t been able to help her with this. He was somewhere in the background, easing himself back into acceptability. At least he was here, even if not by her side. It had been good to see him again.
She was firmly shutting out the face of the one person she really would like to see but the prospect of him appearing in the endless line-up bowing before her was about as likely as a unicorn materialising.
Her insides tensed as she recognised the next person. Crown Prince Stefan de Wilhelm of Danzerra, a small monarchy in central Europe. A prime candidate to be her husband. She sensed the hush that went up around them as everyone watched to see them meet for the first time.
He bowed before her and Cassie noticed a bald patch on the top of his head. She had the bizarre urge to giggle and she knew it was hysteria. He straightened and smiled. She felt sorry for her unkind observation. He was a perfectly handsome and potentially good candidate for marriage.
She let him take her hand. ‘Thank you so much for coming, Prince—’
Suddenly there was a commotion near them and Cassie looked away from the prince to see a tall man bearing down on them, with a visibly distressed Pierre running to catch up and several of her security guards.
Ares. No. She had to be dreaming. Hallucinating, Brought on by the exhaustion of this interminable line-up. She blinked. But when she opened her eyes again Ares Drakos was now standing beside the prince.
Cassie was struck by the almost comical disparity in everything.
Their size, looks, charisma. And then she realised…
this wasn’t a dream. Ares Drakos was really standing here, in…
She looked him up and down. In worn jeans and a loose shirt.
Hair wild. Was his beard bigger? He looked deliciously scruffy and achingly sexy and thoroughly out of place. And yet so perfect.
Pierre pushed forward, sweating. ‘I’m so sorry, Your Highness, this man somehow managed to get through the security cordon—we’ll have him removed—’
But then another voice joined in. ‘Ares? What the hell are you doing here?’
It was Caius. But neither Cassie nor Ares looked away from each other. She just asked, ‘What are you doing here?’
She was in shock. Numb. But she could feel sensation returning and it was like when the numbness of icy cold retreated and the heat returned painfully. She realised she’d been cold since she’d walked away from him. After baring her heart to him. After his rejection.
She strove to not let herself melt. This could mean nothing at all. She hated him. She loved him.
‘Ares?’ The silence was so profound around them but Cassie barely noticed.
‘I needed to see you. To look you in the eye when I asked you…’
‘Asked me what?’
‘If you really meant it. What you said in Florence?’
Cassie felt something bloom inside her. Hope. She arched a brow. ‘You mean when I said I loved you?’
A gasp went up around them.
Ares said, ‘Yes, when you said you loved me. Did you mean it?’
How could he not see it shining out of her like a bright light? She nodded. ‘Yes, I meant it. I love you, Ares.’
He stepped forward and put his hands around her face, tipping it up. Cassie felt the tiara slide a little precariously and grinned. He was unravelling her already and she couldn’t care less.
‘I love you, Cassie, but I felt selfish. How can I ask you to be mine when you need someone who’ll be so much more suited?’
Cassie put her hands on Ares’s, sliding her fingers between his. ‘I don’t need some prince.’
Neither of them noticed the splutter of indignation coming from the prince who was still standing there.
Cassie continued, ‘I need you. But I know it’s a lot to ask. You’d be giving up a lot…for me.’
Ares shook his head, fervent. ‘I would give up my life for you.’
There was a distinct sigh from the crowd.
Ares went on, ‘My life means nothing without you. I want it all, Cassie. I want to give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of and I want to be happy. You’ve shown me that it’s possible. With you, I know I can do anything.’
‘We’d have to have children…if we can. They’ll bear my name.’
Ares’s eyes gleamed. ‘They’ll have the bravest and most magnificent mother in the world, why wouldn’t they bear your name?’
He said, ‘I’m sorry that it took me a few days to figure this out. I fell for you the moment I saw you in that bar, determined to have an experience.’
Cassie blushed. ‘I adore you, Ares. You see me. I’ve never really had that, except for Caius and he doesn’t really count.’
There was another splutter of indignation from Caius’s direction but Cassie went on, ‘I can’t take on this role without a real partner.
I’d hoped for respect and companionship but after meeting you…
I want so much more. The thought of becoming queen and settling for someone else… has nearly killed me.’
Ares’s eyes looked suspiciously bright. ‘I’m so sorry I let you go, Cass.’
He gathered her to him and kissed her, deep and thoroughly. When he pulled back she said breathlessly, ‘Don’t be sorry… I don’t think either of us were expecting this…’
They looked at each other dreamily for a long moment, until Caius’s voice broke the intense silence. ‘Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?’
Ares took Cassie’s hand in his. She was beaming.
Sore facial muscles forgotten. Tiara askew.
She tore her gaze from Ares’s and looked around.
The great and good of the world staring at them.
The prince’s mouth was gaping open like a stunned fish.
Pierre looked as if he was on the verge of a heart attack.
And her brother was murderous. She’d never been happier.
Ares said, ‘Can we go somewhere private?’
She looked back at him and her insides liquefied with desire. She nodded. But then she winced when she took a step and her feet protested in the new shoes.
Ares was immediately concerned. ‘What is it?’
‘Sore feet.’
Within two seconds he’d swept her up into his arms. One of her shoes fell to the floor. Ares looked at Caius and said, ‘I know you want to break every bone in my body but the fact is that I love your sister and I’m going to go somewhere now to ask her if she’ll marry me. If that’s OK with you?’
Caius looked as if he were about to explode but then he looked at Cassie and he must have seen her incandescent happiness because after a long moment his features softened. He said, ‘Aw, hell. Go. Not with my blessing, it’s too soon for that. But just go.’
As Ares swept Cassie out of the ornate ballroom and away from the hundreds of guests she could have sworn she heard Pierre ask Caius, ‘Is there any chance he’s related to the Greek royal family at all? Any royal family?’
In the end it didn’t matter that Ares was not related to any royal family. Their moment had gone viral around the world and everyone had fallen in love with Ares and Cassie and their love story.
Pierre hadn’t had a hope of standing in their way. Neither had Caius, who eventually did come to terms with his best friend becoming his brother-in-law.
Cassie had been crowned queen, with Ares close by her side at all times. Soon afterwards their engagement had been announced by the palace to no one’s surprise.