Expecting Royal Twins! / To Dance with a Prince. Cara Colter
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front line. “You fought in the war?”
“Yes.” The one word spoke volumes. “Stefan and I fought with the loyalists to preserve the boundaries and traditions of all people.”
Izzy could imagine Niko as a warrior, fierce and hard, defending his people to the death. That took courage and strength. She pointed to the jagged scar on his cheek. “Did you get that fighting?”
“Yes, we are all marked in some way by the conflict,” he said. “Some scars are physical. Others are not.”
Did Niko have other scars? Hidden ones? Izzy wanted to know, but didn’t know him well enough to ask. She wanted to see if there was more to this seemingly in-control prince than met the eye. Curiosity about the man her parents had married her off to, she rationalized.
As the limousine approached the castle, the immense structure loomed in front of her. Was that a moat?
She peered out the window. Yes, it was. A river flowed underneath a bridge flanked by armed guards. One waved the limousine across.
Two minutes later, the car stopped in front of tall, wooden doors. A uniformed man stepped outside. His white dress shirt, creased pants and sharp jacket made Izzy feel totally under-dressed in her faded jeans, T-shirt and ratty sneakers. No wonder the prince was so keen on her shopping.
“Your bag will be delivered to your room, ma’am,” Jovan said before exiting the limousine.
“Wait a minute.” Izzy’s gaze locked with Niko’s. “I thought I was staying at a hotel.”
“You are legally my wife,” Niko said. “You will stay here at the castle until the annulment has been granted.”
“I want to stay at a hotel.”
“No.”
Darn the man. He hadn’t listened to her before. If he had, he wouldn’t be telling her what to do. “But—”
“The castle is the most suitable place for you to stay.”
Izzy could rattle off a hundred reasons why she shouldn’t stay here with him, the queen and the king. She settled on one. “I’d be more comfortable in a hotel.”
“You will be more comfortable here,” Niko countered. “Your every whim will be catered to by the castle’s staff.”
“I don’t have any whims that need catering.”
He set his jaw. “No hotel.”
Her eyelids felt heavy. She needed to sit down. “I really—”
“This isn’t up for negotiation.”
Her tiredness was putting her at a disadvantage. She couldn’t think fast enough. “Please.”
“You will sleep better here than anywhere. Trust me.”
Izzy didn’t trust him. She couldn’t.
“It’s also better for you to stay at the castle for security reasons.”
Okay, that she could accept.
“Fine. I’ll concede on that point.” She stared down her nose. “But just so you know, as soon as we get the annulment, I’m outta here.”
I’m outta here.
Niko had one parting thought before he handed Isabel off to a maid.
Good riddance.
He kept the thought to himself, balling his hands into fists instead. He would not lower himself to her level.
The woman was ill-mannered and brash. She had no idea how she was supposed to act. A month locked in the tower with only etiquette and protocol books might actually help her learn to be a princess. The room in the tower would be better for her than the rusty aluminum can she called home. Though she would probably miss the grease from the garage.
The sharp click from his heels against the wood floor as he strode through the hall echoed his irritation.
“Niko.”
He stopped and flexed his fingers. He did not want his annoyance at his “wife” to affect his soon-to-be new wife.
Julianna stood in the doorway of the library. Her designer skirt and short-fitted jacket complemented her figure the same way her deftly applied makeup accentuated her features. Her long, blond hair gleamed under the lights. “Welcome home.”
One word came to mind as he stared at her—perfection. He couldn’t have found a better princess to be Vernonia’s queen. Her beauty was matched by her intelligence. She spoke four languages fluently—German, French, Italian and English. She was an Olympic-caliber sailor and an excellent spokesperson. She had the necessary family connections and wealth, but her sense of duty set her above many of the other unmarried royals he’d met over the past few years. She knew what her country expected of her, and she fulfilled her duty without question. One hundred and eighty degrees different from Isabel.
“It’s good to see you, Julianna.”
“And you.” She sounded genuinely pleased to him. That would bode well for their future together, if only he could stop thinking about … his current wife. “I hope your trip went well,” Julianna added.
The hallway was empty, but that didn’t mean people weren’t listening. He didn’t want to take any chance of someone overhearing him.
“Let’s talk in the library where we will not be disturbed.” Niko led her past floor-to-ceiling bookcases to a small meeting room in the back. He closed the door.
Julianna ran her fingers along the polished walnut desk. “I had no idea this room was even here.”
Memories of pestering his older brother, Stefan, while he attempted to study surfaced. Niko pushed them and the pang of grief aside. “Thank you for offering to help Isabel with her shopping.”
Julianna smiled softly. “It’s the least I can do for you.”
Niko had always put Vernonia first. He dated, but had never had a true partner to confide in or ask for help. Perhaps that would change soon. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but it’s not a hardship. I love to shop.”
He wasn’t about to criticize his current wife to his future spouse, but he didn’t want Julianna blindsided, either. “You may find Isabel a reluctant shopper.”
“I’m sure I can convince her a shopping spree is in order.”
“It could be a challenge,” Niko admitted. “Isabel does not want to be a princess.”
Julianna smiled knowingly. “Every woman wants to be a princess, even if they would never dare admit it aloud.”
“Not Isabel.” His blood pressure rose thinking about her. “I’ve never met a woman who tried so hard not to be female.”
Julianna furrowed her finely arched brows. “Isabel wants to be a man?”
“No, but she is a car mechanic. She works hard not to look like a woman. No makeup. Baggy coveralls. Very casual clothing. No dresses or high heels.”
“You sound exasperated.”
“She is exasperating.”
“First impressions can be deceiving,” Julianna counseled, making Niko wonder if this was how she spoke to her younger brothers. “Isabel must be in shock.”
“The news has shocked her, but I don’t believe my impression of her is far off.” Niko thought about her parting words to him. “Isabel is young. She speaks without thinking. She has no sense of what it is to be royalty.”
“She sounds refreshing.”
“I thought so yesterday, but today we keep … clashing,” he admitted. “She