Page 38 of Back to Claim His Crown
‘You don’t want to take a little respite? You’ve not stopped since your return. Not had a weekend—not even a single day.’
‘No.’ He ground out the refusal. ‘The press would be onto you in a flash if I was with you.’
‘Oh.’ Her face fell. ‘Yes, of course.’
But she’d wanted him with her and that made the temptation even harder to resist.
‘You can bathe in the waters. Have a massage.’ He almost choked at the thought. ‘Eat what you want, do what you want.’
‘A spa day at last,’ she mock marvelled. ‘What have I done to deserve such a reward?’
He gave in and pulled her close. ‘Careful, Princess. Or I will demand payment.’
Her gaze turned smoky. ‘What would you have me do?’
The willingness in her eyes almost undid him completely.
‘You would like that, wouldn’t you?’ he said huskily.
He felt her trembling and knew the desire was as fierce for her as it was for him. But he resisted teasing her. He didn’t even kiss her. At last he gave in to her insistence that there must be nothing between them. Because he was a breath away from taking the alternate deal—takingeverythingshe offered.
‘It can’t happen,’ he muttered, closing his eyes in sheer frustration, reminding himself more than he was telling her. ‘You deserve so much better, Zara.’
She deserved someone who could give her all his attention.
But he had to be fully focused on his country. He’d promised himself he would on his mother’s memory. He released her and walked away before she could argue. He’d go dwell in an ice-cold shower. For ever.
Early the next morning he was en route to a town a couple of hours’ north of the capital. Zara’s car was heading in a similar direction but would stop sooner. She was so pale. Some fresh air, sunlight—even winter sunlight—would benefit her. He wished he could join her as she bathed in those private, natural thermal springs. But this restorative experience was just for her. At least she would have it.
His day dragged and he was annoyed with himself for wondering about her when these people had waited so long to see him. So when he finally returned to the palace he hurriedly strode to their private wing. She should be back already. But the library was empty. So was the dining room.
‘Where is Zara?’
Victor looked at him warily. ‘There was an accident on the off ramp. The car was—’
Lucian stilled completely. The only word he retained in his head wasaccident. The last flicker of brain capacity tried to listen more, tried to... But his heart suddenly hammered, too hard, too fast, too loud. His throat tightened. A monster had its claws around his neck. He couldn’t breathe.
Terror silenced him. Deafened him. All but immobilised him.
‘Sir—?’
He stumbled as he forced his feet to move.Alone. He needed to be alone. To breathe.
She should have been back already. She should be telling him about the steaming waters. Instead, her rooms were empty. And he couldn’tconsiderthe word accident. He couldn’t let himself think anything along those lines.
He needed to get to her. He needed to know she was okay. He needed thatnow. But, almost blind, it was all he could do to walk through the palace, feeling a sickening threat like no other until he came to the most central, most secure of rooms. Secure as a bank vault, it was dimly lit and had reinforced walls. Silence. Space. Safety.
He would wait there, uselessly holding his aching head.
He closed the door behind him then stared, aghast, at the empty gold throne that seemed to mock him. He was so weak. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t move. How could he ever be King when he reacted like this to just a word?
CHAPTER TEN
ZARAWENTSTRAIGHTto the dining room, her stomach rumbling. She hoped Lucian hadn’t finished already, she wanted to tell him all about her day. But he wasn’t there. Silver domes still covered the many dishes and Victor looked tense as he stood to attention.
‘Has Lucian eaten?’ she asked him.
The servant shook his head.
