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 shereallywould 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 ineverything. 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 soperfect.
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, ‘Whatareyou 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 needyou. 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.’
