<b>Chapter </b><b>179 </b>


    Keira stared out the small oval window as the tarmac rolled beneath them, her stomach churning with abination <b>of </b>takeoff nerves and sheer disbelief at how quickly her life had spun out of control.


    Just two hours ago she’d been standing in her apartment in a bathrobe, arguing with Alexei about fake engagements and his father’s need for damage control.


    Now she was buckled into buttery leather seats aboard Alexei’s jet, watching New York shrink beneath the clouds.


    “Are you okay?” Alexei asked from the seat across from her, under the table, he ced his hand on her thigh just above the knee giving it a light squeeze.


    She turned to look at him, taking in the crisp white shirt and dark cks he’d changed into during their whirlwind escape from her apartment. Mitchell had arrived with a small army of security personnel and a garment bag for Alexei.


    He had changed while she had gone to her room to do the same and hastily packed a suitcase for her trip to meet his family. What the fuck had she gotten herself into?


    She still wasn’t sure in the end if she had agreed to a real engagement or a fake one. She med it on the series of events and very little sleep. She felt like an out–of–control yoyo.


    “Define okay,” she said dryly. “Because if you mean ‘am I currently having an out–of–body experience,‘ then yes. Absolutely.”


    His mouth twitched into something that might have been a smile under different circumstances. “You’re handling this better than most people would.”


    “Am I? Because I feel like I’m losing my mind.” She gestured towards him. “Two weeks ago,” looking around to make sure Mitchell was out of earshot. “I wanted <i>to </i>kill you, two days ago I was being held hostage and twelve hours ago I was sitting in a hospital. Now I’m flying to a country no one can even pronounce properly <i>to </i>meet your father. The king no less. Who wants to announce our engagement to the international press. I’m just peachy.”


    “Wystovia,” Alexei said quietly. “Viss–TOH–vee–ah.”


    “I can say it… I meant most people.” Sheughed, but it came out slightly hysterical. “This is insane, Alexei. You know that, right?”


    Before he could answer, a flight attendant appeared beside their seats. The woman was immactely dressed, her smile professionally warm. She must be new because Keira had never met her before.


    I you anything? Perhaps some champagne to


    “Your Highness, Miss Warner,” she said with a slight bow. “Cring


    celebrate?”


    Celebrate. Right. Because fleeing the country to avoid a media circus was totally worth celebrating. Let’s bring out the brass band and streamers. Keira gave herself a pat on the back for not saying it out aloud.


    “Coffee,” Keira said quickly. “Very strong coffee.” She needed sleep but coffee would have to do.


    “And for you, Your Highness?”


    <i>JA </i>


    1:23 Aug


    “The same.” Alexei replied, his eyes never leaving Keira’s face.


    When the attendant retreated, silence settled between them again. Through the window, Keira could see nothing <b>but </b>endless blue sky and white clouds. They were really doing this. She was really on a ne to meet the King of Wystovia<b>. </b>


    “My sisters are going to kill me,” she said suddenly. She hadn’t had time to even talk to them before Mitchell had turned up. Only sent a group message that she would call themter and exin everything. She just hoped by then she knew what was going on so she could.


    “Your sisters will understand why you had to leave.”


    “Will they? Because I’m not sure I do.” She turned to face him fully. “One minute you were walking out my door, ready to fly home and deal with daddy’s disappointment. The next, you’re telling me I have to choose between a fake Engagement or facing the media circus alone.”


    Alexei’s jaw tightened. “That’s not exactly how-”


    “Isn’t it?” She leaned forward, her <i>voice </i>dropping. “Because it felt a lot like an ultimatum. Come with you and y royal fiancée or get thrown to the tabloid wolves.”


    “You could have stayed,” he pointed out. “You could have told me to go


    way out.”


    to hell and mmed the door on my ass on the


    “Could I? With twenty reporters camped outside my apartment. With my phone already blowing up with interview requests?” She shook her head. “You know I didn’t have a real choice.”


    The flight attendant returned with their coffee, then they thanked her, and she left again.


    Keira wrapped her hands around the warm mug, grateful for something to hold onto.


    “So what happens when wend?” she asked after taking a sip. “Do I get thrown into Princess Prep School? Learn to cu and speak in diplomatic code?”


    “My father will want to meet with you first,” Alexei said carefully. “To discuss… the situation.”


    “The situation.” She repeated his words with bitter amusement. “Is that what we’re calling it?”


    “Keira-”


    “No, it’s fine. I get it. I’m the situation that needs to be managed.” She stared down into her coffee. “Themoner whoplicated your life by existing.”


    “That’s not what you are.”


    “Then what am I?” The question came out sharper than she intended. “Because I’m having trouble keeping track. Am I your assistant? Your girlfriend? Your fake fiancée? Your real fiancée? Your royal obligation? It’s not just me that seem to be bouncing around like a yoyo Alexei. We’re both trying to find our feet here.”


    Alexei was quiet for a long moment, his own coffee untouched on the table between them. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer than she’d heard it since they’d boarded the ne.


    <b>Chapter </b>179


    “You’re the woman who challenges me every day. Who calls me on my bullshit and doesn’t back down even <b>when </b>I being an ass. You’re the woman who kept me from doing something stupid in that warehouse!!


    Despite everything, heat crept up her neck at his words. “Pretty words, Your Highness. But words don’t change the fact


    that this whole situation is fucked up.”


    “Language, Miss Warner,” he said with the ghost of his old teasing smile. “You’re about to meet a king”


    “Oh, I’m sorry. Is ‘royally screwed‘ more appropriate?”


    That actually made himugh, a realugh that transformed his facepletely. “Much better. Good. I want to kiss your


    smart mouth.”


    She found herself smiling despite her anxiety. This was why she was here, she realized. Not because she’d been backed into a corner or because she had no choice.


    She was here because somewhere between the kidnapping and the media circus and his father’s demands, she’d realized she had fallen for him. Really fallen, not just lust or adrenaline or Stockholm syndrome… No, that was wrong because Alexei had been a hostage as well. Stockholm was falling for the kidnapper and all she wanted for those guys was for them to rot in jail.


    She had fallen for Alexei, second prince of Wystovia, royal pain in her ass, and quite possibly the worst decision she’d ever made. She was scared and it took a lot for her to even admit that to herself. Because he could hurt her more than anyone before. Not only that it would be public… very public. But she hadn’t said no, well aware of what she was signing herself up for.


    “So what’s he like?” she asked, steering the conversation to safer ground. “Your father.”


    Alexei’s expression grew serious again. “Intimidating. Traditional. He believes strongly in duty and sacrifice for the good of the crown.” He paused. “He’s not going to be easy on you.”


    “Define ‘not easy.”


    “He’ll test you. <i>Your </i>background, your motivations, your ability to handle royal life. He’ll want to know if you’re strong enough to be a royal wife and if you’re in this for the right reasons.”


    Keira snorted. It hadn’t been her choice. Should she remind the king it was his. “What are the right reasons? Because I’m pretty sure ‘your son is amazing in bed‘ isn’t on the approved list.”


    “Keira.” His voice held a warning, but she could see he was fighting another smile.


    “What? I’m just saying, if honesty is what he wants, he might not like what he gets.”


    “Promise me something,” Alexei said suddenly, his tone turning serious. “When you meet him, don’t let him intimidate you into being someone you’re not. He needs to see the real you, the woman who isn’t afraid to fight with a prince.”


    “Even if the real me tells a king exactly what I think <i>of </i>his maniption tactics?”


    “Especially then.” He reached across the table, covering her hand with his. “My father respects strength, even when it makes him ufortable. Show him the woman I see.”


    16:56 Sat 23 Aug


    The words hung between them, loaded with implications neither of them was quite ready to examine,


    She realized she couldn’t walk away from Alexei, she had fallen for him. Not just been attracted to him or enjoyed <b>sleeping </b>


    with him. Fallen for him..


    “And if he decides I’m not suitable royal material?” she asked quietly.


    Alexei’s grip on her hand tightened. “He will love you.”


    The ne hit a patch of turbulence, jostling them in their seats. Keira gripped her coffee mug tighter, watching the liquid slosh back and forth.


    “How long until wend?”


    “About six hours.