Prince of Secrets

“It’s a nominal title only.”

“What does that even mean?” What she knew about royalty wouldn’t fill a page, much less a book.

“Officially, I am a duke, but I am called prince at the pleasure of my uncle, the king.”

“The one who raised you?” Still not making sense, and getting cloudier rather than clearer.

“He and Oxana raised me as a brother to Maksim, the Crown Prince. I was spare to the throne.”

“Was?”

“My cousin’s wife is expecting their first child.”

“Next in line to the throne now?”

“Yes.”

“It’s just all so strange.”

She looked around the plane, which had taken off at some point but she couldn’t have said when. Her family were all staring, making no effort to hide their interest.

Perry didn’t look surprised at all, but Andrew’s and Laura’s eyes were both saucer wide.

“Mom and Perry knew,” she guessed.

“Yes.”

“They never said.”

“They agreed my position might scare you off me. I wanted time to show you I am the man you promised to marry.”

“But you are a prince.”

“Does that change how you feel about me?” he demanded, no give for prevarication in his voice.

There were a lot of conflicting things going on inside Chanel, but this wasn’t something she was in any question about. “No. I love you, not what you are.”

“I am glad to hear it.” The relief in his tone couldn’t be faked.

“This is so cool,” Andrew said, reminding Chanel of their audience.

She frowned at her little brother. “You might think so.”

“I do, too,” Laura said.

“The only thing that matters is what you think,” Demyan said from beside her.

“The jury is still out on that one.”

“Don’t be flip.”

She glared up at him. “I’m not. I mean it. Give me some time to process.”

“Chanel—”

“No. I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

She didn’t want to talk at all, and shut down every attempt either he or her family made on the rest of the flight, going so far as to feign sleep to get them all to just leave her alone for a bit.

Life had changed so fast and she’d thought she’d come to terms with that, but Demyan was still throwing her curveballs and Chanel had never been good at sports.

* * *

Their arrival in Volyarus was less overwhelming than she might have expected given Demyan’s position.

Thankfully, there was no fanfare, no line of reporters with oversize cameras. Of course if there had been, she would have shown them all just how she’d gotten her black belt in tae kwon do, with Demyan as her unwitting assistant in the endeavor.

However, other than some official-looking men who looked like they were straight off the set of Men in Black, there were only two other people—Chanel’s mother and a beautiful woman with an unmistakable regal bearing. Queen Oxana.

Demyan guided Chanel toward the two women with his hand on the small of her back. He stopped when they were facing his aunt and he introduced them all.

The queen put her hand out to Chanel. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Demyan speaks very highly of you, as does your mother.”

Chanel did her best not to show her surprise.

She knew Beatrice was trying, but the idea she had actually complimented Chanel to the other woman was still too new to be anything but startling. Oxana had spent the past two weeks in Beatrice’s company. In the past, Chanel would have been sure the results would be catastrophic for any hopes she might have of gaining the queen’s regard.

From the look of both women, that wasn’t something she had to worry about anymore.

Unexpected and warm pleasure poured through Chanel’s heart, filling it to the brim, and she smiled at her mother before squeezing the queen’s hand. “Thank you for making Demyan a part of your family. Someone taught him how to protect the people he cares about and I think that was you.”

The lovely dark eyes widened, Oxana’s mouth parting in shock and then curving into an open smile. “I believe he will be in very good hands with you, Chanel.”

The king was waiting at the palace when they arrived, his manner more reserved and less welcoming to Chanel. She didn’t mind.

She thought she understood.

Everyone else was acting as if it was perfectly normal for a prince to get engaged after a month and married six weeks later.

Obviously, King Fedir had his qualms about it.

Since Chanel still had her own fears, she had no problem with the fact he might have some, as well.

Wedding plans made it impossible for Chanel and Demyan to have any time alone for the rest of the day. She was not surprised to find him in her room late that night after she left her mother and the indefatigable Oxana still discussing seating charts.