Page 130 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

‘And you hate that, don’t you?’

She whirled around. ‘You have no right—’

‘Don’t I? I was an invited guest at the ball.’

‘But you did not have to dance with her—’

‘Nor did Otto.’

‘He and the queen have something going on.’

Javier was proud of the way he resisted the easy response. After all, he knew his stepmother was wildly misrepresenting the truth of their relationship. ‘If that’s the case, why do you care what anyone says about the fact I happened to dance with her?’

‘Because that video makes it seem—makes it seem—’

He smirked. ‘You can’t even say it, can you?’

‘Makes it look as though you can’t keep your mind out of the gutter.’

He laughed then, a short, sharp sound of caustic amusement. ‘The video makes it look like we’re both thinking the same thing.’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘How long are you here for?’

His original plan was to fly in, drop the bombshell and get out. He had no reason to deviate from that. ‘I’ll leave tonight. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you and Otto before I go.’

Her visible relief was quickly followed by a look of caution. ‘And what might that be?’

‘A conversation I’d rather not have twice. Let’s meet this afternoon.’

Her features took on a saccharine smile of satisfaction. ‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible. We’re attending a Christmas concert in the city. Otto is looking forward to seeing the queen again.’

And even though he knew there was nothing between his half-brother and Astrid, he felt the whipping of unease in his gut and a powerful sense of possession that he should have known better than to listen to.

* * *

Before meeting Javier, Astrid had been quite convinced that Otto would make an excellent husband, if he wanted the role. He was intelligent, kind, patient, handsome and, vitally, undemanding. He was just the sort of man she had imagined she could make a life with. A safe life. One that didn’t impinge on the bubble she wanted to maintain around herself. She had imagined them being happy and businesslike. But now, as she listened to him speak about an art exhibition he’d recently been to in Amsterdam, she found her mind wandering unstoppably. She was bored out of her brain and Astrid was never bored at these events. They were work. An important part of her function was to put her best foot forward on the world stage and hosting this concert was a tradition long associated with the royal family.

Astrid herself had put together the performer list, recruiting artists from all over the world, finishing with a show-stopping set piece from Norvenheim’s most exulted classical pianist. The songs were either Christmas carols or hymns, beautiful pieces that infiltrated one’s soul with the magic of this time of year.

‘Have you seen the piece, Your Majesty?’

She forced herself back to the conversation with Otto, aware of the way his mother’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘I’m sorry, Otto.’ She reached out and put a hand on his arm, her smile echoing her apology. ‘I was momentarily distracted.’

‘Of course,’ he said, with that same sense of ease that had, once upon a time, convinced her he would be a perfect husband. ‘You have a lot on your plate tonight. Don’t feel you have to stand here and speak with us. We can catch up another time.’

‘I’m sure Her Majesty is enjoying being with you,’ Carlotta slid in effortlessly.

But Astrid was wavering in her commitment to the life she’d thought she had planned out. It had nothing to do with Javier. How could it? He was leaving soon. For all she knew, he’d already left. But Javier’s words were locked inside of her, his warning, the first night they’d met, that she shouldn’t marry Otto. Combined with the way he’d looked, when she’d asked about his childhood, had something ringing in the back of her mind. A warning. A worry that perhaps she was putting the cart before the horse. Wishing for something simple and perfect because she needed it, rather than because it actually was.

‘I should go and greet some other guests,’ she murmured. ‘But as you say, we’ll speak later.’

She dropped her hand and turned away, with every intention of seeking out a visiting dignitary. Her gaze swept the room, searching for the right escape path, and landed with a skittering thud on a pair of eyes that were instantly familiar to her. She froze. Her whole body stammered to a stop, with the exception of her heart that was suddenly beating way too fast to be contained by her chest.

She knew people were watching her—when weren’t they? She knew the event was televised, that the media was here, that she had to be careful. She knew she had to guard herself more fiercely than ever before, to watch her reaction, to ensure she didn’t put a step wrong, but just one glance across a crowded abbey and she felt as though her whole world had caught fire.

Javier Diamandi had not left the country. Far from it. He was right here, at the royal carol event, and Astrid would need to spend the next three hours acting as though he didn’t exist. The media was already having a field day, writing speculative pieces about their ‘affair’. Little did they know, she thought with a flush, as memories of how they’d spent the night before swirled through her brain and formed freshly behind her eyes, clouding her with ability to be the queen. To be who she was meant to be.