Loving the Forbidden Prince

he was in this room. She

ed around her, whispering and giggling. She kept her chin high as the ballroom quieted. Her parents, the King and Queen of Zenithra, th

her, but couldn't know which man she sought, and the nudging

ate. Her critics would claim she'd done it on purpose, just for

that called at her, making her yearn so that even as her maid curled her hair, she had quivered with some nameless magnetic pull. An itch for somet

pleas of her ladies to finish dressing and go to the ball. But as she'd appro

women of the continent all in one room—she knew only one thing fo

owd of men who waited below, masculine eyes already picking each of them out. Ayleth knew more eyes followed her than anyone else. Though everyon

ver made her ache this way. She knew, somehow, that the tug within her, did not pull her towards her father's Court, b

ayed. Please le

from among the strongest of the ruling families and align their Kingdoms against the Summitrans. Ayleth h

. The young nobles of Zenithra—and some from the visiting Kingdoms—r

reserved for her and her court, she could simply nod her thanks to the men who bowed, smile at the

ere. He

om, the only hint to her tension was her slippered foot, tapping restlessly beneath her wide skirts. The pull within her had become so strong she was considering walking the room, seeking him out like a bloodhou

ing the gaze and h

r than she. She caught the hint of black hair behind a curious half-mask in the form of a Lion's eyes, ears, and nose, wi

wn uniform jacket, to his trim waist, pale trousers, and shining black patent boots. H

her feet. She had to for

long her senses like one of those

s in Waiting—who usually took such pride in being impressed by nothing and no one—fluttered their fans and made approving faces at her. When

He smiled as she took his hand without a word, her breath stutte

her into the warmth of his strong arms, he felt like a steel wall between her and the world. His smile, framed by his

ess—a feat of royal proporti

ly, ask her age. "May I ask how old you are, P

three weeks," she said

four-year age gap in the Noble Court was nothing. She'd seen girls married off to m

ter, then cursed herself. She was not an empty-headed chit—she was a future queen! An

her into a turn that pressed their chests together for a moment. "As do you,

found herself staring at his broad chest. Her mouth went dry. Ever since the day she'd seen th

lat planes of their chests quite so… compelling. Of course, her mother had left her in no question as to what body parts men possessed that women did not. But with only the rare example

tainly never seemed especia

e-level with his chest was a distinct pleasure. For a time, she was unable to look away, wishing to trail her fingers across it

ince him to walk her to the terrace, to join her in the garden s

ming month we will celebrate together, negotiate cease-fire between our nations and peoples, and anticipate the years of prosperity that

-enhanced voice echoed across the great ballroom. Even the royals

his pompous ramblings. If she continued to stare at the Lion Lord when everyone else faced the front

s she turned, as if to catch her arm? She stood, chin h