Royal Baby Collection. Lynn Raye Harris

than Kiki wanted to admit.

      “Of course not,” Mich said, his hold on her tightening. “Our child will never be put at risk, if I can help it.”

      “Because you are very protective of your family,” King Claudio said, as if he was trying to give his son a message.

      Which Kiki was sure he was. Her own dad sucked at apologizing, too.

      “I am.”

      “You are a very good prince, and more important, you are a son to be proud of.”

      “Thanks, Dad.”

      Kiki grinned, but then the smile slipped from her face, and she looked straight at Giannetta. “I’ll leave it to the king to find out how you got confidential information about me, but let me warn you that my family makes very formidable and dangerous enemies. Think very carefully before you make the mistake of trying to take me on again.”

      “Precisely,” King Claudio said again. “I could not have said it any better. Kiki’s family is both formidable and dangerous. As the head of that family, let me tell you what is going to happen. Your father’s diplomatic assignment is going to be changing.”

      “It is?” Giannetta asked, her face draining of color.

      “Sì. He will be assigned to Volyarus. It is another island country, though not in nearly such warm climes. He should do well there. He is a good diplomat. You will accompany your father.”

      “You’re kicking me out of Isole dei Re?”

      “For your father’s sake, I am not pressing charges for this reprehensible breach of protocol and privacy. However, you will not be welcome back into this country for a minimum of five years. It is entirely your father’s discretion whether he keeps you with him in Volyarus. He will however be informed of your attempt to do harm to my daughter-in-law.”

      “But what about—”

      King Claudio turned to Mich. “Micheli, do you have any doubts about the parentage of your baby?”

      What an odd way to ask the question, but then maybe not. Maybe that was a message from the king to Kiki.

      “None.” No doubts in Mich’s voice and Kiki hadn’t expected any.

      “Nor do I,” the king spelled it out. “Kiki, you are a welcome and trusted member of our family.”

      “Thank you.”

      She ignored Giannetta’s continued squawking as the king rose and came around his desk to give her and then his son a tight hug. “Welcome to the family, Kiki.”

      She grinned and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I think you and my father are going to have a lot of fun being related.”

      The king gave a mock shudder, and Mich laughed before pulling Kiki from the room.

      * * *

      Micheli tugged Kiki into his lap on the leather sofa after leading her to their suite. “I’m sorry you had to endure that.”

      “I’m not.” Her lovely gray eyes reflected her bone-deep honesty. “I think Giannetta tipped your dad over to our side.”

      “He was coming around anyway.”

      She shrugged.

      “Are you going to be okay?” he asked, not sure how to articulate his worries.

      “With being a princess? With facing people like Giannetta, because there’s always someone out there who wants what I have?”

      “Yes, that.”

      “Tell me something, Mich.”

      “No one but you calls me Mich.” He loved her nickname for him.

      “I know.”

      “So?”

      “So, when the doctor said I was measuring small for the due date, did you doubt for even one minute that you are the father of my baby?”

      “Not for even one millisecond,” he promised with all the truth in him. “I love you, Kiki. It happened crazy fast, but you’re it for me, and I’m it for you.”

      She laughed. “No lack of confidence on your part.”

      “Not about this, no.”

      “Then stop worrying about how I’ll handle being Princess of Isole dei Re, or even queen one day. It’s part of the package.”

      “It doesn’t have to be.” He’d meant it when he told her family that he would choose his amazing wife over the crown.

      “I’m not letting you walk away from a job you love. You weren’t just born to be king, you want it.”

      “I do.” He’d never told anyone just how much, but he loved his family and his country with all that he was.

      The only person he loved more was Kiki.

      “I want to be your wife, your other half, whatever that entails.”

      “Besides, it gets you out of running your dad’s company,” he teased.

      Her lips were her only answer. They kissed for a very long time, whispering words of love between them.

      Micheli knew they’d still be saying the words when they hit the twilight of life.

      Love at first sight was supposed to be a myth, but their story wasn’t going to end the way most myths did.

      They were going to live and love happily for the rest of their lives.

      * * *

      Eight months later when their daughter was born, the spitting image of Micheli’s grandmother, the world rejoiced, but no one more loudly than the royal family of Isole dei Re.

      * * * * *

The Queen’s Nine-Month Scandal

      USA TODAY Bestselling Author

      Abby Green

      USA TODAY bestselling author Abby Green takes you on one Queen’s sensational journey from a masquerade ball to a royal scandal in this fantastic digital novella!

      Desperate for a last taste of freedom before she enters a political, loveless marriage, Analia—the famous Virgin Queen of Azoria—hides behind her mask at a glitzy Venetian ball. Until the stormy grey gaze of an enigmatic, disguised stranger lays her soul—and her body—bare in one passionate night!

      World-famous photojournalist Daniel Petrovsky learned years ago to harden his heart against emotions and the morning disappearance of his anonymous lover should mean nothing. But when a certain queen’s shock pregnancy hits the headlines, the brooding billionaire will stop at nothing to fight for what is his!

      Don’t miss the other titles in this fantastic collection that celebrates Royal Babies all over the world!