After getting settled into the Dowager's wing at the far end of the palace, Char and I take off to go find the pool. I'm dressed for swimming but I need to take my mind off of everything and dive into a beloved book. I'm reading the last chapter of Pride and Prejudice while Char is happily floating on a pool chaise and drinking lemonade. I've never seen her so happy.

I turn a page and notice a little old woman coming towards the pool. I stand and say hello and she gives me the most charming smile. Her blue eyes crinkle into crescents and her face folds back like curtains opening up to the morning sun.

"You don't need to get up. I've come to get to know two of our new guests. You can call me Maggie. I'm Petros and Rupert's fraternal grandmother."

"Oh, you must have had to vacate your wing to make room for all of us! We are so sorry to put you out." I am suddenly consumed by shame and confusion.

"I have never lived in that wing. King Petros' father built the extension to the palace so I might have a place that was truly my own. He thought I would want peace and quiet at times. I pretended to be thrilled but really, I have never spent the night there. It is a lovely place to have teas and ladies' luncheons however. Dear me, now I've interrupted your reading."

I can't help but smile at her thoughtfulness. The sound of her voice is musical and soft with a little quaver, probably from age. "I'm relieved to hear that. No, I'm happy for your intrusion. I must have read this book fifty times, it's an old favorite."

"You enjoy reading the same things over and over?" she notes, sitting up. "Don't you itch to to read anything new? With all the multitude of books in the world, you read something again for the umpteenth time. If you ask me, that's a waste."

I'm surprised by her frank response so I respond in the same manner. "Books cost too much."

She clucks her tongue and stands up with her little hand outstretched. "May I show you something?"

She's already walking away and I call out to Char, "Just stay on that float, I'll be back soon." I hurry to catch up with her. "Where are you taking me?"

The little dowager says nothing but I follow her up a small flight of stairs. We turn and make our way along a circular landing with half a dozen doors coming off of it. For a moment I almost feel like we are about to enter a labyrinth. She selects the door on the right hand. "I think you might appreciate this."

I step into a room shaped like an upside down ice cream cone. The room is round with a circlet of small windows at the top of the walls. Above those windows is a dome that is more skylight than ceiling. The light pours into this majestic space but it's amazing structure is not what I find the most intriguing. Not at all.

It's the way the walls are lined with shelves, from the floor to sixteen feet up, stuffed with hundreds of books. I've entered an exquisite jam-packed library.

The white and gold veined marble floor is mesmerizing and intricate. In the middle of the room is a plush circular rug with just enough space for high backed armchair and a long necked reading lamp.

Any book lover would find this room fascinating. "Oh my gosh," I say in a hushed voice that would be suitable for church. I wander like a lost soul, staring all around me, unable to decide whether to look up or down or stop and study the shelves. I simply walk and touch the spines of these books, giving my fingers, eyes and feet a chance to absorb this miracle of a room.

"I can't believe you have shown me this. Is it possible for me to stay here for awhile?"

The little woman smiles and giggles. "I had a feeling you would enjoy this room."

"Mm-hmm. And does this little room belong to a man who wears a crown?" I ask, unable to keep the smile off my face.

"Yes. It's one of them anyway. I just thought you deserved to read a new book and now you have no excuse."

I laugh. "How delightful. But it may be hard to chose one from all of these. Are you sure this is alright? For me to be in here?"

"Of course. The room was built for the book lover. Let me leave you to enjoy yourself. I'll go back and stay with Char at the pool. Don't worry about her. I have only raised boys but I always longed to watch after a young girl. Just remember you have only a couple of hours before dinner."

She gives me another warm smile and shuts the door, leaving me alone in this magnificent library.

I circle the wall of books and discover they are not in alphabetical order. I try to find some rhyme or reason to the cataloging. I'm on tiptoe trying to read the titles in a shelf just above my head when I hear someone clear their throat behind me. I spin around, startled.

"Sorry to scare you." It's King Petros. His mouth is twisted into what looks like a sneer on his handsome face. Lord, now I have stepped in it twice today. Give me direction and courage, I tell myself.

"Hello again." I purposefully avoid using his formal title and make no curtsey either. I am acutely aware that making a curtsey in a bikini would look absurd. I imagine, given how I am dressed, that he will take the hint that I obviously wish to browse to my heart's content--alone.

"I see you found my library. I didn't realize the extent of your interests and how closely they intersect with your young sister's. What did she say, swimming and reading?"

I breathe evenly in and out of my nose, reminding myself that it's actually illegal to assault a member of the royal family. Particularly the head of that royal family. I look around the room and suddenly wish that not only books lined the walls. I wish for a long curtain right about now that I can roll myself up in and stand like some roman style attendant before the king. Being at a severe disadvantage I have only one recourse. Summoning all of my imagined dignity, I lift my chin and take a deep breath and attack. "Are you telling me that your library has a dress code? Or are you going to contradict your grandmother and tell me that I am unwelcome here?"

That wipes the smirk right off his handsome face. "As to the dress code, it hasn't been formalized but I must say this is the first time I have encountered a woman lovingly caressing my books dressed in next to nothing at all. I am unused to having guests in this library. This is where I go to get away from..." His voice trails off. I see that his eyes are heated and bright, their stone color is shot through with blue highlights. His intentions are clear.

I can't help but roll my eyes. I have never met a man so irritating. I guess that's what happens when you grow up royal and meant to become King. You have no sense of who real people are. You simply give orders and are obeyed. There are no surprises.

"I'm sure your grandmother had no idea you were here either. She only knew I love books and invited me up here. I assure you, had I known you were here I wouldn't be dressed like this. I also wouldn't have followed her." Part of me wants to flee the room, anything to get away from his all seeing piercing blue eyes. But another part of me demands that I stay. He has no right to tell me where I can and can't be. I mean, how can he disregard his own grandmother's opinion?

King Petros lifts one eyebrow and rises from the high backed chair. Why, oh why, had I not seen or suspected he was seated there in the middle of this room? His languid movement across the room drives me insane. He reeks of entitlement which makes his swagger just ridiculous. It's enough to make me sick.

"Well, then, you are here to select a book, let me make some suggestions for you." He walks around the room, knowing exactly where to go and pulls out a paperback, tossing it to me. "Dressed to Impress by Heather Brand.”

"That's a cut-out book."

We also have Female Invasion, The Guide for Marrying Up, or, my favorite Who Took My Ladder? Hints For A Dejected Social Climber.

I will rise above this, I will rise above this, I will... I say over and over again in my head, not wanting to let King Petros get to me.

"I have a suggestion for you, perhaps you have it in your library. The Prince of Pricks. You might be able to relate."

"Or perhaps this one?" He pulls out a much thinner paperback from the shelf in front of me, holding it up with a grim smile.

"Animal Farm?"

"It's the perfect length--nice and short so you'll have just enough time to read it before you leave."

I grit my teeth, not liking where this is going. "Excuse me? I'm not going anywhere."

King Petros takes an easy step toward me. "You will be soon enough."

It occurs to me that he has something up his sleeve, and since he obviously thinks I'm idiotic enough to not see right through him, I play this to my advantage. "Is this the part where you tell me your evil plan?"

Something flickers in his eyes and he leans in and whispers into my ear. "There's nothing evil in protecting your brother."

Whatever I am expecting to hear, this isn't it. King Petros is a product of his upbringing--an entitled grown brat who's infuriating behavior knows no bounds. But the way he fiercely speaks about Prince Rupert sounds genuine enough.

With that he turns to go, but not before I follow closely behind. My bare feet are soundless on the cool polished floors. Heat rushes to my extremities. "He doesn't need protecting from my sister, well, half-sister."

"He certainly does. I've already got investigators on it since. They are tracing your family from before you were born. I will soon have their report." He turns on his heel and veers left, sending me scrambling to catch up. What is he, an Olympic speed walker? I swallow hard, trying not to let on how out of breath I am.

Investigators? This King thinks he can rifle through our lives, sift and sort through details that only make sense to us. How could I expect any sympathy or understanding to come from any of this? How would he feel if I demanded to know the same about his family? That would make no sense. He is King of an entire country. We are just a blended family without a father who's only fault was he died and unintentionally brought a great deal of care and worries upon his eldest daughter. He could not have foreseen how Gwendolyn would turn all Mommy Dearest on his two children. I don't think I could live with the shame of having King Petros know all the tawdry parts of my life. I only know I have to stop him at all costs.

He glides into another room, and I slam the heavy door. That gets his attention. He pauses before the window and turns to face me but he looks to the side. Why won't he look at me?

"Don't act surprised. I investigate everyone who steps foot on this property."

I want to scream and shout at him, to see his pale blue face flush with the same anger that's boiling inside of me. But I don't. I doubt I would even be able to tell if his color changed by his mood. He seemed to be made of granite.

Across the room he throws open of a pair of double doors and walks to a large oak desk. I don't bother asking for permission. I follow him and stand at his side to see what it is he thinks he's going to find.

The amused smirk on his stupidly handsome face is enough for me to want to throttle him. But judging by his size and the way his clothes fit, he looks trained in self defense. Or perhaps he spends half his time at a gym. He'd overpower me in a second, and I don't think I want to know what that looks or feels like. His infuriating grin that close to my face, the smell of his warm breath blowing feathery touches upon my cheeks and chest. Damn, why had I come up here in a bikini? I shake my head and lift my chin.

I try not to notice that this well built, superiorly attractive masculine physique belongs to someone who is the reigning King of all the land. Right now he is just a jerk who is playing god with all the information available about my family. It isn't fair. Don't we have rights?

If things had been different, maybe I'd find it sexy being in the King's private office wearing only a bikini. Perhaps, if it isn't for the fact that he's trying to look into our history and sabotage Dora's happiness...

"Hmm." The frown on his face makes me hold my breath.

I lean in closer and crane my neck to see what is on his holo screen. I don't care if I'm snooping in his business.

Your Royal Highness -

As requested, I share the results of my last twenty-four hours of investigation. Dora West, twenty-three years of age. Graduate of University of Santa Barbara with a B. A. Her senior year she was elected Social Secretary of Delta Delta Delta, a sorority. Mediocre grades. Passport shows travel to Mexico and Jamaica during spring and winter breaks her junior and senior years. Before her mother remarries, she went to a Community College in Fresno, California along with her twin sister, Antonia.

Mother, Gwendolyn West was married for the first sixteen years of her girl's lives to a Mason West who died suddenly at home. She remarried a widower, Winston Burton, a junior partner of Pan-World Travels. They were married three years until Mr. Burton's sudden death. She is step-mother to Mr. Burton's daughters, Cyndi and Charlotte Burton.

Following college, Dora West worked as a model at Living in Style for two years. She resigned her position when Winston Burton died and Gwendolyn received an open ended family voyage to Proxima Centuri System as a death benefit. This brings us to the present, after vitrification, all parties disembarked upon reaching Kepler 425b, Delta Ohr.

Assets and property were liquidated for the purposes of this travel. Upon your direction this firm will continue to investigate whatever you determine is required.

See attached hours and expenditures.

Discretionally yours,

Ian Sandersby

It's hard not to stand back and smile as King Petros rubs at his temples, his narrowed eyes burn holes in the monitor.

"This can't be."

"Seriously? You find it that hard to believe that we're not spies or belong to a crime syndicate? Or do you simply believe we are a pack of conniving thieves?" I say. What did the King expect to find out about us? Intergalactic travel isn't for the faint of heart and everyone must undergo thorough scrutiny.

"She's only after his money. I know it," he mutters to himself, just loud enough for me to hear.

My nostrils flare as I slam my hand down on the desk. King Petros meets my eyes. "Dora loves Prince Rupert! She is simple, fun loving and I have never known her to be half-hearted."

The King's eyebrows slide down to rest in a flat line, his mouth grows slack and his gray eyes look away, making him look years younger. "It doesn't matter. She's going to destroy him."

I spread my fingers out over the patterned woodgrain of the desk, letting out a sigh. "No. She won't. My sister is well meaning. She is honest too. Listen," I say, suddenly wishing I could make him understand. I don't agree with what he is doing, but the sadness in his voice echoes in my ears. "I get it, okay? I want my sister to be happy. They are old enough to know their own hearts and minds. Its their decision, not ours. So we need to support them, however awkward it feels right now."

He's silent, looking out the window to the gloomy overcast day outside. "My brother doesn't have a very good track record with making smart personal decisions."

I scoff, unable to help myself. "So your idea of helping him is to undermine the decision he just made? If you run your kingdom like you handle your personal affairs, I don't hold out much hope for your subjects. Prince Rupert will hate you if you drive away his true love."

King Petros rises from his chair and towers over me. His cold demeanor and granite face perfectly match his dismissive voice. "You presume to know my relations with my brother and my duties to my people? These are my affairs and you have no knowledge of my kingdom."

The quiet intensity in his eyes freezes me on the spot. Instead of withering, I stare back fiercely. "I don't have to know you well. Any King should know that governing and being family are altogether different. So he turned out different than you. He knows how to charm and to smile and he is a really nice guy. You could learn something from your younger brother. You are so rigid someone would need a chisel to soften your sharp edges."

He shifts to the side, and I'm terribly aware of just how close he's come to me. "I've never met anyone so outspoken and sure of herself. Maybe you should go into law or politics. You certainly have a outsized desire for justice."

His tone is now lilting, playful even, and it catches me off guard. The way he regards me, looking down at me with those sweeping dark lashes, sets off so many alarms in my head. Is it just me, or are his lips getting closer to mine...?

But I'm moving in closer too. It's as if there's a train wreck and I can't look away. His warm breath ghosts across my face, still closer.

We both seem to snap to at the same time. I jump back, furious at myself. How could I have almost kissed King Petros? Why would I do something like that? Blinking furiously, I turn away, my mouth opening and closing like some sort of demented fish. I have nothing to defend my momentary lapse in judgment.

I cannot understand what just happened. How could I, in a matter of moments, turn so swiftly from anger to attraction and end up only feeling confusion? I spin on my bare feet and storm out of the room, hoping that I can remember the way back downstairs.

I can't allow him to have any effect on me. I am completely independent, I'm not a member of his family or staff. I'm not even one of his subjects he can bend to his will.

I bow to no one.