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He paced faster, eyes glued to the screen, then froze when the speech bubble appeared.
We agreed a time and duration for my trip. What’s changed?
Everything, his senses screamed.
Then he forced himself to stop. Think.
He’d shamed and rejected her publicly once. Shouldn’t he make amends the same way?
Dragging himself from her suite, he entered the living room where his brothers were enjoying a nightcap.
When Azar flicked Valenti a glance he was waiting, one eyebrow quirked.
‘What do you need?’
About to shake his head, to send them both away so he could deal with this alone, he felt a jagged thought shimmer into life. Slowly it took shape and solidified.
It was a risk. But if there ever was a time when being King should count for something, surely it was now? When his very life was on the line. Because now he’d had a taste of what the rest of his life might look like, he was confident he wouldn’t make it.
‘I need you to find someone and bring them to me. As soon as you can.’
Valenti barely blinked before he nodded. ‘Give me a name.’
* * *
Another three days passed before Eden accepted that she couldn’t stay away the full three weeks with the subject of where she stood in her marriage, in her heart, hanging over her head.
Maybe she could reach him some other way.
She called her personal assistant.
‘We never nailed down my interview with Rachel Mallory. Can we make it happen while I’m here?’
‘Leave it with me, Your Majesty.’
Eden wasn’t expecting the response she received when her private secretary returned her call five minutes later.
‘Your Majesty, it looks like Miss Mallory won’t be available to interview you.’
She wasn’t so full of herself that she was upset by it, but she was surprised.
About to shrug it off, she stopped when her assistant added, ‘But you might see her in Cartana after we return. She’s been summoned by His Majesty for an interview due to air tomorrow night.’
Eden’s eyes goggled, her emotions running riot. ‘What? She’s in Cartana? Are you sure?’
‘Quite sure, Your Majesty.’
Azar was giving a public interview? For what purpose? His father’s condition hadn’t changed. The former Queen hadn’t done anything scandalous enough to require managed publicity.
The King of Cartana giving a public interview was a big deal…
Surely he wouldn’t be so cruel as to end their marriage by giving a world exclusive?
Hand shaking, she dialled Azar’s number. It rang and rang. Then went to voicemail. The idea that he was paying her back for her near-silent treatment seared her heart.
Unwilling to leave a message when every fibre of her being shook she tried texting instead.
I’m not sure what’s going on, but I hear you’re giving an interview? Azar…if this has anything to do with us…for the sake of Max…call me.