Page 5 of Redemption of a Prince

Right. He’d hoped no one would notice.

“Someone I used to know.”

“You haven’t dated anyone publicly in half of forever.” She was baiting him.

“No. I haven’t.” He wasn’t going to say anything about his love life.

His non-existent love life.

He attended functions with women occasionally, but they all understood there was no chance of anything more.

His last attempt at a relationship had ended in a dramatic and life-altering way.

So, he didn’t have relationships.

Zeke had heard about the musings on morning talk shows with too much time and too few topics, how they wondered if he’d ever find his queen.

Ha.

Joke was on them.

He’d never be king, so it didn’t matter if he ever found someone to spend his life with or had an heir - and a spare.

Gid had found the love of his life. He’d bet they’d have a baby soon with two or three or five more in the next decade.

That was the important part.

Because one day, Gid would be king. Zeke would fade into the background, probably move far away.

He understood decisions had descendants. That the choices he’d made years earlier were coming home to roost.

That didn’t mean he was happy his birthright would go to his younger brother.

Zeke pushed the other half of his chili dog away.

His could no longer stomach the thought of eating.

Not when he was reminded of the biggest, most bittersweet, mistake of his life.

2

When the day of Nikki’s interview came, she was prepared. Working in this capacity for Princess Karsen would be a dream come true.

But if she never saw Ezekiel, crown prince of New Sargasso, that would be just fine with her.

The job wasn’t at the palace, so that would help with the not seeing him part.

He wasn’t a Trilunium fan anyway.

And this job was working directly with Princess Karsen to set up the new Trilunium-themed resort and theme parks.

Ultimately, she’d love to run the whole place, but at not-quite thirty, she didn’t have the experience to do so. However, getting the job as the lead liaison between the princess and the contractor with the construction crew and everyone else would be a major coup and a huge step on her way.

She’d need to prove she could handle organizational matters, personnel, project management, and juggle it all efficiently with a smile on her face, representing the royal family well.

If anyone outside the family knew how important it was to represent the family well, it was Nikki.

Sitting in an outer office at the palace, she prayed she wouldn’t run in to any of the royal family - not Ezekiel, or the king and queen, or...