Page 33 of The Other Princess

He'd felt betrayed by her easy, flirtatious manner with his brother. Embarrassed that others had witnessed the two of them whispering, their heads bent together during his speech on the naval base.

He'd been embarrassed, but he shouldn't have taken it out on her. She'd been distant ever since he'd lost his temper and shouted at her.

He needed to see her, assure her it wasn't going to happen again. It wasn't like him. She could ask his mother, or Dad, or his personal assistant.

He could change out of the monkey suit he wore and go see her. She had an apartment in the city. He could be there in an hour.

He dropped his arm to his side, dangling the bill there as he quickened his pace. Better to fix things with Annika. Then he could devote his full attention to matters of the crown.

The door to his suite was ajar, and his heart leapt as he neared. He thought he heard Annika’s voice. Had she come to him? Even better.

But his hands went cold when her voice became clearer, and he stopped just before the cracked door.

That was definitely her voice, murmuring something he couldn't quite make out.

Another voice answered. This one he recognized, too. Max.

Valentin’s good intentions flew away like dandelion chaff in a stiff wind. What was Max doing in his rooms, with his fiancée?

Temper rising, he pushed open the door, only to freeze on the threshold.

Annika and Max weren't simply speaking. They were locked in an embrace, tangled together on his sofa. More than an embrace, if their mussed hair and rumpled clothing were any indication.

"What the—?"

Annika broke the kiss and gasped, pushing on Max's shoulders. Her lipstick was smeared, her lips swollen. This was no single kiss they'd shared.

But Max was in no hurry to let her go. Finally, he moved off the couch with the coiled power of a leopard in every movement.

But Max couldn't know he'd enraged a lion.

Betrayal surged, and Valentin wanted to howl. How could his brother do this to him? How could Annika?

"Get out," he snarled.

"Val—"

Valentin slashed a hand through the air, silencing Annika. "Get out. Both of you." He couldn't even look at her. "We're through."

Max wore a self-satisfied expression, and for the first time in his life, a red haze descended over Valentin's vision.

His brother wasn't moving. Wasn't leaving. And Valentin hated him.

He swung, the punch a quick jab that Max couldn't have seen coming.

It floored him.

"You back-stabbiing scumbag. I never want to see you again."

"Max!" Annika cried out and crumpled to the floor beside Valentin’s brother.

At the sight, Valentin turned on his heel and stalked out. He didn’t know what he’d have done if he’d stayed.