Page 27 of His Hidden Royal Heirs

“Ugh,” she said aloud, to try to force herself out of the loop. She couldn’t fix what was going on at home, whatever Beau was dealing with, though Beau insisted she was fine.

But Zia could find a way to deal with her current situation. Cristhian. These babies. She had to. That was her responsibility now.

She spent a considerable amount of time having to maneuver herself out of the chair and onto her feet. Sometimes, she had the fleeting thought that she would be quite glad when she wasn’t pregnant any longer.

Then she thought about the fact that two babies had to comeoutof her, and she walked that back pretty fast. And did something to forget about the very looming realities creeping up on her.

She went in search of Cristhian since it was nearing their agreed-upon teatime. She hoped there were more pastries. She hadn’t been exaggerating about his cook. He was a miracle worker with sugar and butter.

Lucky for her.

She didn’t make it all the way downstairs before she ran into Cristhian. He was standing on a landing on the grand staircase, looking out one of the tall, narrow windows. Outside, there were no longer rolls of white. It was just...all white. She couldn’t discern anything beyond snow.

More snow. A blizzard.

He glanced at her. “I was on my way to fetch you.” He nodded toward the window. “We may be stuck a few more days yet.”

She rubbed at her stomach, trying not to worry. “I have an appointment with my doctor in three days.”

“My doctor is on his way. This might set her back another day or two, but it should not be impossible to get her here in that time frame.” He turned to face her fully now, standing a few stairs above him. He studied her. “Do you have concerns we need taken care of?”

Zia shook her head. “No. So far everything has been right on track. Twins offer more risk, but I have not displayed any risk factors.”

“I have not asked. When are they due?”

“My doctor was hoping I would make it to thirty-six weeks without needing any interventions to extend the pregnancy. I will be at thirty-four weeks at my next appointment. So far, so good. A full term would be another six weeks, but that’s unlikely. Next month, probably.”

Cristhian nodded at this information. Then he offered his arm. “Tea is set up in the dining room.”

She hesitated. No matter how she felt about him on an intellectual level, even something as platonic as linking her arm with his was dangerous. He was too...something. Even when she wanted to hate him, every touch was charged with electricity. Like he was a current she would always react to.

But something too close to smug appeared on the lines of his face, like he understood her reluctance, so she straightened her shoulders and took the last few stairs to link arms with his.

And itwaselectric, no matter how stiffly she held herself against it. The heat of him, that spicy scent that had haunted her dreams these past few months. No doubt some cologne he wore, but also justhim.

“Tell me more about your sister,” he offered conversationally as they walked down the rest of the staircase.

“Why?”

He shrugged. “I am curious. I have no siblings, and we are to have twins. What is that like?”

“Well, it’s hard to explain, since I don’t know what it’snotlike. In some ways, it was a great gift to always have Beaugonia by my side.”

“And in others?”

“When you are a twin, it is a constant comparison. Who is developing faster? Who has a higher intellect? Which one’s prettier? Which one’s more rebellious?”

“And yet you speak of her as if you are not in competition.”

Zia shook her head as he led her into the dining room. Another cornucopia of delightful-looking food—small sandwiches, more pastries, desserts. He certainly knew how to feed a woman if nothing else. “Those were outside forces. Our parents, royal staff, media.Inever felt in competition to Beau.”

“Did she you?”

He helped her into her seat as she considered the question. “I don’t think so. Beau is...unique. She has always been more...interior than I am. The outside world doesn’t often factor into her decision-making. She has never expressed to me any real competition, but that is the thing about twins. It doesn’t matter what the two of you do, the outside world will judge you against each other all the same.”

“And so you were chosen as heir. Because, in comparison, you came out on top?”

“Because I could be told what to do,” she corrected. It had taken her until just a few years ago to realize this. That it wasn’t just luck of the draw that people saw her as more suitable. Maturity had made her realize it was her ability to be manipulated that led her into the life of heir.

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