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“This is where we sit for takeoff and landing, or, if you choose,” Niko said, “the entire flight.”
Izzy passed the row where Jovan sat. A few other seats were taken by people she hadn’t seen before. She continued to the last row of empty seats before a divider.
Before she could sit, a female flight attendant rushed from the rear of the plane. The young woman wore a navy jacket and skirt. Her blond hair was neatly braided into a bun. “Good evening. Allow me to hold your backpack for you, Your Royal Highness.”
Before Izzy could say a word, the backpack strap was lifted out of her hand. Every one of her muscles tensed, bunching into tight balls. She wasn’t used to being catered to. It was disconcerting because she didn’t feel like royalty.
She sat in the window seat and buckled her seat belt.
The flight attendant handed the backpack to Izzy. “Would you care for something to drink or eat, ma’am?”
“No, thanks.” Izzy didn’t want to upset her stomach any more than it already was. Her nerves were getting the best of her. Over the flight, over Vernonia, over Niko. Maybe if she distracted herself.
She pressed a button that turned on the overhead light. She twisted a knob that regulated the airflow nozzle.
Niko sat next to her. “Are you certain you do not want anything?”
Izzy wanted this to be over with. “No, thanks, Your Highness.”
“Call me Niko.”
“I’m not sure I should get in the habit of calling you by your first name. As soon as our marriage is annulled I doubt you’d want to be on such familiar terms with a commoner.”
“You are not a commoner,” he said. “You are a princess by birth. Royal Sachestian blood flows through your veins.”
“That may be true, but I was raised American. Royalty is something other countries have.”
“Americans have unofficial royalty. The Kennedys, the Rockefellers, the Hiltons.”
“I suppose, but a princess isn’t something I aspired to be beyond the age of four or five. Wearing a tiara has never been a dream of mine.”
“You may feel like an American, but you are a Vernonian.” He spoke as if her being a Vernonian was the most important thing she could be. No one had ever spoken to her that way. Not even Uncle Frank. “You will be amazed by the history of your family.”
Intrigued, she leaned toward him. “I have a family history?”
“Your lineage goes back centuries. Your father’s family played an integral role in the formation of our country, when Sachestia in the north merged with the south to form what we now call Vernonia.” He fastened his seat belt. “If you have questions about anything, please ask.”
“I—” The lights in the cabin flickered. She clutched the seat armrests until her knuckles turned white. “What’s that?”
“The APU, auxiliary power unit, coming on,” he explained. “It powers the lights and air system while we are in flight.”
“Oh, yeah. I should have remembered that.”
The plane moved backward.
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.
“Do not worry.” Niko covered her hand with his large one. His skin was warm, but not soft. Scars and calluses covered his hand and fingers. “The plane is being moved so the pilot can taxi to the runway.”
Forget about the plane. His touch disturbed her more than it comforted. She tried to slip her hand from beneath his, but couldn’t. “I’m sorry if I’ve acted like a wimp, but I’m okay now.”
“You’ve handled everything remarkably well, Isabel. You should be proud of yourself.”
He wouldn’t let Izzy remove her hand from his, but his words made her sit taller. She wanted to be brave for him, but mostly herself. That was what Uncle Frank would have wanted her to be.
The engines roared to life. She sucked in a breath.
Nothing to worry about. Nothing to worry about.
The words became a mantra.
The plane taxied to the runway. Out the window, she saw the airport lights shining in the darkness. Pretty, but she would rather be at home watching a television show than sitting on a luxurious private jet holding hands with a handsome prince.
Too late to back out now.
Izzy pressed her feet against the floor of the plane.
“We will be in the air shortly,” Niko said.
All she could do was nod.
The jet lurched to a stop. The engines whined, the sound growing louder. She was too nervous to appreciate the speed of the rotor. The cabin shook like the crowd at Daytona when cars went three wide. Izzy held her breath.
Suddenly the jet speeded down the runway.
She glanced out the window at the world passing by her.
“Remember to breathe,” he said.
She did.
Nikola squeezed her hand.
This time his touch reassured her. She met his eyes. Her gaze dropped to his mouth. She thought about kissing him until she couldn’t think straight, but that seemed a little extreme. Maybe burying her face against his chest until this was over would be better. She closed her eyes instead.
“Look at me, Isabel.”
She forced her eyes open. Her gaze locked with his intense green eyes.
“You are safe,” he said. “As long as you are with me, you will always be safe.”
The confidence and strength he exuded made her almost believe his words. But she knew safe didn’t really exist. If it did her parents would be alive. Uncle Frank, too.
The vibrations increased until she thought the plane might break apart. The forward momentum pushed her back against her seat. Niko laced his fingers with hers.
The plane lifted off the ground.
The lights below grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared altogether. The plane climbed at a steep angle, as if it were a fighter jet not a passenger plane.
The aircraft jolted. She sucked in another breath.
“A patch of turbulence,” Niko said. “Normal.”
None of this was normal. Not the takeoff, not the prince sitting next to her. And certainly not this life-altering adventure she was embarking on.
After what seemed like forever, the plane leveled.
“We’ve reached cruising altitude.” Niko kept his hand on hers. “Not too bad.”
It wasn’t a question.
“No,” she admitted. “But we still have to land.”
The corners of his mouth lifted. “Landing will be easier.”
“Really?” she asked.
He nodded. “You’ll be tired due to the time change. You may even be asleep when the wheels touch ground.”
“I’m not sure I’ll be sleeping after everything that’s gone on. My mind’s a big jumble right now.”
“You should try to sleep,” he encouraged her. “Tomorrow will be a big day.”
“Are we going straight to the court?” she asked.
“The High Court is not in session on Saturday. We will go to the castle.”
“Castle?”
“My parents want to meet you.”
“I’ve never met a king or a queen.”
“You have, but you don’t remember.”
“What’s your father like?” Izzy asked.
“He’s very … kingly.”
“That’s intimidating,” she admitted. “I’m glad I don’t remember meeting him or I might be more nervous than I already am.”
“He only wants to reassure himself you are alive and well.” Niko squeezed her hand. “You have nothing to worry about.”
This time Izzy knew the prince was wrong. Dead wrong.
She had lots to worry about, starting with the tingles shooting up her arm as he touched her. But even worse was the realization that she didn’t want him to let go of her hand.
Not now.
Not when they landed in Vernonia.
Not … ever.
CHAPTER FOUR
AS THE plane cruised at thirty-three thousand feet, the interior cabin lights dimmed. The engines droned, but unlike the white noise device Niko usually traveled with, the sound did not soothe him. He couldn’t sleep. Too many things weighed on his mind. But a busy day did lie ahead. He should at least try to rest.
Niko pressed the button on the armrest. The leather seat reclined into a comfortable position. He closed his eyes but couldn’t stop the continuous stream of information flowing through his brain. Thoughts about Vernonia, Julianna, his father and most especially the woman sitting in the seat next to him.
Isabel.
Opening his eyes, he turned toward her.
She sat with her seat reclined and her head resting against a pillow. She’d fallen asleep after struggling against her heavy, drooping eyelids and drawn-out yawns for almost an hour.
Isabel’s unwillingness to give in to her tiredness without a fight made him wonder if she turned everything she did into a battle. Her actions today suggested as much. But the political peace that came with her lineage could be good for the country.
Yes, Isabel seemed like a fighter. No doubt the Vernonian in her. Niko smiled at the thought that she would likely disagree with him. No matter, he would want her on his side. If he had a side. Thankfully those days were over. No one would be forced to choose who to support or who to fight again.
Once he and Julianna said the words “I do,” Niko would have the financial resources and international support to bring his country into the modern age and, in time, the European Union.
Nothing could stand in his way now.
Not an antiquated custom. Not a childhood bride.
Niko’s gaze focused on Isabel once again.
He’d been married to her for the past twenty-three years, almost all of her entire life and over three-quarters of his. If not for the missing bride box, he would have never known she existed. Things would have been less complicated for him that way. But once she received her inheritance her circumstance would improve dramatically. A better life was waiting for Isabel. The life her parents would have wanted for her. That made what he was going through more acceptable.
He worried what responsibilities would be thrust on Isabel’s shoulders once she arrived in Vernonia. People would judge her. She would need training to be a princess. Stylish clothes and makeup lessons would improve her appearance. A manicure would help with her dirty, chipped nails though not much could rid her hands of the calluses, cuts and scars. Perhaps she could start a new fashion trend by wearing gloves.
In spite of Isabel’s faults and disregard for etiquette and style, she was a refreshing change from the other royals he’d encountered over the years. She was not caught up in the tangled web of tradition. Even Julianna, as perfect as she was, came from a kingdom more out-of-date than Vernonia.
He admired Isabel for working on cars. He remembered what being a soldier was like. Living day-to-day, sometimes hour-to-hour. It was the closest thing to an ordinary existence he’d had. Even after she put her mechanic days behind her, she could relate to the people at their level.
Isabel might not know how to be a princess yet, but at least she was a contemporary woman, something rarely found in his country. He could use that to his advantage as he moved forward with his plans. Though right now she looked more like a schoolgirl than a woman with the cashmere blanket tucked around her shoulders.
The cover rose and fell with each of her breaths. Her hair fanned across the pillow, the brown strands contrasting with the white fabric. The slender column of her neck contradicted the stiff backbone she’d shown earlier. The curve of her cheek and fullness of her lips weren’t diminished by the lack of makeup and lip-gloss on her face. She possessed a natural beauty.
Although Niko appreciated her spirit and self-reliance, he couldn’t deny the appeal of this softer side. The defiant set of her chin and tight jaw had relaxed. The result of sleep, but she looked so peaceful and serene. He wondered if she ever looked this way awake. He doubted it.
With her lips slightly parted, she almost appeared to be smiling. The result of a pleasant dream? A dream about him?
No. Her dreams were none of his business. Isabel might be his wife, but he should think of her like a sister. Anything else would be … inappropriate given his intention to marry Julianna.
Isabel shifted in her seat. The way she stretched reminded him of one of the feral cats who lived in the stable. As she settled into a new position, the top half of her blanket fell from her shoulders and pooled on her lap.
He could see the rise and fall of her chest better now. The V-neck collar gave a tantalizing view of creamy skin and lace. The fabric of her shirt stretched across her breasts. The cool cabin temperature beaded her nipples.
