OUSTED

Prince Alexander Carrera stared at the photo of the beautiful, smiling girl and his heart was seized by panic. Time was not on his side. Not his friend. Indeed, it was his worst enemy.

Just four years earlier, he’d met Talia Montforte, or rather she’d been thrust into his life, a whirlwind from which he’d never really recovered. But she’d only been a girl of eighteen and he could not have her, no matter how much he was enchanted by her. She was too young, too innocent. His attraction was inappropriate. He couldn’t act then.

Now she was a young woman of twenty-two, and newly graduated from university in Paris. A young woman poised to start her life, a woman who had no idea how he felt about her or that he’d guided every aspect of her life for the last four years. That he’d waited patiently for the day he could claim her.

He turned when he heard his door open. Standing in the doorway were Sebastien, Garon and Nico, his closest friends. Men charged with his safety and security. The only people he trusted implicitly in a world where he could afford to trust no one.

His country was in turmoil. His future was uncertain.

But he knew one thing.

He could not lose Talia to another man. Another life. He could not stand by and watch her move away, never knowing that she held his very heart in her hands.

“It’s time,” he said in a low voice to the others.

He could see their gazes focused on the glossy photo in his hand. They knew of Talia. Knew what was to come, what his expectations of her were and what his expectations of them were.

“Send for her now,” he ordered. “I cannot wait another day.”

Garon frowned. “Now, Highness?”

Xander nodded. “Before it’s too late. I will not lose her.”