The Lost Princes of Ambria 06 - Taming the Lost Prince Read Free

met Kayla’s worried gaze. Her pretty face, her dark, clouded eyes and her long, silky blond hair all created in flesh a picture that had haunted him for two years. Adrenaline still sizzled inside him for a few seconds, then began to drain away.
    He wasn’t going to run from Kayla. Now that he’d found her again, he didn’t want to lose her until they’d had a chance to talk. If he could mine her memories and join them with his, maybe he could slay some of the demons that kept him awake at night. Maybe.
    “Please, Max,” she was saying, reaching out and putting a hand on his arm. “It’s really important to Queen Pellea that you make an appearance at the ball.”
    He smiled down into her anxious gaze. “There is nothing I’m looking forward to more,” he lied smoothly. “Now that you’re here, I’ll have someone to dance with.”
    She jerked back, pulling her hand away. “Oh, no. Not me. You’re supposed to be meeting eligible ladies of rank. That’s not me.”
    He stared at her. “Kayla, what’s the deal? Do you work for the royal family, or what?”
    She nodded. “Yes. I’ve known the queen since we were kids together and my sister’s husband is in the guard. Pellea offered me a job and I jumped at it.” She shrugged, palms up. “I love it here.”
    He frowned, not sure what to make of that. When they’d been in Trialta, he’d assumed she was as much of a vagabond as he was. Now to know she had royal ties…
    But what was he thinking? He was the one who was supposed to be a prince.
    Still, he didn’t like being corralled this way. He could tolerate going to the ball if they let him come on his own terms. This way was just too much. Kayla or no Kayla, he was back to wanting to get the hell out of here. But his hesitation had meant he was locked up.
    “Hey, I’ll come with you willingly,” he noted. “But could we get rid of these handcuffs?”
    She hesitated, looking down at them. Then she gazed up into his eyes.
    He smiled. She sighed.
    “Sure,” she said, wondering if she were risking everything but hardly caring. She looked at the security agents. “Let him go.”
    The sergeant glared at her. “But, Miss…”
    “I’ll take the responsibility,” she said. “If he bolts, I’ll tell the queen it was my fault.”
    The man shrugged and used the key, but he didn’t look happy about it.
    Max smiled and flexed his wrists and looked toward the balcony in the redhead’s room. He could make it in two bounds and be jumping for freedom in seconds. Everything in him was ready to go. Why the hell should he stick around when he knew he was going to hate the results?
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    KAYLA could read Max’s mind. She knew him too well. She saw the glance as a way out and she moved in smoothly, taking his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. If he was going to run for it, he was going to have to drag her with him.
    “You’re all mine now,” she told him archly. “I’m calling the shots.”
    “Is that right?” he said, looking skeptical, but amused. “I thought I was the one who was supposed to be royal all of a sudden.” He raised one quizzical eyebrow. “You’ve heard, haven’t you? Now they’ve got me pegged as one of the lost princes. Can you believe it?”
    She shook her head, smiling at him. “I’m finding it hard. When I realized it was you …” She shrugged and closed her eyes as she relived those moments, and when she spoke again, her voice was shaky. “Max, I thought you were dead.”
    He looked at her for a moment, then managed a crooked smile. “Which time?” he asked softly.
    Her phone buzzed. She knew it was the queen. Pressing her lips together, she shook her head.
    “We’ll have to talk later.” She reached for her phone but she didn’t let go of his hand. She’d learned a lesson or two over the years, and one of them was to look both ways before stepping off the curb.
    “Yes, Your Majesty. We’re on our way.”
    Ten minutes later they were in