‘You stay friends with her, Nikos. Giorgos can rant all he wants-he won’t scare us.’

He looked at her now and thought Giorgos had been right to be worried. She was truly regal.

Princess Lily tucked her hand through Nikos’s arm. ‘Doesn’t she look lovely?’ she breathed.

‘She does.’ There was no denying such a truth.

‘Why is Demos looking like thunder?’

‘He thought Athena didn’t want the Crown. He thought it was his for the taking.’

‘He’s scary,’ Lily said, watching Demos shove through the crowd and leave. ‘He came to see Alex a couple of days ago. I had a feeling…’ She shivered. ‘Sorry. I just thought…he seems ruthless.’

‘There’s nothing he can do.’

‘Is there not? You look out for her,’ Lily said urgently and Nikos frowned.

‘What do you mean?’

‘I know what people are capable of when there’s money at stake,’ she said. ‘Be careful Nikos. The poor woman’s terrified.’

‘Are you kidding? She’s every inch a princess.’

‘You’re only seeing the clothes,’ she said and sounded disappointed in him.

What was there to see but the clothes?

A lot. He knew-a lot. But hell, it hurt to think that.

‘Then there’s your son,’ Lily said, and he stilled.

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Your son.’ She was all seriousness now. ‘Alex says rumours flew from the time people saw him at the ship. He says the age is right and you and Athena were lovers. No?’

‘I…’ What the hell…? ‘Yes.’

‘Then there’s another reason to take care of your princess. Your son is now heir to the throne. Any threat to Athena would also be directed at him. Have you thought of that?’

No. No! The thought poleaxed him.

‘Lily.’ Alexandros was ushering Athena forward. ‘Princess Athena, may I present my wife, Princess Lily.’

Lily smiled, then, astonishingly, dropped into a deep curtsey.

‘There’s no need for curtseys,’ Athena said, sounding breathless, bordering on appalled.