The waltz ended but another began, as if the orchestra knew this was no time for interruption.

He had his Thena in his arms again. It felt as natural as life itself.

‘It should be you taking the Crown,’ she whispered. ‘You deserve it.’

The moment-the magic-was broken. He felt it slip away with infinite regret.

‘I deserve nothing, Princess.’

‘Don’t call me that.’

‘It’s what you are.’

‘For four weeks.’

He almost misstepped. He’d have no excuse because dancing with Thena was like breathing.

‘You can’t leave,’ he said. ‘You know that.’

‘I make up my own mind.’

‘As you did last time. Walking away…’

‘I believe I ran,’ she said. She was smiling, a gentle smile that would have everyone thinking she was enjoying a light conversation with him.

‘There was nothing to run from,’ he said angrily.

‘Oh, but there was,’ she said, her smile not slipping. ‘And I didn’t know the half of it. I should have run much sooner.’

‘You’re not making sense.’

‘Then aren’t we a match?’ she said.

They danced on. Other couples were joining them on the floor. He had to think of something to say. Anything.

‘Where did you get your gown?’ he tried.

‘You like it?’ She sounded strained to breaking point. ‘It’s worth over ten thousand dollars, which is a fraction of what these diamonds are worth.’

‘What the hell…’ His brow snapped down in confusion. ‘You’ve managed to get your hands on the royal exchequer?’

Her eyes flashed fire. Somehow her feet kept moving, her smile stayed in place, but daggers could be less lethal than the look she gave him.

‘I must have,’ she said, and he could see that the effort it cost to keep her smile in place was almost superhuman. ‘After all, I only have weeks to strip the place bare.’

‘Thena…’

‘Nikos,’ she snapped. ‘You know me better than this.’

‘I don’t know you.’