Joanne’s head buzzed and burned, every pulse in her body hammering.
Working frantically, she clicked through dozens of pictures until she found one that showed him alone. She enlarged it.
It was him.
For an age she did nothing but hold her son so tightly she could feel the thrum of his little heart vibrate through his back.
How was it possible?
No wonder her five years of searching for Theo had been fruitless. She’d assumed living in the age of social media would make it an easy task, but had been foiled at every turn. It hadn’t stopped her looking. She’d never given up hope of finding him.
But she might have searched for a thousand years and would still never have found him. The man she’d been seeking didn’t exist.
It had all been a big fat lie.
Toby’s father wasn’t Theo Patakis, an engineer from Athens. He was Theseus Kalliakis. A prince.
You are formally invited to the Jubilee Gala of His Majesty King Astraeus of Agon as he commemorates 50 years on the throne. Join us as we celebrate
Royal by birth, ruthless by nature
This warrior nation’s fierce Princes—Talos, Theseus and Helios—each have their own special gift to give their grandfather, the King. But none of them is expecting the three women who challenge their plans … and steal their hearts!
Discover the passion behind the palace doors … watch as destinies are forged … and get swept up in a torrent of emotion in this powerful new trilogy by Michelle Smart!
Don’t miss
Talos Claims His Virgin December 2015
Theseus Discovers His Heir January 2016
Helios Crowns His Mistress February 2016
Theseus Discovers His Heir
Michelle Smart
MICHELLE SMART’s love affair with books started when she was a baby, when she would cuddle them in her cot. A voracious reader of all genres, she found her love of romance established when she stumbled across her first Mills & Boon book at the age of twelve. She’s been reading (and writing) them ever since. Michelle lives in Northamptonshire with her husband and two young Smarties.
This book is dedicated to Jo aka ‘Cat’. Who has been there with me every step of the way.
Contents
JOANNE BROOKES COVERED her mouth to stifle a yawn and blinked rapidly to keep her eyes open. She was quite tempted to shove the thick pile of papers aside and have a nap at the small kitchen table, but she needed to read and digest as much as she could.
The floor creaked behind her and she turned to see Toby poke his head around the door of the tiny living space.
‘What are you doing up, you little monkey?’ she asked with a smile.
‘I’m thirsty.’
‘You’ve got water in your room.’
He gave an impish grin and padded over to her, his too-short pyjamas displaying his bare ankles. He hoisted himself up onto her lap and pressed his warm face into her neck.
‘Do you have to go away?’
Wrapping her arms tightly around his skinny frame, Jo dropped a kiss in Toby’s thick black hair. ‘I wish I didn’t.’
There was no point in explaining the finer details of why she had to leave for the island of Agon in the morning. Toby was four years old and any kind of rationalising normally went right over his head.
‘Is ten days a long time?’ he asked.
‘It is to start with, but before you know it the time will have flown by and I’ll be home.’ She wouldn’t lie to him, and could only dress her departure up into something bearable. Her stomach had been in knots all day, knitted so tightly she hadn’t been able to eat a thing.
They’d only spent two nights apart since Toby’s birth. Under normal circumstances she wouldn’t even have considered going. It would have been a flat-out no.
‘And just think what fun you’ll have with Uncle Jonathan,’ she added,