The sun had set by the time Amelia and Niko boarded the helicopter waiting to return them to the palace. Their two weeks at the mountain estate had passed in a blissful haze of lovemaking, quiet walks through the alpine meadows, and candlelit dinners by the fireplace. They'd developed a comfortable routine, sleeping late, exploring the grounds in the afternoons, and spending their evenings tangled in each other's arms.

Now, as the helicopter blades whirred to life, Amelia settled into her ...