Therese Beharrie - United By Their Royal Baby

A baby to heal their countries and their hearts?

When Queen Leyna of Aidara took the throne, she walked away from her first love, King Xavier of Mattan, putting duty first. Now their kingdoms are under threat, and the only way to bring stability is with a royal union.

Leyna knows the man she loved has barriers around his heart, but she can’t deny the glimmer of hope she still sees in his eyes. And knowing only an heir will save their countries, they must fight to find a way back to each other...

Conveniently Wed, Royally Bound

Three royal kingdoms united by marriage—or love?

When the kingdoms of the Three Isles—Aidara, Mattan and Kirtida—are threatened, for their young royal leaders duty becomes paramount. But in putting their countries first, they discover that their strategic marriages in name only run the risk of opening their guarded hearts to love...for real!

Find out more in:

United by Their Royal Baby

Childhood sweethearts Queen Leyna of Aidara and King Xavier of Mattan bear the emotional scars of ruling alone. But they now have nine months to find their way back to each other again...

Available now!

Falling for His Convenient Queen

King Zacchaeus of Kirtida and Princess Nalini of Mattan must unite their families in a marriage of convenience to secure their two kingdoms. But Nalini wants more than the cold marriage Zacchaeus has to offer. And it’s up to her to rescue his heart.

Available February 2018!

United by Their Royal Baby

Therese Beharrie

www.millsandboon.co.uk

THERESE BEHARRIEhas always been thrilled by romance. Her love of reading established this, and now she gets to write happily-ever-afters for a living and about all things romance in her blog at www.theresebeharrie.com. She married a man who constantly exceeds her romantic expectations and is an infinite source of inspiration for her romantic heroes. She lives in Cape Town, South Africa, and is still amazed that her dream of being a romance author is a reality.

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For Grant, the light who helps me face my fears.

Thank you for always treating me like a queen.

And Luke and Leah,

I hope when you grow up, reading books where

characters look like you is the norm.

For now, this is for you.

I love you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A baby to heal their countries and their hearts? When Queen Leyna of Aidara took the throne, she walked away from her first love, King Xavier of Mattan, putting duty first. Now their kingdoms are under threat, and the only way to bring stability is with a royal union. Leyna knows the man she loved has barriers around his heart, but she can’t deny the glimmer of hope she still sees in his eyes. And knowing only an heir will save their countries, they must fight to find a way back to each other...

Introduction Conveniently Wed, Royally Bound Three royal kingdoms united by marriage—or love? When the kingdoms of the Three Isles—Aidara, Mattan and Kirtida—are threatened, for their young royal leaders duty becomes paramount. But in putting their countries first, they discover that their strategic marriages in name only run the risk of opening their guarded hearts to love...for real! Find out more in: United by Their Royal Baby Childhood sweethearts Queen Leyna of Aidara and King Xavier of Mattan bear the emotional scars of ruling alone. But they now have nine months to find their way back to each other again... Available now! Falling for His Convenient Queen King Zacchaeus of Kirtida and Princess Nalini of Mattan must unite their families in a marriage of convenience to secure their two kingdoms. But Nalini wants more than the cold marriage Zacchaeus has to offer. And it’s up to her to rescue his heart. Available February 2018!

Title Page United by Their Royal Baby Therese Beharrie www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author THERESE BEHARRIE has always been thrilled by romance. Her love of reading established this, and now she gets to write happily-ever-afters for a living and about all things romance in her blog at www.theresebeharrie.com . She married a man who constantly exceeds her romantic expectations and is an infinite source of inspiration for her romantic heroes. She lives in Cape Town, South Africa, and is still amazed that her dream of being a romance author is a reality.

Dedication For Grant, the light who helps me face my fears. Thank you for always treating me like a queen. And Luke and Leah, I hope when you grow up, reading books where characters look like you is the norm. For now, this is for you. I love you.

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

PRINCESS LEYNA OF AIDARA thought she’d never been more content than right at that moment. She had the sun shining on her, the ocean in front of her and the sandy beach around her.

And, of course, she had the future King of Mattan lying next to her.

‘We should do this more often,’ she said, and dug her back a little deeper into the sand.

‘We do this at least once a week, Leyna.’

She could hear the amusement in Xavier’s tone and her lips curved.

‘We visit the beach at least once a week. Doing this—’ she lifted a hand into the air and gestured to the towels that lay side by side ‘—is a rarity that we should definitely make more time for.’

‘You’re only saying that because you want to escape your royal duties,’ Xavier teased.

‘And you don’t?’ she shot back, turning her head to offer him a grin.

And ignoring the inner voice that sounded dangerously like her grandmother telling her that Xavier was an excuse to do just that.

‘I’m the future King of Mattan, Princess,’ he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. ‘I’m aware of my duties. Even though there are things expected of me that I can’t possibly begin to imagine.’

Hearing the fatigue, the annoyance just beneath his words, she turned her body to face him, resting her head on her hand. ‘Are your mother and grandmother at it again?’

He mirrored her position. Before she could stop herself, her eyes took in his muscular body, the dark brown hair that was a mess from their swim earlier and the kindness that was clear in every feature of his face. Her heart began to race. And then she told herself to stop it, and notice how that kindness was now eclipsed by sadness—tinged with the slightest bit of anger—that she knew came from his hopelessness about his family.

‘When are they not at it?’ He shook his head. ‘Every time I think I do something right, they counter with something I should have done instead.’ He paused. ‘Maybe I’m just not doing anything right.’