The Playful Prince Read Online Free PDF Page A

along the floor for group dining. At the front of the hall, on a raised platform, was the king’s table. Tori took a deep breath, too tired to look at the mosaic pattern on the walls or the lovely tiled floor. She’d been working since before dawn--drawing blood samples, coordinating lab reports and scientists, overseeing tests on the biological weapon they now had safely stored on the HIA ship. It had been a long day, and would be an even longer evening. She’d be lucky to get to bed before midnight.
    Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her dark hair back into her bun, hoping she looked professional. At least she’d been able to get out of the white protective gear they’d worn on arrival. She hated contamination suits. The plastic helmet and stiff gloves made it hard to move around in a laboratory environment.
    King Kirill was at his table, but he wasn’t alone. Prince Reid and Prince Quinn were with him. Reid, who she recalled was a twin, was the darker brother and very good looking, though there was a definite conceit to him that made her grimace.
    “Please don’t let the rest of the princes be like him,” she whispered under her breath, as she looked at the handsome Quinn. The Var men were nothing like she’d pictured the night before. They were strong, handsome, and too charming for their own good. When doing the physical exams on the guards, she’d turned down more marriage proposals than she’d ever imagined getting in five lifetimes, let alone one day.
    Surely, they’d been joking, but it’d done wonders for her ego as a woman.
    “Dr. Elliot?” a nearby technician asked. He was in the middle of signing a clipboard when he’d heard Tori speak.
    Tori cleared her throat, “Nothing. Carry on.”
    Tori did her best to look dignified, as she went to stand before the head table. The king looked stressed, not that she could blame him. Having your kingdom beset by foreign scientists and HIA personnel couldn’t make for an easy time. Tori stopped and waited until she gained the king’s attention. When he turned to look at her, she bowed her head in respect.
    “The palace is clear, your highness,” she stated clearly. A couple of the scientists stopped to look curiously at her. She motioned at them to carry on. Tori paused, waiting for them to roll the heavy cart of equipment past before turning forward once more. The last thing she wanted was an audience right now.
    Her nerves were shot and she needed every last bit of her energy to make sure she didn’t give Prince Quinn an opening to embarrass her. “My scientists have done a final sweep of the grounds and are loading the equipment back onto our ship.”
    “Thank you, doctor,” Kirill answered. He nodded down at her from the main hall table. Prince Falke approached. The commander took a seat next to his brothers. Tori shivered. He really was the most frightening of the princes--large, militant, and emotionless. She found she couldn’t look him directly in the eyes. She took a hesitant step forward and lowered her voice. “Your highness, I request permission to stay on your land. I’d like to explore the caves where the crate was found and run some tests.”
    “Has there been a leak?” Kirill asked alarmed. His long black hair flowed over his shoulders, nearly matching the color of his brown-black eyes. He gazed down at her, concerned.
    Tori shook her head in denial. “No, but it never hurts to be careful.”
    “Dr. Elliot found a piece of mud caked to the crate and analyzed it. She believes there is something strange about our marshes. She wishes to run some tests,” Quinn put forth.
    Tori had expected him to speak, yet she wasn’t prepared for it. Her heart fluttered nervously. She couldn’t stop herself from glancing in his direction. Quinn’s handsome face lit up with mischief and he winked at her, blowing her a gentle kiss with his lips. She knew he only teased her, but it worked for she lost her train of thought. Hardening herself, she