isn’t about me or you. It’s bigger than either of us. Please, Zhang is safe. By the weekend, she may even be happy. Go back to your new wife. Leave before this gets ugly.”
Dominic struggled against the hands that restrained him and would have done more, but the rifle to his chest stopped him. He threatened, “It’s going to get ugly, Rachid. Very ugly – and likely very painful.”
Putting Dominic out of the palace would result in the man returning with a vengeance before Rachid had time to change Zhang’s mind. There was only one way to make sure Dominic didn’t interfere. He turned to the guardsmen. “Take him to the north wing and keep him there until I send for him.”
The two guards were joined by one more who continued to hold Dominic at rifle point as they dragged him from the room. Dominic didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. The entire situation was quickly getting out of control. The sooner Rachid convinced Zhang that marrying him was her best option, the better.
Rachid was halfway to the women’s quarters when his father stopped him in the hallway.
“Rachid, is it true that you have a man detained in the north wing?”
Rachid met his father’s expression boldly. “Yes, Father.”
“Dominic Corisi?” his father asked casually.
Rachid wasn’t about to second-guess himself now. “Yes.”
His father stepped forward and chuckled while patting his son on the shoulder. “I used to worry that you didn’t have enough Najriad fire to rule, but I see that I was mistaken. You have more than enough.”
There wasn’t much about what he was doing that he was proud of, but his father’s praise made Rachid stand taller. “I know what’s at stake.”
Nodding, Amir dropped his hand. “Yes, I can see that.” He took a step back to allow his son to pass and said, “I will be returning to my quarters unless you require them as a cell for another guest.”
Rachid smiled at his father’s dry humor. “The day isn’t over yet. I may.”
Suddenly serious, the king cautioned, “Be careful, Son. I’m here if you need me.”
“I have everything under control, Father.”
“Of course,” his father said with a smile. “Have you won over your betrothed yet?”
Rachid smiled again. “Not yet.”
His father clasped his hands behind his back and said, “Try lilies.”
“Flowers?” Really?
“Your mother always loved them.” And with that, his father turned and walked away.
Lilies.
Well, it was as good as any other idea he’d had that day.
Not one who normally spent hours on quiet reflection, Zhang found the isolation of her suite strangely calming. She couldn’t contact her business team, so there wasn’t much use worrying about how they were dealing with her absence. She’d hired the best and paid them well. They could keep it functioning for the short time it would take her to make her escape.
The desire to have her security team storm the walls of the castle had ebbed as the day went on. She didn’t want to see anyone hurt. Not her men, not these men. Not even Rachid.
I just want to go home.
Wherever the hell that is.
The sound of a key in the lock jolted Zhang. She spun toward the opening door. A tiny older woman who looked to be in her seventies entered. She was dressed in a long Western-style lavender gown that was obviously haute couture despite its simple lines. She approached Zhang with both hands outstretched. “So, this is the woman who has set my household off balance.”
Zhang didn’t take the hand the woman offered, but her resistance didn’t seem to offend her. She walked over to one of the chaises and settled herself gracefully down upon it. Then she patted her lap and waved toward a nearby chair. “Come and talk with me.”
Reluctantly, Zhang took the seat across from her. Perhaps this woman could be persuaded to release her. Only a fool let pride forfeit an opportunity.
“My name is Hadia. You may call me that.” She
Dominic struggled against the hands that restrained him and would have done more, but the rifle to his chest stopped him. He threatened, “It’s going to get ugly, Rachid. Very ugly – and likely very painful.”
Putting Dominic out of the palace would result in the man returning with a vengeance before Rachid had time to change Zhang’s mind. There was only one way to make sure Dominic didn’t interfere. He turned to the guardsmen. “Take him to the north wing and keep him there until I send for him.”
The two guards were joined by one more who continued to hold Dominic at rifle point as they dragged him from the room. Dominic didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. The entire situation was quickly getting out of control. The sooner Rachid convinced Zhang that marrying him was her best option, the better.
Rachid was halfway to the women’s quarters when his father stopped him in the hallway.
“Rachid, is it true that you have a man detained in the north wing?”
Rachid met his father’s expression boldly. “Yes, Father.”
“Dominic Corisi?” his father asked casually.
Rachid wasn’t about to second-guess himself now. “Yes.”
His father stepped forward and chuckled while patting his son on the shoulder. “I used to worry that you didn’t have enough Najriad fire to rule, but I see that I was mistaken. You have more than enough.”
There wasn’t much about what he was doing that he was proud of, but his father’s praise made Rachid stand taller. “I know what’s at stake.”
Nodding, Amir dropped his hand. “Yes, I can see that.” He took a step back to allow his son to pass and said, “I will be returning to my quarters unless you require them as a cell for another guest.”
Rachid smiled at his father’s dry humor. “The day isn’t over yet. I may.”
Suddenly serious, the king cautioned, “Be careful, Son. I’m here if you need me.”
“I have everything under control, Father.”
“Of course,” his father said with a smile. “Have you won over your betrothed yet?”
Rachid smiled again. “Not yet.”
His father clasped his hands behind his back and said, “Try lilies.”
“Flowers?” Really?
“Your mother always loved them.” And with that, his father turned and walked away.
Lilies.
Well, it was as good as any other idea he’d had that day.
Not one who normally spent hours on quiet reflection, Zhang found the isolation of her suite strangely calming. She couldn’t contact her business team, so there wasn’t much use worrying about how they were dealing with her absence. She’d hired the best and paid them well. They could keep it functioning for the short time it would take her to make her escape.
The desire to have her security team storm the walls of the castle had ebbed as the day went on. She didn’t want to see anyone hurt. Not her men, not these men. Not even Rachid.
I just want to go home.
Wherever the hell that is.
The sound of a key in the lock jolted Zhang. She spun toward the opening door. A tiny older woman who looked to be in her seventies entered. She was dressed in a long Western-style lavender gown that was obviously haute couture despite its simple lines. She approached Zhang with both hands outstretched. “So, this is the woman who has set my household off balance.”
Zhang didn’t take the hand the woman offered, but her resistance didn’t seem to offend her. She walked over to one of the chaises and settled herself gracefully down upon it. Then she patted her lap and waved toward a nearby chair. “Come and talk with me.”
Reluctantly, Zhang took the seat across from her. Perhaps this woman could be persuaded to release her. Only a fool let pride forfeit an opportunity.
“My name is Hadia. You may call me that.” She
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