21ElenaI will kill for you, my dearest witch.His deep voice echoed in my head, my hands getting clammy as I peered at him through my lashes, making the soon-to-be-married-couple laugh and charming the tired royals as we made our way up the stairs of the Maahnoor Palace. Clearing my throat, I shook away the thoughts about him, about what he said, and focused on the palace and guarding him. That was my job. Look after him and make sure he doesn’t get hurt. Nothing else. The palace looked completely different from the time I had seen it when I had to save Zain when he came here on a horse to woo Nasrin. That was years ago and since then, it looked like they had repainted and took care of the Palace. The setting sun’s sunlight sparkled over the dome of the Palace, the pillars strong and clean on our sides with the sculptures of tigers surrounding them. We walked inside, the sound of our footfalls echoing in the vast room with marble floor, exotic lacquer paintings on the beige walls
PART THREE“Just one word, my enchantress, and I’m yours.” 22Zayed“I don’t understand,” Elena whined as I followed her to our assigned room, watching the small water droplet glide from her neckline to the side of her neck and lowering between her—“It’s because you are my bodyguard,” I answered, looking away from the distracting water droplet. Bad Zayed. “What’s the big deal? You cuddled me last week.”“I did not cuddle you!”“Liar liar, wet panties on fire.”“I loathe you.”“Aw,” I grinned at her and made a kissy face. “I loathe you too.”The room was decent with an enormous bed, silk sheets and a huge bathroom with walk-in dresser. It also had a shelf of bathing oils, scented soaps and towels. Our clothes were already placed in the dresser, and sadly, Elena did not allow me to open her undergarment drawer even when I pouted at her. She was a cold-hearted witch. My pout works on everyone. “What are you doing?” I questioned her, frowning when she tried to push me out of the bathro
23ZayedThe ceremony was in a full blast by the time I walked down the stairs to meet the other royals at the great hall. People were dancing and singing, coddling the couple seated on the dais of throne covered in flowers, greeting the guests. No one knew just how misguided and wicked the groom was. Except me. Even Iesha, the innocent maid, who was marrying him, didn’t know his true face by the way she looked at him. My eyes flickered to my golden-haired witch, her red dress hugging her toned body with her hair falling down her back in waves. She was grinning and talking to a few people, the surrounding men captivated by her smile. I was an idiot not to bring a ring and make her wear it. “Sheikh Zayed,” I turned my attention to the twin princesses of Al Naeem. “We heard how brave you were to fight the man who… poor Tibyan.”“It wasn’t bravery. I was there at the right time.”One of princesses’ eyes lowered to my abdomen, maybe trying to find the wound through the traditional dark
24ElenaZayed showed me a lot of things, hovering above me and then riding him before we switched up to the floor for more space and almost doing it against the shelves. “Let me help you,” he said, his fingers zipping up the dress he had ordered one of the maids to bring to the library. We cleaned up in the small bathroom of the library as much as we could and changed into the fresh clothes the maid had brought for us both. Unfortunately, the ones we had worn to the ceremony were in terrible shape. “What would you do once you become the Sheikha of Ali House?” He asked when I turned around, moving my hair over my shoulder and touching the necklace he clasped behind my neck. “I will make the city safer,” I answered, thinking about all the plans I had for my town. “I would need to change and renovate some places and have a better urban planning for transportation. Getting rid of the slums would be my top priority and helping the people in any way I can with free education, food and s
25ZayedWhatever they had planned, it wasn’t going to work. I could look at the eyes of Elena and know that she had a part in the arrest of Sadiq, whatever that may be. Including Zain and Hayden. They should have thought more about the after considering Sadiq’s arrest during Imran and Iesha’s ceremony. That man was a ticking time bomb and even I was afraid of what he might do next. “Stay close,” I told Elena as she talked with Zara and Nasrin, my eyes pinned on Imran, who was scowling and talking to Zain. “We will figure it out, Imran,” I heard Zain, his voice firm. “The Council can’t do anything without the proof.”He nodded at me and left to talk with other royals, trying to control the situation. “Are you okay?” I asked him. “Did you know about this?”I scoffed and tried to keep my voice low. “Do you think I wouldn’t tell you if I had known this was going to happen?” His jaw clenched and eyes darkened. “I can’t stand here and wait for them to question my brother.”“Oh, so now
26ElenaI tightened the robe around my wet body, wondering what I had missed. Our plan had failed. Sadiq was still looking over the footage of that day and trying to work out how we ended up with one dead body. “Are you still thinking about it?” My eyes looked up from the tiled floor to shirtless Zayed as he stepped into the bathroom. “How could I not? Whatever happened… it was terrible.”“It was.”Zayed sat me down on a stool, gently patting dry my wet hair with a towel. I closed my eyes in the soft caress of his fingers. Imran and Iesha wanted to postpone the wedding until everything got resolved, but most of us felt bad for ruining their wedding arrangements, so they were getting married the next day. Despite thinking the Council arrested Sadiq and having a man mauled by his pet tiger, Imran was being a good host and making sure all the guests were looked after. “I read your letter…” Zayed said, my eyes meeting his when he parted my robe, standing across me.I stood up, moving
27ElenaThe mood in the ceremonial hall was a cross between joy and confusion as everyone watched Imran and Iesha get married. The musicians were playing their instruments and food was great with a constant flow of arak, but everyone was shaken up by the events of the day before. I hadn’t even dared to look for Zayed after he had left the room early in the morning. I kept his promise of not following him even though I really wanted to, but how could I move when he told me he wished to marry me? I was too stunned by his confession to even breathe. I hadn’t left the bed until the maids asked to dress me for the wedding, even drawing a bath for me. When I had asked them about Zayed, they didn’t know where he was. “I heard Nasir will be sent back to a zoo,” Rahim said, standing beside me. “I will miss him.”I chuckled. “We can adopt and keep him in The Golden Palace. I am sure Zara would love that.”We both glanced at the pregnant princess talking with other ladies, Hayden keeping a c
PART FOUR“I love you, you infuriating, cold witch.” 28ElenaThe first thing I noticed when I started getting conscious was the cool heat, like sweltering summer heat during the night. It was cool but made me sweat, my entire body stiff and throat parched.I forced my lids to open, blinking at the empty bed. A small whimper tore out of my burning throat as I tried to sit up, my legs and hands straining with taut muscles. How long was I unconscious for?My eyes adjusted to the light pouring in from the open flap of the tent. By the looks of it, it was afternoon, and someone had taken a great care to build such a tent with a private bath area, small closet and a table. It looked like a royal tent.Royal… wedding. Memories came flashing back at me. Blood on the floor, Imran, Zara crying, missing my shot, and Zayed. He poisoned me. Handed me that wine, knowing what was going to happen and sided with Imran, who had fooled us all since the beginning and conspired against Azmia all that tim