Although Natalie hadn’t gotten any sleep, she was full of energy. She spent the morning exploring the palace and humming to herself.
It wasn’t until she glanced out the window and saw the entourage of cars driving in from the main gates that her glorious mood was dashed. In the haze of lust and love, she’d completely forgotten about Princess Bari’s visit.
“When I was a princess, I always thought it was ridiculous that I couldn’t go anywhere without an army of cars,” a new voice said suddenly. Natalie whirled around and inhaled sharply. She hadn’t formally met Iman’s mother, but she recognized the woman from the large portrait hanging in the hall. Even if she hadn’t, there was no mistaking the woman as anything but royalty. She was the picture of elegance and poise.
“Shekinah.” Nervously, Natalie bowed her head. “I apologize if I’m interrupting anything.”
“You’re not. In fact, I was looking for you.”
“For me?” Natalie frowned. “Oh, no. Did Iris or Beetle break something?”
“No,” Taslima laughed, and her eyes sparkled. “But I did want to speak to you about Iris. She’s such a delight.”
“Yes, she is.” Natalie cocked her head as she tried to understand how the woman knew that. “Have you two met?”
The elegant older lady glanced out the window and frowned. “Come. Let’s chat elsewhere. I don’t care for the view here.”
Didn’t care for the view? The palace grounds were lovely, but Natalie didn’t argue. She followed the Shekinah away from the window and into a room made of glass and filled with leafy plants. Perching uneasily on the large white sofa, she admired the colorful rug beneath her feet. Gorgeous, bright, and tasteful. The room was everything that the palace in Abba Alim was missing.
“Now, I don’t want to get the child in trouble, but your daughter was playing hide-and-seek with Tahira when she wandered into my suite. She handed me a cardboard sword and managed to convince me to play the dreadful villainous knight, and she and her dragon were victorious.”
Natalie’s stomach dropped. “Iris and the dog were in your suite,” she said numbly. “I am so sorry.”
“Do not apologize. I haven’t laughed so hard in years, and I requested that Tahira sneak the child in daily to play with me. I have no grandchildren of my own despite my best efforts to steer my sons in that direction.” She glanced slyly at Natalie, and Natalie’s mouth dried.
She knew.
There was no denying anything. It was written all over her face.
“I see,” she said softly. “I’m glad that you and Iris are getting along.”
“Yes, it is wonderful. It’s more difficult to sneak in play sessions when her mother watches her so closely, so I thought I would ask your permission. Might I have a play date with Iris and her dragon this afternoon?”
What was happening here? Natalie clutched the side of the sofa. “Of course. I’m sure that Iris would love that. Does your son know about these play dates with Iris?”
“I’m afraid he has caught us together.” The older woman stood. “I believe your daughter said something about conquering him, as well.”
The room spun, and Natalie tried not to pass out. Iman was a smart man, and Iris was more than chatty. The two of them together for more than five minutes would spell disaster for her.
“Perhaps a supervised visit with the Crowned Sheikh would be in order,” Natalie mumbled as she stood.
“You give my son too little credit,” Taslima said sharply. “I realize that you had an unpleasant picture painted of him. Salah had good intentions six years ago even if he made the wrong decisions, but those should no longer belie the true goodness in my son.”
Iman’s mother knew everything. Why hadn’t she told Iman the truth? “No disrespect to you, Shekinah, but the choices that I make for my daughter are no one’s business but mine.”
“I am a mother.”
“You are a mother, but you had a good husband by your side, the support of an entire palace, and the loyalty of a kingdom behind you. You had nothing but power on your side. I am a single mother who struggled for six years to pay my bills. Who thought my child’s father would never think of me again. To shake those fears isn’t easy, and it’s certainly something that I’m not sure you could understand. I would fight an entire army to keep my daughter safe, loved, and cherished.”
Taslima’s eyes softened. “The power that you’ve been fighting could be on your side if you gave it a chance.”
“There’s an army of vehicles out there carrying a princess that would disagree. I’ll send Iris and Beetle to you this afternoon, Shekinah. I suspect that we won’t be around for much longer.”
The older woman bowed her head, and Natalie whirled and ran from the room. Her heart broke, and fear urged her to hurry to her daughter, even as her common sense chided her. If Taslima wanted to keep her granddaughter in the palace, she could easily send Natalie away, but something told her that she could trust the Shekinah.
She could only pray she wasn’t wrong.
13
Iman stood outside the closed doors to the sitting room and took a deep breath. Inside was the woman he’d expected to become his future wife, a dozen of her armed guards, and a few female chaperones to ensure that Iman didn’t take advantage of her. Iman had requested that her father not join them so he could see the kind of woman Bari was, but now, none of that seemed to matter.
The citizens of Haamas knew that she was here, and he’d read the headlines this morning. Although her photo graced the front pages of the paper’s social section, the commentary was all too clear. People feared that an alliance with Abba Alim was a step backward in the country’s progress.
The news had taken him by surprise. He had thought his people would want this union, but a single sentence had sucked the air from his lungs.
Does Crowned Sheikh Iman really envision a future of happiness with the Ice Queen?
In Abba Alim, that kind of media would get the writer sent to the executioner, and yet, Iman couldn’t fault the question.
He didn’t. Not after last night with Natalie.
Shaking his head at himself, he opened the doors and walked in. Immediately, all heads bowed, and Bari stood and smiled. “Your Excellency,” she purred as she bowed. “I thought perhaps you’d gotten lost in your own palace.”
The bite was evident in her voice, and Iman cringed inside. He’d best get this conversation over quickly. Rip it off like a sticking bandage. “I apologize for the delay, Princess. Would you do me the honor of speaking with me in private?”
Bari waved her hand in dismissal. “Leave us,” she ordered.
No one dared to second-guess the command as they slowly filed out of the room. “Perhaps we can drop the pleasantries? We have much to discuss, and I think it’s best if we’re frank with each other. “
Iman lifted an eyebrow. “We do?”
“Yes. I know why you were reluctant to seal the deal last weekend, and I don’t want to delay this any longer. I’m aware of your affair with the American whore.”
Iman narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists in anger. “Excuse me?” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
“My servant noticed the woman’s smeared lipstick when she interrupted you two in your guest room.” She lifted her chin and said archly, “I find it rude that you brought your lover to my palace while you were negotiating our marriage.” Suddenly softening, she added, her voice amused, “I have accepted the fact that you’ll take lovers after we are married. I’m not naive. I know of my father’s mistresses, and I do have three older brothers. I would ask that you be more discreet about them, and I promise to be discreet with mine.”
Iman was stunned. “You already plan on being unfaithful?” he said softly.
“I would also ask that you spend your time with classier women. If it got out that you were sleeping with a flight attendant, imagine my embarrassment. Skim from the top, darling, and leave the bottom feeders to your servants.” She tuck
ed a loose strand of hair back under her head covering. “Now that we’ve gotten that unpleasantness out of the way, I’m happy to inform you that I want this marriage.”
She wandered a few feet and picked up something off the side table before setting it down with disdain. Turning back, she smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes, which remained cold. “I deserve to be queen, and I’m lucky that someone with your looks and body is a choice. I’ve demanded that my father agree to your negotiations. My guards have the contract, and there’s an advisor standing by to witness your signature. You’ll sign it tonight, darling, announce our betrothal this weekend at a party that you’ll throw in my honor, and we’ll be married within three months. We’ll hammer out the details of my powers before then.”
Iman stepped back, feeling sick inside. Had there ever been a moment that he’d thought this woman would be a good queen? Beneath her surface beauty was nothing but ice and venom.
Before he could tell Bari that there would certainly be no wedding, a faint and repetitive growling could be heard from behind the closed door.
Bari frowned. “Is that an animal roaring?”
The sound grew louder. Iman knew that he should put a stop to it, but as he opened the door to grab the child, she, her purple roaring shoes, and small, fierce dragon of a dog streaked by him.
“I am Princess Iris, and I am the rescuer of dragons!” the little girl shouted. Raising her cardboard sword, she whacked Iman on his side and turned around to advance on Bari.
Beetle lunged at Bari with excited yips, and Bari screamed at the top of her lungs. When Iris reached them, Bari pulled her hand back to slap the child.
Iman didn’t think he’d ever moved faster in his life. Before his unwelcome guest could strike Iris, Iman had a hard grip around her wrist. Anger burned through him. “Do not touch her,” he said hoarsely.
“What is this thing doing in here?” Bari hissed. “Is that a dog? What is that dirty animal doing in here?”
Iris sniffed and huddled in the corner. “Beetle isn’t dirty. He’s a dragon,” she said defiantly.
Just then, Taslima ran breathlessly into the room. “Iris,” she gasped. “Child, are you all right? Are you hurt? What happened?”
“Shekinah Karawi.” Bari’s eyes rounded in panic as she pulled her arm away from Iman. Bowing her head, she trembled. “This child belongs to you?”
Taslima’s gaze went from one to another before she pulled Iris into her arms. “She does, as does her dragon, Beetle. This is a palace for love and warmth, for laughing children and roaring dragons. Is that the kind of home you wish to have, Princess Bari?”
The young woman lifted her head and glanced at Iman. He could tell that she was weighing the future she had envisioned against the future that was standing right before her. At last, stiffly, she shook her head. “I don’t believe that this arrangement is going to be at all suitable. I’ll let my guards know, and we shall leave immediately. Thank you for opening your home to me, and I apologize for this.”
Her back ramrod-straight, the visiting princess turned and walked away. Iman knelt down by Iris. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine, but Beetle was scared. Will you comfort Beetle for me?” She thrust the dragon into his arms, and he had no choice but to hold the squirming dog with the foam horns strapped to his head and the fabric wings belted around his body.
Iris’s smile returned at the sight. “He likes you,” she announced.
“I think I like him, too,” Iman admitted.
“Iris, darling! Your mother is expecting you and Beetle back in your suite now, and I need to have a word with my son.”
“Okay, Shekinah.” Iris stumbled over the word a little. “Can we play again tomorrow?”
“I certainly hope so, my dear.”
As Iris skipped away, his mother’s eyes turned cold. “I have never been disappointed in you, Iman. You have always made the right decision, always done what was best for this family and this kingdom, but now, with the most important decision ahead of you, you could not be making a bigger mess of things.”
Bewildered, Iman helped his mother to her feet. “I had planned on sending Princess Bari away. Iris’s interruption was poor timing. Or good timing, if you want to think of it that way.”
“That’s the first step. Now you need to make the second, and I think that I can help you with that. I have a confession for you, my son. Your father and I were in love long before our marriage was ever arranged.”
“What?” Shocked, Iman released his mother. “But you two didn’t know each other!”
“I’m afraid that’s not quite true.” Taslima smiled fondly. “Your grandfather and father were visiting my kingdom for business. Your father was always a little rebellious, and he sneaked out of the palace one night. I caught him trying to escape and threatened to tell on him. He spent the rest of the night convincing me to keep his secret.”
She blushed as she lost herself in the memory, and Iman cleared his throat. His mother’s eyes snapped back into focus. “All it took was one night for us to fall deeply in love with each other. Our fathers caught us together, and even though nothing scandalous had happened, the fact that we were even in the same room without chaperones was wrong. Our marriage was arranged, and our true meeting was kept secret.”
“You fell in love in one night,” Iman echoed.
“I did. My saving grace was that I didn’t lose my love that night, but if I had, I would have fought tirelessly to keep him.”
“She’s not fighting for me,” Iman pointed out softly.
Taslima squeezed his hand. “Maybe it’s because she thinks she’s already lost.”
14
The bags were packed. Natalie had everything she needed to slip out tonight. It would be easier this way. She didn’t want to have to listen to Iman explain that while he had feelings for her, she wasn’t wife material.
She also wouldn’t have to worry about listening to Taslima beg her to stay. If she was lucky, Taslima wouldn’t tell Iman the truth, and she could put this whole thing behind her.
If she wasn’t lucky, she’d fight tooth and nail to keep her daughter.
Iris hadn’t taken the news of their sudden upcoming move well. She’d cried and begged to stay. She wasn’t done conquering her first palace, and she hadn’t found any more dragons to save.
It was hard to see her daughter like this, but Natalie knew that it was for the best.
It was almost dinner time. Most of the palace would be focused on feeding the visiting princess, her entourage, and the Karawi family, and it was the perfect time to leave unnoticed.
“Iris,” she called softly as she crossed the living room. “Come on, darling. We have a plane to catch.”
Gently, she eased the door open and frowned. Not only was Iris not in her room, but her small duffel bag was missing.
Iris wouldn’t run away, would she?
“Iris? Iris!” Her heart caught in her throat; she hurried from the suite and ducked into the servants’ quarters. Tahira would be in her room, getting ready to help out in the kitchen.
“Tahira?” Natalie asked softly as she pushed the younger woman’s door open. “Is Iris with you?”
Her friend looked up and frowned. “No. Are you two playing hide-and-seek?”
“No.” Natalie pressed a hand to her stomach. “I told her that we were leaving, and she said she didn’t want to go.” She was finding it hard to catch her breath, but somehow managed to gasp, “Tahira, I think she might have run away. She took her duffel bag and Beetle. Will you help me look for her? I know that you’ve got to help with the dinner.”
“No.” Tahira shook her head as she stood. “Don’t even think about dinner. We’re going to find her. We’ll split up and search the palace from top to bottom.”
Nodding, Natalie wiped a tear away. “I’m going to see if she’s with the Shekinah. Call me if you find her.”
“Of course,” Tahira said, adding urgently, “and don’t wo
rry. She’s beloved in this palace. No one would hurt her.”
Natalie knew that, but she was afraid that Iris was too adventurous for her own good. It wouldn’t be hard for the little girl to sneak out of the palace.
Hurrying out of the servants’ quarters, she headed straight for the royal wing. After knocking frantically on the door to Taslima’s suite, she wrapped her arms around her body. “Taslima,” she gasped when the older woman opened the door. “Please tell me that Iris is with you?”
“No.” The Shekinah threw the door open, and Natalie froze when she saw that Iman was also in the room. But Taslima was peppering her with questions. “Is she missing? What happened? Was she upset after what happened this afternoon?”
“This afternoon? What happened this afternoon?” Natalie waved her hands. “Never mind. Yes, she’s missing. She took her duffel bag and everything.”
“She ran away? That doesn’t sound like Iris,” Taslima frowned. “Natalie, what’s going on?”
“I was leaving.” Natalie burst into tears as she looked at Iman. “I thought it would be best for everyone, and Iris didn’t want to go, and now I can’t find her. What if she’s not hiding in the palace? She’s not afraid of anything. She wanted to have an adventure and find dragons. What if she left the palace? She could be lost in the gardens, and if she doesn’t have water…” Natalie didn’t even want to think about what might happen outside the palace walls.
Iman immediately pulled out his phone and began snapping out orders. “I need all security dispatched. There’s a missing child. Five years old. Blonde hair. Dark eyes. Small, fluffy white dog named Beetle. I want the palace searched methodically from room to room. Look under beds and in closets. I want a second team dispatched to the grounds. Her name is Iris, and I want her found within the hour,” he barked.
The Karawi Sheikhs Series: The Complete Series Page 9