She drew a breath. “I thought those in charge were supposed to lead by example. Apparently that’s not you. Do as I say, not as I do? Is that what you’ll tell your children?”
He didn’t fight back. Victoria would have taken him on but he didn’t give her the chance. He simply left and she was alone, again.
It hurt just as much as it had before, but it wasn’t as shocking. She wanted to believe that he would get it. She wanted to trust in love and hope and everything good. But how could she fight a man who wouldn’t try?
She supposed the good news was that he had to have some feelings for her or he wouldn’t be so angry about her telling him she loved him. If he didn’t care at all, he would probably keep her around. Having her love him would feed his ego, if nothing else.
But knowing he had feelings and refused to acknowledge them only deepened her sadness. She touched her aching stomach. She had days, maybe hours, and then it was finished. In the beauty of the warm, sunny afternoon, she heard the ticking of an invisible clock. One that counted down until everything was over and she would never see Kateb again.
Bowing to the inevitable, Victoria started packing that afternoon. When it was time, she wanted to go quickly. No lingering, no regrets. Then the healing could begin.
She would have to go to the market one last time. She wouldn’t tell anyone she was leaving, but the visit would be her private way of saying goodbye. Maybe she would spring for another pair of earrings from Rasha’s store. Something to remember the village by. She wouldn’t need anything to remember Kateb. She had a feeling she would never forget him.
She’d filled one suitcase and was starting on another when Yusra burst into the harem. The old woman looked wild-eyed. Victoria’s first thought was for Kateb.
“What’s wrong?” she demanded. “What happened?”
“There’s a challenger. I don’t know who.”
Victoria looked puzzled. “Challenger for what?”
“Kateb as leader.” Yusra grabbed her arm. “We have to do something.”
“I don’t understand. What does a challenger matter?”
Yusra pressed her free hand to her chest, as if trying to catch her breath. “It is tradition. Kateb was nominated and in the time up to him being named, someone can challenge the elders’ decision.”
“That can’t make the elders feel good,” Victoria said, still not sure what the deal was. “So how do they decide? Do people vote?”
“No. This is a challenge, not an election. They fight for the position.”
Fight? As in…the fight Kateb had described to her before? “How?”
“With broadswords. In the arena. The winner is the next leader. The winner is the man who survives. The fight is to the death.”
Chapter Twelve
“No!” Victoria said loudly. “No. He can’t fight to the death. What if he’s defeated?” Kateb dead? She wouldn’t be able to stand it. “There has to be something we can do.”
“There isn’t. Tradition demands the fight.”
Victoria couldn’t breathe. “Who’s challenging? What if he’s some gladiator guy who’s been practicing for years.” She fought against tears. “We have to stop it.”
“We can’t. If Kateb refuses the challenge, the other man wins. Worse, Kateb is shamed and branded a coward.” Yusra patted her arm. “He is a worthy fighter.”
“And when was the last time he fought to the death with broadswords? Not lately, I’m guessing. What is wrong with you people? Can’t you just hold an election like everyone else?”
“If Kateb survives, you can talk to him about changing the laws.”
“Assuming he survives.” Panic swirled inside of her. “What can we do?”
“Nothing.”
“I can’t stand this,” Victoria told her. “What if the other guy gets in a lucky shot and wounds him? Then he kills him and it’s not right.” Kateb couldn’t die.
Yusra hesitated.
“What?” Victoria demanded. “What are you thinking?”
“If either man is injured, another can take his place. A sacrifice.”
Nothing was making sense. “What are you saying?”
“If Kateb were injured, the challenger would kill him unless someone else stepped in. The sacrifice then fights in Kateb’s place.”
“Or dies,” Victoria whispered.
“Yes. The fight only ends with death.” She drew in a breath. “We worry too much. Kateb is strong and skilled. He will prevail.”
But what if he didn’t? Victoria couldn’t stop thinking about him lying in the dirt, bleeding to death. That wasn’t what she wanted for him.
They would have to find someone to take Kateb’s place if he were injured. But who would be willing to die for him? And even if someone were, how could she ask one man to give up his life so someone she loved could go on living?
“I really liked living here right up until now,” she said. “I swear, if he comes out of this alive, I’m making sure the law changes. I don’t care what it takes.” Her stomach clenched with a cramp reminding her she didn’t have much time to make that happen.
The elders’ chamber was in an uproar. Everyone spoke at once. Kateb listened to the sea of voices and disregarded the words. They weren’t important. What mattered was defeating the challenge.
“This is most unexpected,” Zayd said. “He waited until nearly the last day.”
“He is a boy,” another man called. “Kateb will defeat him easily.”
Zayd looked at Kateb. “The boy fights for revenge, Kateb fights for what is right. Who is to say how it will end?”
Kateb met the old man’s gaze and understood his point. The challenger had planned this moment for years. There was power in making something happen. There was power in avenging a father.
“I do not take the challenge lightly,” he said. “But there is no question of the outcome.”
The old men nodded. “So it will be,” one of them called.
The door to the chamber burst open and Victoria rushed inside. Kateb couldn’t remember a woman ever entering the room before. The men all stepped back, as if afraid of her. She ignored them and came directly to him.
“What is wrong with you people?” she demanded as she approached. “What’s wrong with something as simple as an election?”
There were tears on her cheeks and worry in her eyes. He forgot that he was angry with her, forgot that he was counting the moments until he could send her away. He held out his arms and she rushed into them, then hugged him as if she would never let him go.
“I won’t let you do this,” she mumbled against his chest. “I’ll tie you up and beat you with a stick until you agree that hiding isn’t such a bad thing.”
She smelled of sun and flowers. Her body was familiar and tempting and he wanted her, as he always did. He kissed the top of her head before saying, “You wouldn’t respect a man who let that happen.”
“I’d get over it.”
“I would not.”
She raised her head and looked at him. “Kateb, you can’t do this.”
“I must. I want to.”
“Fight with broadswords. Do you even know how?”
He smiled. “Yes. I am very skilled.”
“And here I thought I was hot stuff because I can build a Web site. Why is this happening?”
Zayd inched closer. “Perhaps you would like to speak with Victoria alone. Somewhere else.”
She glanced at the older man. “What’s going on?”
“You’ve violated the sanctity of the elders’ chamber. Women aren’t allowed.”
She rolled her eyes.
He chuckled. “Come,” he told her. “We’ll speak of this in the harem.”
Victoria went willingly. She wanted to be alone with Kateb and the elders’ worried glances made her want to slap them all. Probably not the best plan, considering she might have to go to them and beg for Kateb’s life. She was determined to do something to stop the madness—she just had to fig
ure out what.
They walked to the harem. Once they were inside, seated on one of the overstuffed sofas, she turned to him.
“Start at the beginning and talk slowly. Why is there a challenger? Who is this guy? Is it personal? It feels personal.”
He touched her face. “Why would you say that?”
“Because it’s coming up at the last minute. What? He woke up this morning and thought ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to fight Kateb to the death?’ I don’t think so. If this wasn’t about you, why not challenge back when you were named? Or go to the elders before? Everyone knew they were going to pick you.”
“You are right. It’s personal. His name is Fuad and he is the son of the man I killed.”
She gasped. Her gaze settled on the scar on his face. “When you were kidnapped?”
“Yes. Fuad’s father had come up with the plan to kidnap me and hold me for ransom. When I tried to escape, he and I fought.” He rubbed his cheek. “He nearly won, but in the end, I prevailed. He was killed, the men with him imprisoned.”
“His family shamed,” she whispered, remembering what had happened to Sa’id after his father had only stolen a few camels. “So this Fuad grew up seriously mad at the world in general and you in particular. He wants revenge for his father.”
“Most likely.”
That was bad. Even worse than she’d thought. “You can’t fight him. He’s got something to prove.”
Kateb looked weary. “I will not take pleasure in defeating him. Fuad is only a boy. Maybe eighteen or twenty. But it is the law.”
“The law is stupid.”
“Saying that doesn’t change it.”
“So you change it.”
“I will. After I am leader.”
“Which means you first have to kill Fuad.”
What if you don’t? Victoria didn’t say the words, but she couldn’t stop thinking them. What if Kateb was killed?
“You worry too much,” he told her.
“This isn’t the 1800s. No one does this. You have to make it stop.”
“I will. I will win.”
“With a boy’s death on your hands?”
“There is no other way.”
“There has to be. Go to the king,” she begged. “Tell him. He’ll forbid you. There’s no shame in that.”
“The king will not interfere with our ways and neither will you.” He touched her cheek again. “Fear not. I am good with a broadsword and I will practice.”
“You have two days.”
“That is enough time.”
Was it? Wouldn’t Fuad have been practicing for the past ten years?
Fear clawed at her chest, making it hard to breathe.
She wanted to tell him to just stop and be sensible about all this, but knew he wouldn’t listen. He would go forward with the challenge because it was how things had always been done. He was a prince of the desert. He didn’t fear death, but then he wouldn’t be the one left behind.
She leaned forward and kissed him. She needed his mouth on hers, his hands touching. She needed to be with him one last time. Before the battle. Before he sent her away.
She’d thought he might resist. That he might still be angry, or assume the worst about her. But he cupped her face and kissed her back.
She parted for him immediately and he swept inside. Their tongues brushed together in a dance that was as arousing as it was familiar. Only Kateb, she thought, trying not to cry, even as her body melted against his.
He broke the kiss and pulled her to her feet. She went willingly and he led her into the bedroom.
If he saw the open suitcases on the floor, he didn’t say anything. Instead he drew her to the side of the bed, then kissed her again.
His mouth was more gentle this time, offering as well as taking. He swept his hands down her back and over her hips before sliding them up to her breasts. There was a tenderness in his touch. Almost loving.
They quickly removed their clothes, then fell together on the bed. When he would have slipped his fingers between her legs, she shook her head.
“Just be inside of me,” she whispered. “That’s what I want.”
The connection, she thought, determined to remember everything about this moment. The joining.
He put on a condom, then knelt between her thighs. She reached for him and guided him inside.
She was already wet and swollen. Just the thought of them making love was enough. Today she wasn’t interested in her own pleasure, although it was there. She wanted to be one with him.
He filled her slowly, stretching her. Nerve endings quivered with delight. Wanting burned through her and she found herself moving with him, unable to resist the call of her release.
But she held back, focusing instead on staring into his eyes. On every part of what they were doing.
Without warning, he pulled out and rolled onto his back. Then he urged her on top. She straddled his hips and eased herself down on his erection. While she braced herself on her hands, he reached up and cupped her breasts. Then he smiled.
“Better,” he whispered.
He teased her nipples, which made her insides clench. Powerful desire swept through her, making it difficult to think about anything but how he made her feel. She rode him up and down, finding the perfect rhythm, wanting all he had to give her.
He continued to tease her breasts. They stared at each other. She felt herself getting closer, pushing harder, going faster. He moved with her, driving in deeply, filling her until she had no choice but to give in.
Her climax claimed her with a rush of pleasure that made her cry out. He dropped his hands to her hips, guiding her up and down until he, too, groaned. They came together, eyes locked, both panting and straining. It was the most intimate moment of her life.
When they were done, he rolled them onto their sides, facing each other. She traced the length of his scar. Tears filled her eyes.
“I love you,” she whispered, then dropped her fingers to his mouth. “Don’t say anything. I’m not expecting anything from you.”
Emotions battled in his eyes, but she knew that she wouldn’t be the winner. There was too much doubt. His reluctance wasn’t about her, it was about losing again. She couldn’t promise that wouldn’t happen and even if she could, he wouldn’t believe her. He would rather be alone than risk love. Worse, he wouldn’t admit any of this. Instead he pretended he couldn’t trust her. How was she supposed to fight that?
“I’m not pregnant,” she continued. “I’ll be getting my period in the next day or so.”
“How do you know?” he asked, his mouth moving against her fingers.
“I feel bloated and I want to eat my weight in chocolate. I just know. I’m staying through the challenge, and then I’ll leave.” Unless he wanted to stop her. Unless he wanted to take a step of faith and admit he cared about her.
Instead he stood and dressed. Then he left without saying anything.
Victoria and Yusra carried the large, dusty book to the closed doors. The book was huge—nearly the size of an end table and about as heavy as a water buffalo.
“I can’t go in there,” Yusra told her, looking nervous. “It’s the elders’ chambers. No women are allowed.”
“I survived my visit,” Victoria said. “If you don’t want to stay, that’s fine, but I need your help carrying in the book.”
“All right.” Yusra glanced around the corridor. “If the guards see us…”
“They won’t do anything. I’m the prince’s mistress and you’re here because I insisted. We’re fine.”
She balanced her half of the book with one arm and used her free hand to bang the door knocker three times. They staggered back a few steps and waited.
Seconds later someone slid open a space at eye level. “Who seeks the counsel of the elders?”
“This was so much easier when the doors were just open,” Victoria muttered, then looked at the man. “Victoria. Tell Zayd it’s about the challenge. I have a solution to the prob
lem.”
“You are a woman.” The man sounded outraged.
“Really? Huh. Who knew? Look, this stupid book is heavy. Tell Zayd what I said. If you don’t, I’m going to make a sharp keening sound that will not only break glass, it will make you incapable of ever pleasing your wife again. Now go!”
There was a rustling sound, then the mini door slid shut. Seconds later the big door on the right creaked and opened. Two guards rushed out. For a second Victoria thought they were on the verge of having a close encounter with the dungeon, but the guards took the book from them and walked back into the chamber.
“I guess we’re supposed to follow,” she said.
“You go first,” Yusra told her.
Victoria smoothed the front of her tunic. She’d chosen a conservative, traditional long-sleeved shirt over loose trousers. She was covered from neck to toes, not wearing any flashy jewelry, and she’d pulled her hair back in a French braid. She hoped that by looking serious, the elders would take her seriously. They were her last hope.
The men were seated at a U-shaped table, all staring at her. Some looked curious while others were obviously having fantasies beginning with the words off with her head. She ignored all of them except Zayd. Not only was he in charge, but from what she’d heard, he was the most reasonable.
“Thank you for seeing me,” she said, and bowed. “I’m here because of the challenge.”
“How can you help?” Zayd asked.
“By offering myself as Kateb’s sacrifice.”
The men all looked at each other, then stared at her.
“Impossible,” one of them said forcefully.
“Not really.” She did her best to smile. “Look, we all know this is about revenge. I have a bad feeling about this kid. He wants to win in a big way, in front of a lot of people. What if he cheats or something? Do you really want him as your leader? Do you want him in charge? Kateb is the best man for the job and while I think we should have a serious discussion about women and leadership, this isn’t the time or place.”
The men started speaking with each other. Zayd held up his hand for silence. “Go on.”
“So if Fuad tries something, Kateb could be hurt. If he is, I rush onto the field as the sacrifice, Kateb is saved and we all go home.”
The Sheik and the Bought Bride Page 16