He grabbed her shoulders when she started to race out of the parking garage. “Ilara, stop! Think! This has to be strategic. We can’t just go in through that tunnel and tell your uncle to get out. We need a plan.”
In her head, she knew that he was right. But in her heart, she wanted to rush into the palace and save those sweet, gentle men who never did anything but advise her and her family on the pros and cons of every proposal. They didn’t have the power to make the laws, only advise on the laws.
Something occurred to her. “He knows!” she gasped. “He knows I’m here! He knows I’m in Ditra!”
“Why do you say that?” he asked, pulling her into the warmth of his arms.
“Because the high council doesn’t have the power to make the laws. Only my uncle, or me after my wedding, can make laws. The high council only advises on the laws.”
“So, why does he have them sequestered inside the palace?”
“Because they are the only ones that can rule on the change of power! They are the ones that must approve of and validate the legality of my marriage!”
Everyone was silent for a long moment as they contemplated the ramifications. Jabril was the first to react. “Okay, so he knows. And that conversation probably told him more than we’d thought.” Turning back to his men, they all bent back down to study the maps.
“Here,” she pointed to the place where the tunnel might allow them access to the palace. “We’ll enter here and the tunnel goes under these hallways, coming out here.” She pointed to a room far away from the main meeting rooms. “This was my father’s office and it connects directly to the High Council Room, where my advisors meet. But we could get to them from this door as well,” she continued, pointing to a back door that moved from the kitchens to the administrative rooms, including the High Council Room.
“That’s good,” Jabril replied. “Anyone else have an alternative?”
The guards looked at each other. “I think we should announce her wedding to the press. The international press,” one suggested.
“He’s right,” another agreed. “The journalists here in Ditra are probably under the control of Kasim.” He turned to Ilara. “Announce it to the international press and get the word out. Explain the transition of power to the world so that he has external pressure, while we put pressure on him from within the government.”
“Give them evidence of your marriage,” another one offered. “Don’t let Kasim disabuse the validity of your marriage to Sheik al Mustar.”
Ilara nodded. “That’s good. Great ideas. What else?”
Jabril looked over the map. “I’ll have my press secretary make the announcement. She can do it through several different venues to ensure that the word spreads quickly. She’ll draft a quote saying that you’re taking over in the most legally safe and constitutionally sound manner and are grateful for Kasim’s patience while you…blah blah,” he waved his hand in the air. “My press secretary is excellent and knows what to say.” He shifted the map. “In the meantime, we should air drop food into the more remote sections of the country along with the announcement of your marriage. It will help legitimize your rule and gain their loyalty. Many will assume that you’re weak, having been out of the country for too long, and they won’t have much hope that you’ll change things. But if they hear about your marriage and get food at the same time, hope will spring up all over the place. The changes will be immediate and people will support you more easily,” he explained.
“I think that’s a brilliant idea,” she agreed, beaming up at him.
Jabril couldn’t resist bending down to kiss her. She was so beautiful and, when she smiled at him like that, he wanted to take on the world for her. Although, he was fairly certain that she wouldn’t allow him to do that since she was perfectly capable of doing so for herself. His admiration and respect for her had increased exponentially over the past several days.
“We’re going to make this work,” he assured her and the confidence in his voice helped strengthen her resolve, dissipating her concerns.
“I know we will,” she told him and lifted up on her toes to give him a kiss of both gratitude and…and something more. It was just a brief kiss since his guards were there, pretending not to watch but it was hard to avoid watching when they were so close. She didn’t care. A week ago, she might have avoided personal displays of affection, but she felt…something strong for this man. And a kiss was just her way of demonstrating her…feelings for him. Whatever those feelings might be.
“Let me call my press secretary,” he said, his voice doing that deep, husky, sexy thing.
Ilara nodded and stepped back. “I have a few friends from school who can help. They work with some of the major newspapers in the United States.”
“Good. Call them,” he replied and she turned, pulling out her cell phone. She paced the parking garage, connecting with her friends and asking them for the favor of getting the word out that she was married and accepting her role as Princess of Ditra, ready to ascend to power. All of them were surprised to discover that she would be the leader of a country and each of them demanded an interview after she took power in exchange for getting the news out. She agreed, needing their support. Ilara also figured that having news reports about the changes happening in Ditra would also help in the long term. So interviews would be a good thing, even though she’d assiduously avoided publicity all her life.
Two hours later, they had everything in place. It was a lot easier when one had an entire military at one’s disposal, she thought as Jabril ended his last call. Not to mention his entire government administration! Yes, he had a machine ready to run with all of his commands.
Ilara realized that she too would have a government at her disposal soon. An overwhelming thought!
“Are you okay?” Jabril demanded, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders.
“Yes. Fine. Why?”
“You look pale all of a sudden,” he told her, surveying her features worriedly.
She forced a smile and shook her head. “I’m better. Just…this is all a lot to take in.”
He agreed and stepped back. “Okay, let’s get back into disguise,” he announced.
Everyone moved. Ilara pulled the scarf back over her hair and most of her face. Jabril and his men covered up as well, wearing long robes that covered most of their weapons and, just as importantly, their muscles.
“Let’s move out. Ilara, you’re in the lead, but I’ll be right behind you and you need to listen if I tell you to fall back. Understood?”
“Got it,” she said, adding a nod for emphasis.
“One more thing,” he said and pulled her into his arms, kissing her until she melted into him. Whatever he saw in her face after that kiss must have assured him because he nodded in satisfaction. “Okay, now we’re ready to go.”
She laughed, shaking her head at his outrageousness. But deep down, she liked it. Her lips still tingled from that kiss and she wanted more. Just as she’d told him the other day, she wanted more of him. More nights in his arms. Would they have that after this was all over? And she had no doubts that he would help take Kasim out of power. Jabril was too confident and arrogant for any other outcome.
The sun was starting to set as she slipped out of the relative security of the parking garage. Keeping the scarf over her features and hair, she walked hurriedly along the streets until she came to the buildings she recognized as the candy store and ice cream shop. Both were abandoned now, with the front display windows broken and most of the glass scattered over the tile floor. She didn’t have time to wonder what had happened to the shops, instead making her way up the side of the hill. Peering upwards, she noticed her uncle’s guards patrolling along the wall of the palace, weapons ready. Not a good sign, she thought. But as she walked along the path up the hill, she noticed that there weren’t any guards along the back of the wall. She didn’t understand why, but she hoped that her luck held true.
“Slowly,” Jabril murmured b
ehind her. “Just walk casually.”
She nodded, but didn’t look back at him. Obviously, he’d noticed the guards. She suspected that the guards, who were most likely mercenaries and not Ditra palace guards, would shoot first and ask questions later.
“We’ll wait until dark before heading for the tunnel,” he decided from behind her.
She nodded again, but kept her eyes away from the palace, not wanting to alert the palace guards of her intentions or interest.
As the sun sank behind the hills, they crouched in the bushes, hiding from the guards but also watching, learning their routines. Sure enough, none of the guards patrolled the back area of the wall.
“Why aren’t they coming back here?” Jabril asked, wrapping his arms around her waist so he could pull her against his chest.
Ilara relaxed, appreciating his warmth. “The palace was built against this hill, but there isn’t much on the other side of the perimeter other than more rock. Which is probably why my ancestors built the tunnel, because it was too hard to climb over the rocks to get to this side of the palace. So, it’s pretty secure. Over the centuries, when someone tried to breach the palace, they came from the front or the south entrances.”
She felt him nod. “That’s how I was going to suggest getting in.”
Ilara smiled and glanced at him over her shoulder. “See? The palace is pretty secure.”
He growled slightly at her cocky smile. “Don’t get too confident. We still don’t know if the tunnel can be opened. Or even if the tunnel is safe. Someone might have discovered the tunnel over the years and booby-trapped it. We have to be careful.”
“True, but I have a good feeling about all of this.”
He groaned. “I have a pretty good feeling too, but it has nothing to do with getting inside that building.”
“Let’s get my country back!” she whispered, pushing ideas about “later” out of her mind so she could focus on the “right now”, which was much more dangerous. “Is it dark enough?” she asked, thinking that now might be a good time to pull out of his arms. Before she did something really stupid, like turning around and kissing him. She didn’t even care that his guards were all around them. She just wanted to feel his lips…and…well, a whole lot more.
“I think so,” Jabril replied, snapping her back to the present.
“This way,” she headed for the palace wall, keeping underneath the vegetation. It took ten minutes to find the door because years of vegetation had grown up over it. When she tried to open the lever, it wouldn’t budge. “It’s stuck,” she groaned.
“Let me try,” Jabril said and stepped closer to her. With annoyingly little effort, he pulled the lever upwards and the door scraped open.
“I loosened it for you,” she muttered grumpily.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” he replied with a chuckle.
They were silent as they worked their way through the tunnel. Ilara gratefully took the flashlight someone handed to her and led the way. Initially, there was only one. But as they moved deeper, the tunnels branched off.
“This way,” she said, heading towards the tunnel to the right.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive,” and she worked her way down the cold, narrow tunnel, refusing to look at the walls for fear of finding crawly things attached. The tunnels hadn’t seemed this creepy when she was younger.
A few minutes later, she came to the door that led into the palace. “This is it,” she told Jabril, her hand resting on the door. “Ready?”
“Let me go in first,” he told her.
She started to shake her head, but his head guard, Kular, stepped forward. “I apologize for the interruption, Your Highness, but I’m going in first.” The look in the guard’s eyes was clear this was not up for debate. “You two need to help free the people of Ditra. Whatever is on the other side of this door, I’ll find out and will let you know if it is safe. Otherwise, head back through the tunnels and get to safety. I’ve already radioed Commander Salstrov. He’s ready to get you out of here. Your Highness,” he added as an afterthought.
Ilara understood. The eight of them had been traveling together for days, dealing with danger, weddings, and all sorts of strangeness. Formality had a way of dropping off as they ventured through the troubled waters. But now that they were about to enter the palace, the guards felt the need for a return of formality. It was a way to elevate Jabril back to his position of power at a moment when everyone needed that power to win this tense situation.
Jabril frowned at the man and Ilara’s heart melted just a bit more. He wanted to go first. He wanted to protect even the men who had vowed to protect him! She could really fall for a man like that, she thought.
As soon as the thought formed in her head, she jerked backwards. Fall for Jabril? Was she nuts? Ilara stared at the man as he backed up, allowing the other men to pull the door open. While the brave guards stepped through the door, she reeled from the possibility that she might have feelings for Jabril.
Impossible! No way! This was just a moment in time and she’d get her country back and everything would be normal once again. No problems, no worries about falling for anyone!
As Uncle Kasim said, this was a political marriage. Nothing more!
Another thought popped into her mind. Just as much as she needed to marry to take power, Jabril had said something about producing an heir. Thinking of her plans for when all of this was over, she realized she could truly get on board with having a….
Huh? A baby? Woah! A baby!
Yep, that’s what an heir meant!
“You okay?” Jabril asked quietly, putting a hand on her arm.
They’d all turned off their flashlights, so it was almost completely black in here. But he’d known. He’d somehow sensed the change in her mood. That scary, warm sensation crept up into her chest once again. “I’m fine. Just nervous.”
Would it be so bad to fall in love with Jabril? She tried to control her breathing as she contemplated being in love with the man who would rule Piara while she helped nurse Ditra back to health. They would work closely; they would have to. So…why wouldn’t she let herself feel something more for Jabril? Why would she avoid falling in love with the man she married? Yes, it might be a simple, political alliance. One that was more for expediency and control than love or romance. But…why couldn’t they have both?
Thankfully, the guard returned before she could continue with her mental back and forth. “Everything is clear.”
The rest of them ducked down through the low doorway, spilling out into the sun-filled room. Blinking, Ilara took a moment to let her eyes adjust.
“Okay, we’re in the palace. Now, where do we go? Where would your uncle be at this moment?” Jabril squeezed her hand.
She considered the possibilities. “I don’t know where my uncle might be, but wouldn’t it be best to head towards the High Council Chambers? I doubt my uncle would have them sequestered anywhere else. It’s in the center of the palace. The most secure room. It would be the easiest place for my uncle to control a group of men against their will.” She paused for a moment. “I think we should have them validate our marriage and get their backing for the transition of power before we do anything else, don’t you?”
“Good point. Lead the way,” he stepped back. “But be aware of any signals we might give you, okay?’
“Will do,” she nodded. With that, she pulled the robes off and tossed them over a nearby chair. This room wasn’t used very often, if ever. The curtains over the windows were still closed and there was a fine layer of dust covering the furniture, indicating that not even the cleaning personnel came in. “This way,” she walked out of the room with her chin held high, her shoulders back…exactly how her nanny had trained her to walk during those long, tedious lessons about decorum and palace protocol. She’d hated those lessons before, but now she understood why they were so useful.
Jabril watched as Ilara straightened, looking beautiful and regal! She mi
ght not have had a bath in a couple of days, but she looked…stunning! Even in her black cargo pants and tee shirt. He loved that tee shirt! The thin material hugged her breasts, drawing his eyes lower too often.
Pulling his eyes away, he concentrated on keeping her safe. With his pistol in hand, the safety off, he walked beside her, incredibly proud of being her husband. Now that was a strange sensation! He’d always known that he would marry, but he’d never anticipated appreciating his wife. Respect, yes. Appreciate? It was such an odd word to apply to one’s spouse, although, perhaps not so much in a political marriage, such as theirs.
Although, their marriage was far more than simply political.
Jabril’s mind came to a screeching halt with that thought. More than political? He scanned the area in front of them. The hallway was clear but he couldn’t rely on his gut at the moment, as distracted as he was by his thoughts.
Jabril had to admit that, yes, he had feelings for her. Strong feelings! Over the past several days, he’d grown to…“appreciate” seemed like such a tame word. And respect was definitely too clinical. But he respected and appreciated her, definitely. No, this feeling in his chest every time he looked at her or touched her…or just thought about her was more than just respect or appreciation.
What it was, he didn’t know. And at the moment, he needed to keep her safe. So, Jabril turned that sensation off and looked around, scanning for danger, walking close to the beauty beside him so that he could pull her out of danger if anything happened.
The hallways were oddly empty. “Stay alert,” he quietly warned his guards.
“Where is everyone?” one asked.
Ilara put a hand on the shoulder of the guard in front, stopping him before he moved around the corner. “These back hallways were used for the harems a long time ago. They aren’t used anymore. But we’re about to move into the main living quarters. My father’s room is on the left, about twelve feet down this next hallway.”
The guards nodded. “I didn’t move into his apartment after he died. I was already living in California,” she explained. “So, I don’t know where my uncle sleeps. He might have taken over that apartment because it’s the biggest and has beautiful views of the city.”
Resisting the Sheik's Commands (The Diamond Club Book 1) Page 10