by Maya Blake
His brother exhaled noisily. ‘I’m glad you’re okay with cracking jokes. That means you’re not that far gone. That you still have time to—’
‘My mind is made up, Malak.’ He injected the conviction of his decision into his words.
Once he’d come to the realisation that it was his only option, it had been surprisingly easy. The greater battle of winning his wife’s heart was yet to come.
‘You really mean it,’ Malak observed with a stunned look. At Zufar’s nod, he threw out his hands. ‘What the hell? I don’t want it either.’
‘But you will take it because this kingdom is important to both of us. And our people need you too much for you to walk away.’
Malak opened his mouth to protest. But a full minute passed in silence as he breathed in and out, his gaze locked with Zufar’s.
Zufar saw the moment duty overcame individualism, when the mantle of responsibility settled firmly on his brother’s shoulders. It had been exactly like that for him.
‘Okay. I accept.’
He rounded his desk and held out his hand. ‘Godspeed.’
Malak pulled him into a hug. ‘Same to you, brother.’
* * *
Five hours later, Zufar stood looking at his father, wondering for the umpteenth time if the visit had been wise. He didn’t know. In fact, he wasn’t sure about a lot of things any more.
But one thing he saw—and recognised—was the pain of loss on his father’s face. It was similar to the one currently clawing deeper roots into his heart.
Was this what it felt like to have something right in front of you and lose it so completely, leaving only a gaping wound?
Because he’d lost Niesha. His foolish attempt to join her in Rumadah to mitigate the looming loss had failed miserably.
‘Why have you come here, son?’
Son.
Another wrench of agony joined the endless symphony of pain slashing his heart. Zufar couldn’t remember the last time his father had called him that. If ever. Or perhaps he had called him that but Zufar, too wrapped up in his own bitter loneliness, hadn’t noticed?
He tried to shake off the feelings but they wouldn’t leave him. What else had he missed while he’d been busy feeling wronged and aggrieved? Looking into his father’s eyes now, he thought he saw a plea that looked like his own. Even a wry understanding.
As if he saw something Zufar didn’t.
For some reason that observation both soothed and terrified him. For so long he’d harshly denounced anything to do with his father. But what if the wrongs he’d condemned his parent for were imprinted in his own DNA after all? What if he’d been predestined to repeat the same sins?
Or...what if they weren’t wrong at all? Just an extremely misguided obsession but one that could have been mitigated with the right partner by his father’s side?
Again he tried to shake off the disturbing thoughts. They persisted until he realised he hadn’t answered his father’s question.
‘Father, I have some news to share with you.’
* * *
Niesha walked into Zufar’s library, her heartbeat drumming madly in her ears. She’d come straight from the airport to the palace, the urge to speak to him after an excruciating twenty-four hours without him, paramount.
He was sitting elegantly cross-legged on a large, stripped antique sofa, a book on Khalian history balanced on his knee.
As usual, the sight of him arrested her, slowing her steps as she absorbed his virile essence. He was in one of her favourite rooms of the palace but the books might as well have been candlesticks for all the attention she paid to them.
He looked up, his gaze slowly raking her from head to toe before reconnecting with hers.
‘You have returned.’ The observation was deep, husky, lethal to her senses.
She gave a jerky nod, then ploughed ahead before she lost her nerve. ‘We need to talk.’
He tossed the heavy book to one side and stood. ‘I agree,’ he said. ‘But first I need you to take a look at this.’ He picked up a bound document from the coffee table as he came towards her.
She went cold, her heart shredding into smaller pieces. Surely he hadn’t drawn up divorce papers that quickly?
‘What is it?’ Her hands shook as she took the papers he held out to her.
‘Take a look,’ he commanded softly.
She gathered the nerve to look down at the document. Then her heart dropped to her toes. ‘This is... No, it can’t be,’ she said, although a terrified part of her just knew.
‘It is exactly as you see, little one,’ he murmured.
Niesha gasped, that small endearment she had missed so much momentarily overcoming the momentous, life-changing document she held in her hands.
She searched his face, desperately wanting to know if any of this was a cruel joke that would further pulverise her bleeding heart. But as usual, Zufar’s expression was an enigma that challenged and thrilled her at the same time.
But it didn’t stay that way for long. As she searched deeper, his eyes grew lighter, his expression clearing to leave ferocious resolution. ‘Read the document, Niesha,’ he urged again.
Her gaze dropped to the weighty document. At the top of the first page, the heading blared loud and clear—Petition For Abdication.
‘No,’ she breathed again. ‘You can’t do this.’ Her whole body shook as chills went down her spine. ‘You can’t!’ she repeated fiercely.
‘I can, and I have,’ Zufar replied.
She shook her head. ‘No, I won’t let you do this.’
He reached forwards and brushed his knuckles down her cheek. ‘My fierce Niesha. You cannot change what is already done.’
She flung herself away from him. ‘You cannot abdicate. You should’ve checked with me, Zufar.’ Her hand trembled as she waved the paper at him. ‘This is unacceptable.’
He merely smiled. ‘You will reconcile yourself to this too, habibti, because there’s no going back.’
‘But your people. Your kingdom—’
‘Will always be my people and my kingdom. But I will not be their King.’
‘Just like that? But why?’
‘Because I realised that no amount of power or privilege is worth losing you. My place is with you. By your side. I’d give up a thousand kingdoms for the chance to spend a lifetime beside you.’
Hope flared wide and bright through her heart. ‘I...I don’t know what to say.’
‘Say you’re not still considering divorcing me,’ he implored, his jaw clenching tight as he waited for her answer.
‘Saying that would imply I considered it in the first place.’
The grim smile tugged at his mouth. ‘I heard you, Niesha. I’m not ashamed to say it was the worst moment of my life.’
‘Then I wish you’d stayed a moment longer because you would’ve heard me decline the suggestion. I admit it did cross my mind, but only because I thought you wanted it.’
‘When did I give you that impression?’
‘When you said there were hard choices to be made. I thought you meant going our separate ways.’ Her eyes fell to the paper. ‘But you meant this, didn’t you?’
He gave a single, solemn nod. ‘Yes.’
She swallowed, unable to fully accept the enormity of what he’d done. ‘We should’ve talked about this. Your people will hate me for driving you to this.’
He leaned forwards, brushed his lips over hers. ‘They will not. They will throw themselves wholeheartedly at their new King.’
She frowned. ‘Their new King?’
He nodded. ‘Malak will take my place. The council has already met with him. They’re preparing his coronation speech as we speak.’
The progress he’d made without her having any inkling staggered her. She dropped to the sofa, her hand going to her hea
d. ‘Zufar...’
He was with her before she’d finished saying his name. He dropped down onto his haunches, his hands settling on her thighs. ‘Whether you accept me or not, I will not retake my throne. That is now in my past. I aim to dedicate myself to the future.’
A desperate sob broke free. ‘Your future is here with your people.’
‘No, my future is with you, by your side, the only position I will accept.’
‘But you’ll lose everything, Zufar. Your title, your—’
‘The only title I wish to assume is that of husband. Lover. Father. If you’ll have me.’
‘I can’t believe—’
‘Believe it, little one. For so long I’ve lived in misery and bitterness. You shone a light into my life where there was only darkness. When I realised my feelings for you had deepened I fought it. I believed, based on what I’d witnessed from my father, that loving you would make me weak. But I watched you loving everyone you came into contact with, watched them fall under your spell and grow stronger because of it.’ He reached for her hand, bringing it up to his lips to kiss her knuckles. ‘I’m a stronger person today than I was yesterday and that is because of you. How can I resist craving more of that? More of you?’
‘Oh, Zufar, you have no idea how much that means to me.’
‘I have a fair idea. I want to be a father to our children. I want to grow old with you.’ His jaw tightened for a second. ‘But before that I want to strike a new bargain with you.’
‘A bargain,’ she echoed faintly.
‘Yes. If you’ll have me, if you’ll stay my wife, I promise a lifetime of loving you.’
She gasped, then launched herself at him. His arms immediately folded around her, wrapping her tight against him as she fell off the sofa and into his embrace. She didn’t care that they both knelt on the carpet. And she definitely didn’t care that she was sobbing.
‘Is that a yes?’ he demanded, his mouth dropping tiny kisses against hers.
‘It’s a yes. It’s an absolute definite yes. But on one condition.’
He tensed slightly, leaning back to look down into her face. Then he gave one of those very regal nods she adored so much. ‘Whatever it is, I agree.’
‘Promise me you’ll never make such life-altering decisions without discussing it with me first?’
‘Niesha, you stepped up to be my Queen when I demanded it. It was my turn to return the favour. Rumadah needs her Queen.’
Her happiness dimmed a little. ‘Are you sure, Zufar? Absolutely, irrevocably sure? Is there a cooling-off period for abdication? Can we take it back?’
‘Hush, little one,’ he said, then dropped a longer kiss on her lips. ‘There’s no going back. There is only going forwards.’ One warm, bold hand splayed on her stomach, gently cradling their baby. ‘Besides, this project is going to be a full-time one, I suspect.’
She sighed. ‘You will be a great father, Zufar, but I don’t want you to be just a father. Our coming together may have been a little unorthodox, but without you I would never have found my family, or claimed my birthright. You’ve helped me in ways that you can never imagine. I don’t want you to give up your life here for me, and I came back to tell you just that—that I’ll stay in Khalia and be your Queen if that is the only way to hold onto you. I selfishly want a lifetime with you too. But if you think you’ll be happy in Rumadah with me, then I want more for you.’
‘It shall be as you wish.’
She shook her head. ‘You don’t understand. I don’t want you to just be my husband. I want you to be my King.’
Shock flared through his eyes. ‘Niesha, you don’t have to.’
‘I want to. Just as you wanted me by your side as your Queen, I want you by mine as my husband and my King. That’s another non-negotiable condition.’
A wider smile curved his mouth. ‘I get the impression there will be a few conditions along our journey through life.’
‘You drove a hard bargain when we met. I learned from the best.’
His hands framed her face, his thumbs caressing her cheekbones as he stared deeply into her eyes. ‘Even back then, without knowing why, I knew I couldn’t let you go. You were in my heart, in my blood, and I didn’t even know it.’
‘But you know it now?’
‘Without doubt or regret.’
‘You’re in every fibre of my being too. And I wouldn’t want it any other way. I love you, Zufar.’
‘And I love and adore you, my magnificent Queen.’
EPILOGUE
‘IS HER SERENE HIGHNESS ready for her next present?’ The words were whispered against her nape, right before warm kisses rained on her bare skin.
Niesha—or Nazira, as she’d reverted to calling herself—laughed. ‘You can’t keep showering me with gifts, Zufar. One was enough. Twenty is beyond excessive.’
‘I have no idea where you got the impression that I have twenty gifts for you.’
She chuckled. ‘I’m sorry to inform you that your private secretary caved under pressure from mine.’
Zufar’s head dropped onto her back and he groaned.
She laughed harder. ‘In his defence, I think he has a crush on her.’
‘Well, if my secret is out, then you’ll have no choice but to accept.’
He rolled her over and tugged her into his arms. Nazira draped herself over his wide chest, deliriously happy to watch as he reached beneath his pillow, and brought out a small square box tied with ribbons. It was the sixth one he’d given her today and it was barely morning. He’d woken her with deep, intoxicating kissing, and proceeded to take her to heaven and back. As a start to her twenty-sixth birthday, it had been second to none.
And then the presents had started. That Zufar intended to keep to his promise to deliver twenty presents for all the ones she’d missed was evident.
While she was happy to let him because it pleased him, she was content just counting her blessings.
Just a few short months ago, she’d been drowning in loneliness and despair.
Now, she had regained her past, been crowned a queen and, best of all, was tied for life to the husband of her soul.
She accepted the box, and gasped. The diamond pendant was a replica of her birthmark, the starfish the same size as the mark on her arm. And on the back were the names of her family, etched into the white platinum. ‘Oh, it’s gorgeous.’ Tears brimmed in her eyes as he nudged her upright and fastened the necklace.
‘I thought you might want a symbol of how you found yourself,’ he murmured. ‘And the inscription will keep your family with you, always.’
‘Oh, Zufar, just when I think I can’t love you any more.’
He drew her back into his arms, then demonstrated that there was another way she could love him more.
After they caught their breath, she reached for the folded piece of paper on her beside table. ‘I have something for you, too.’ She handed it over and watched him open it.
‘This is the guest list for my coronation.’
She held her breath. ‘Yes.’
His gaze dropped to the sheet. She knew the moment he spotted the addition. ‘You want him there? Are you sure?’
She nodded. ‘I reached out to him a few days ago. He responded yesterday with an acceptance.’
Zufar remained silent for a moment and then he nodded. ‘If you’re happy to have him here, then I will welcome Adir and attempt to put the past behind us.’
She smiled, her heart bursting because she knew it had taken a great effort for him to say that. ‘And you’re not sore because he stole your intended?’ she teased.
‘You were my intended. The one my heart truly wanted. If Adir is happy with Amira, then I’m happy for them both.’
‘I love you, Zufar.’
He kissed her long and deep, until her insides melted. ‘Keep
saying that to me and I will be your slave in this life and the next.’
They stopped talking for a long time after that.
An hour later, as Zufar watched his wife dress for the start of her birthday celebrations, his breath caught all over again.
He couldn’t believe how life-changing loving her had been for him. Gone was the bitterness and misery that had clung to him before he met her. He’d accepted her proposal to make him King mostly to honour her, not because he wanted the position.
For the privilege of loving her and being loved by her in return, he would have happily lived in her shadow for the rest of his life. His acceptance had made her happy.
His upcoming coronation in two weeks wrung happy smiles from her each time she spoke about it. Who was he to deny her any of that? His heart grew to bursting as she dropped the towel on her way to the dressing room and he caught the small swell of her stomach. His cup had truly run over, and he couldn’t wait to hold their son in his arms.
He’d foolishly thought he wanted a polished stone to pass off to his people. What he’d been blessed with was a gem that shone brighter than the brightest star in the sky.
For as long as he lived, he vowed to ensure that radiance never dimmed.
* * * * *
If you enjoyed Sheikh’s Pregnant Cinderella by Maya Blake look out for the rest of the Bound to the Desert King series!
Sheikh’s Baby of Revenge
by Tara Pammi
Sheikh’s Princess of Convenience
by Dani Collins
Sheikh’s Secret Love-Child
by Caitlin Crews
Coming soon!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Claiming His Wedding Night Consequence by Abby Green.
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