"What is this about?" Kadar said.
"Later. Will you show me where I'm to sleep?"
"Selene--what is--" He broke off and took her arm and started up the stairs. "All right. We won't talk now."
She again felt that stirring and moved away from him. "Don't touch me."
"For God's sake, I'm not trying to--" His gaze was narrowed on her face. "I've never seen you like this. You're cold as stone. What's happened to you?"
"I don't want to have to say it twice. I'll talk to you and Tarik and Layla this evening."
"You're shutting me out," he said through his teeth. "I don't like being grouped with Tarik and this Layla. I won't have it."
"This evening," she repeated as she stopped inside the door. "Now will you show me where I'm to sleep?"
He stared at her for a long moment and then gestured to a young boy hovering nearby. "Show her to a chamber, Benito. One that's close to mine. See that water is brought for a bath."
Benito nodded eagerly and set off down the long marble hallway.
"Wait," he said as she started to follow the boy. "You'll need clothing. I'll send someone down the hill to tell Haroun to bring up your packs."
"There are no packs to bring. I'll make do with what I'm wearing." She didn't look back at him. "And no one can tell Haroun anything. He's dead."
______
He was coming.
Layla instinctively braced herself as she saw Tarik walking down the hill. He looked the same as that day when he'd left her. Well, what had she expected? Of course he looked the same. She could hardly expect him to pine away. He had done everything he could to show her he no longer needed her, even taking another wife.
But he did need her. Just as she needed him.
She forced a smile and started toward him.
He didn't return her smile. "What are you doing here?"
"Selene wanted to come."
"If I'd wanted her here, I'd have brought her with us. She was to go to Scotland."
"And you chose Antonio to take her." She met his gaze. "I think you lie. I believe you had no intention of sending her to safety. I think you knew Antonio would bring her to me."
"I had no idea Antonio was in your pay."
For a moment she was shaken by the flatness of the assertion. "You knew. I'd wager you know every man hired by me or Nasim in your household."
"You'd lose. I didn't know about Antonio. Why should I think you'd have spies in my camp?"
Because I love you. Because you know I'd never let you go. She moistened her lips. "Eshe. Why else?"
"You sent me the coffer. You don't trust me to care for it?"
She had sent it to him because she wanted to forge a link that would bring him back to her. "You have a tendency to be foolish. I had to be sure. When you sent me Selene, I hoped you were seeing clearer."
He went still. "And why do you think I sent you Selene?"
"Eshe. To do what you could not."
He inhaled sharply. "Good God in heaven, what have you done?"
