"That's not good enough. You're going to give it to her." His glance went from Tarik to Layla and back again. "I don't care what's between you. I don't care about the grail. I'm tired of having you and Nasim interfering with our lives. It's not going to happen anymore."
"Kadar, I'm not arguing about--"
"She wants to talk to all of us after supper tonight." He turned and started to stalk back up the hill. "You're going to listen and, by God, if you say one word to upset her, I'll make you pay."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kadar asked.
Selene whirled to see him standing in the doorway of her chamber. His face was pale, his eyes glittering, and she instinctively stiffened. "What are you doing here?"
"Didn't I have the right to know?" He moved forward and slammed the door. "It was my child, for God's sake."
"I was going to tell you."
"When? This evening? A joint announcement to Tarik and me? You didn't think I deserved to hear it alone?" His hands fell on her shoulders. "You let Tarik's wife, a stranger, be the one to tell me."
She looked away from him. "I didn't want to talk about it."
His face softened. "Selene." His hands gently kneaded her shoulders. "We have to talk about it. We shared the pleasure that created the child, now let me share the pain. I can help you."
She could feel herself softening, bending toward him like a tree in a strong breeze. He would understand. He had wanted the child.
She mustn't soften. She had to remain strong and rock hard. "Do you want me to weep and moan? My babe is dead. Haroun is dead. Weeping won't bring them back."
"I don't want you to weep. I want you to let me share. You're not being fair to me."
She backed away from him. "I want you to leave me now. I'll see you this evening."
"The devil I'll leave you." He took a step forward. "You can't shove me into the background and lump me with Tarik and Layla. We've been comrades and lovers. For God's sake, we've conceived a child. We've shared too much."
"That doesn't matter."
"It does matter. Nothing matters more than--" He drew a deep breath. "This is wrong. I lost control. I didn't mean to argue with you. I meant to be all that was gentle and understanding."
"Then understand that I want you to go."
"I'm leaving." He moved toward the door. "And for now I'll obediently fade into the background where you want me. But it won't last, Selene. I won't let it last."
He did not slam the door, but the closing was crisp and decisive.
He was gone. She crossed her arms across her chest to still their trembling. She had thought she was frozen, but she was coming alive again. She had desperately wanted to reach out and take the comfort he offered. She should have known Kadar would be capable of getting past any barrier and jarring her.
But she hadn't yielded, and he had left her.
Triumph.
It didn't feel like triumph. It felt bitter and uncertain and very, very lonely.
Kadar's hands clenched into fists as he walked blindly down the hall.
She was in pain and he couldn't help her.
By God, he couldn't bear it.
She had shut him away from her. It had happened before, but he always knew that given time and patience he could break through. But this was not the same. He had never seen her like this. She seemed years older, and the walls she had thrown up were iron hard.
Stop feeling and start thinking. There was always something to be done. There had to be some way to approach her that she would accept.
But they knew each other too well. She would be on guard against any familiar ploy. Whatever path he chose would have to be one they had never walked before.
