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For the most part, her seeming return from the dead was very welcome news indeed. And with each moment that passed, he could see the wheels turning in the councillors’ minds regarding how to swiftly reclaim their Queen.
A few cast furtive glances towards him, wary of his silence.
The simple truth was that to vocalise his true feelings would’ve shocked them all. The churning in his chest that had begun long before Niesha’s past had been revealed, and which had grown considerably since the revelation, exploded into gut-clenching proportions as he watched them slowly sink their claws into the woman he had claimed for himself.
Or attempted to claim.
Behind his back, his fists curled, his whole body tensed up in battle mode. The thundering of his blood hissed that, regardless of his acceptance of her birthright, he wasn’t about to let her go that easily.
You may not have a choice.
He ignored the voice that had been growing louder. By his own bargain, he’d placed an exit clause on their marriage. Whether he chose to accept it or not, a termination date could very well be on its way back to bite him.
He noticed his own councillors sending him quest
ioning looks, but for the first time in his life, he didn’t have ready answers available. He hadn’t had them back in Paris when the thought had first occurred to him that he might lose Niesha.
‘Your Serene Highness, we will need to make an announcement soon. When can we expect you to return to Rumadah?’
This came from the chief councillor, a cunning old man who’d been eyeing Zufar since they entered his conference room.
‘Return?’ Niesha echoed.
‘Of course. Once the announcement is made, your people will wish to see you, to reassure themselves that you are well.’
‘She is well, as you can very well see.’ Zufar attempted to modulate his voice, but knew he hadn’t succeeded when more eyes turned wary.
‘Of course, Your Highness, and we will be grateful to you and to your people for ever for taking such good care of our Queen.’
‘But...?’ he trailed softly. There was a but. It was written on all their faces.
‘But...with a thousand pardons, her rightful place is back in Rumadah. Her people need her.’
Simple words.
Heavy, life-altering words, as he very well knew.
Not too long in the recent past his own councillors had pleaded with him in the same manner, urging him to save Khalia after his father’s abdication.
Even now, his people needed him. Khalia might have regained her rightful position as a powerful state to be reckoned with but Rumadah had merely trundled along, no one stepping up to make the bold decisions that would take it from a game player to a shot caller.
Without a bold leader to ensure its considerable power was harnessed in the right way, it risked falling into apathy or, worse, into enemy hands. From the research he’d done himself, Zufar knew that the oil-rich country had only stayed on an even course because of its substantial deposits.
A glance around the room of ageing councillors delivered the hard truth that it was only a matter of time before the situation altered for the worse. They needed a true leader, a visionary, who would rule with a firm but compassionate hand.
Someone like Niesha.
His wife.
His Queen.
The mother of his unborn child.
It was impossible.
It was also inevitable that a decision needed to be taken. And soon.
He turned and looked at the two dozen people in the room.
