AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She is perfectly safe,” Givon said mildly, walking over to Hassan and shaking his hand. “She and Kardal’s mother flew out a few minutes ago on my helicopter.”
Hassan frowned. “Why? Where are they going?”
“That’s what I want to know,” Kardal growled, thinking that he didn’t need to be dealing with Sabrina’s father right now.
Givon shrugged. “She is going to a private island that I own.”
Hassan folded his arms over his chest. “What is going on here? Givon, why are you in the City of Thieves?”
“I am visiting my son.”
Hassan raised dark eyebrows. Kardal tried to find some likeness of Sabrina in her father, but except for her brown eyes, he didn’t see any.
“I was not aware that you acknowledged your son.”
“I do now,” Givon said.
“It is about time,” Hassan announced.
The three of them were standing in the center of the room. Rafe was the only one who had bothered to claim a seat on the sofa. Kardal thought about playing the polite host, but he found he didn’t care about good manners or what the other men thought of him. He leaned toward Hassan.
“You have no right to lecture anyone on fatherly responsibilities. What about your own failures with Sabrina?”
Hassan stiffened. Anger flashed in his eyes. “You forget yourself.”
“Not for a minute.” Kardal narrowed his gaze. “Your daughter is a beautiful, intelligent woman. You assumed she was like her mother, but that is because you never bothered to get to know her. She could have been the most valuable flower in the garden that is your children, but you ignored her in favor of your sons. You ignored her because it was easier.” He turned to Givon. “Much as you ignored me.”
Givon nodded. “I cannot deny the truth of your words. However, I would remind you that you grew to be a fine strong leader who has done well for himself.”
“That doesn’t erase your responsibilities.”
“Perhaps not, but it explains my choice. You had your mother to raise you and love you. Had I left El Bahar, I would have been required to abandon my children to be raised by ministers. They had no mother.”
Kardal refused to see any validity in Givon’s argument. “What about Cala? Did you ever think about her?”
“Every day of my life. I thought about you as many times. I wanted to be with both of you. Meaningless to know now, perhaps, but true.”
Givon spoke the words with such profound sadness that Kardal almost forgot to be angry.
Hassan waved his hand. “This is all very nice. Now father and son can reconcile. However, my question remains unanswered. Where is my daughter?”
“She has run off,” Kardal said flatly. “Givon won’t say where.”
Givon smiled slightly. “You are leaving out the most interesting parts of the story.”
Kardal shifted, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. “What parts?”
“Tell him about her falling in love with you,” Rafe offered helpfully from his place on the sofa. “And about this afternoon. You know, when you…”
Kardal glowered at Rafe, but his friend simply shrugged.
“I will deal with you later,” Kardal said, then turned his attention to Hassan.
The king of Bahania nearly vibrated with rage. He might be wearing a western-style suit, but he had been born in the desert and the blood of vengeance ran in his veins.
“This afternoon?” he repeated icily.
“We’re engaged,” Kardal reminded him. “You’re the one who said you couldn’t vouch for her virtue.”
“And you’re the one who told me she was innocent. Until you had your way with her. I had assumed you were bluffing. Trying my patience to get my attention.”
Kardal drew in a breath. “It is important that Sabrina and I are married right away.” He squared his shoulders. “This afternoon I made her mine.”
Hassan lunged at him. Givon grabbed for Sabrina’s father, and Rafe sprang up from the sofa, but Kardal waved them both off. He moved even closer to Hassan.
“What are you going to do to me?”
“Behead you,” Hassan spat out. “If you are lucky. Or perhaps I’ll simply make sure you aren’t able to be with another woman again.”
“Why?” Kardal challenged. “You have never cared about Sabrina before.”
Hassan opened his mouth, then closed it. “You were wrong to take her,” he said at last.
“I know. I want to make it right by marrying her.”
Rafe shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. “I think this is where the argument started, King Hassan. The trick is Sabrina no longer wants to marry him.”
