AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He pushed open the door, and she followed him. It was a sitting room, luxuriously appointed. “My chambers there,” he said, gesturing to the left. “Yours are there.”
“We’re to have separate rooms?”
“It is how things are done.”
It was not how they had done things last night. They had slept wrapped around each other. In that bed in the desert. But it was as if everything had changed. Between then and now.
“You must be tired. You should sleep.”
“I’m not tired...”
“Then perhaps I am. In the next couple of days a great many things will unfold. You must have your strength saved up. For we will go public. As a restored royal family. And as husband and wife.”
“Well. I guess... That will take some strength.”
“And I did promise you a computer and a phone. You will be given those things. You may return to work.”
She knew that should make her feel something. Happy. Excited.
She didn’t. Instead, she went to bed alone. And while that should have been normal, it already felt wrong. And even though she knew she was with the right man, everything else felt wrong. And she didn’t know what to do about it.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ITWASLATE. He had helped Ariel sneak back into the palace. They should never have been out like they were. There would be hell to pay if they were discovered. His father would lecture him soundly on risking Ariel’s reputation.
They were not children anymore. At fourteen, they would be held accountable for their actions. And people would be suspicious that their behavior had been inappropriate.
A smile curved his lips. He looked up at the desert sky.
“Ariel.”
He had wanted to behave inappropriately with her. But he hadn’t. Mostly because he would not subject her to any sort of censure. He cared for her so deeply. She was... The moon. That guiding light in the darkness.
He turned and began to walk back toward the palace. There was a door that could always be opened no matter the time of night. A way that he could sneak in. Undetected. It was the way that he had sent Ariel earlier.
“Cairo?”
He turned sharply to see Ariel’s father standing there.
“Mr. Hart.”
“Your Highness. I’m sorry to startle you. It’s only that... I have not seen Ariel.”
Ariel should have been back safely in bed by now. But it was possible her father had missed her.
“I... I saw her out here, sir. We had gone for a walk. But I saw her safely back inside the palace.”
“I see,” her dad said, his eyes taking on a suspicious light. “You know... It could be taken the wrong way. The two of you out here walking together. She is supposed to marry Riyaz...”
“She’s my friend,” said Cairo. “There’s nothing more to it.”
“I will take you at your word. Of course. You are part of the royal family after all. Known for their integrity.”
He nodded, feeling relieved. “I’m being honest. You don’t... You won’t tell my father?”
“No. There’s no need to speak to your father. Though... I cannot figure out how to get back into the palace. I left to find Ariel. And now... I do not wish to wake the staff trying to gain entrance. I assume there’s a way?”
“There’s a passage. Through the garden. I can show you how I get in.”
