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It was the most brilliantly absurd thing.
She had never thought herself drawn to dangerous men. And yet...
Perhaps it was because she knew of the danger and destruction that had occurred here. But it made her feel... Good. Good to know that he could protect her if need be. Good to know that he would be the one looking out for her.
She was dressed in white. And she knew why now. Because they would make a beautiful contrasting picture standing together. And the idea had been to make her look somewhat bridal.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes,” he said. “I’ve been ready for this moment for the last sixteen years. The question is... Are you?”
“I think we both know that the question is... Is Riyaz?”
A knowing look passed between them, and for a moment, she felt like they were a couple again. Like they were in some kind of unity.
She walked over to him and took his arm. And they walked from the room together. She wanted to melt into him. Into this moment.
“We will be standing on the balcony, where Riyaz will make a speech. As will I. You will stand to my right.”
She nodded.
“I don’t have to speak, do I?”
“No. You don’t.”
“That’s good.”
Though, she had the vague idea that she should ask if she was even allowed to speak. She wondered if she would like his answer to that question. She imagined not. They stepped out onto the corridor, and there was Riyaz. Standing there alone. He was wearing a loose white tunic, and white pants. His dark hair was long and loose. He still had a full beard, scars that spoke of immeasurable cruelties that he suffered at the hands of the guards here.
“Riyaz,” she said.
“Ariel,” he said.
They had not spoken directly since she had come back to the palace.
“I hope that you know,” she said, “you have my loyalty.”
“Yes. I do know. But my brother has you.”
“Yes. He does. But he... He always has, Riyaz. I don’t know if you know that.”
He looked between the two of them, his gaze sharp. “Has he?”
“We will discuss it later,” said Cairo. “For now we have a kingdom to reclaim.”
They were the same height, and Cairo had lean muscle. She knew he was fast and agile.
Riyaz looked like a weapon in the form of a man. He did not have a sword at his waist, and yet, she had the sense that he did not need one. That he would be more than happy to take on any enemies with his bare hands. And that he would prefer it that way.
He was built like a beast.
And she had the feeling that between the two of them, a beleaguered nation would feel comforted knowing they had two kinds of lethal men at the helm.
They stepped out onto the balcony, and a ripple went through the crowd. She wondered how many of them had heard through rumor that this would happen. She knew that of course Cairo’s people already knew. So there must have been some rumors that had made their way back over the border.
Whispers. But of course it would be hard to believe if you didn’t see it with your own eyes.
“The al Hadid family is back on the throne,” said Riyaz, his voice strong and clear.
