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Even now, there were still nights whenthatwas all she could think of, and making it worse was how her body literally ached at the memories. They were just memories now, and yet her body still heated up like the feel of his hardness against her had been indelible.
She knew what she was feeling was wrong, but she couldn’t seem to stop. Could this really be what Harper talked of? Could this somehow turn into something right and beautiful? The questions were something Kyria had never really hoped to find the answer to. She was too cowardly, too scared to take a risk on anything...or so she thought until life showed her how desperate straits could truly led to desperate measures.
And it all started with a girl named Katerina Chariot.
****
“IWOULD LIKE TO STUDYabroad.” The king and queen were hosting a dinner for the rest of the royal family when Kyria finally mustered the courage to announce her decision, and the reactions to her statement were quite varied.
Altair sputtered over his glass, Vanna dropped her fork, while the king and the other sheikhs had their jaws drop. Malik on the other hand, the queen was quick to note, was conspicuously expressionless, although his hard form had become unnaturally still.
Harper leaned back against her seat.Thiswas going to be interesting. Turning to Kyria, she asked casually, “Do you already have a school in mind?”
“Nothing specifically...” Kyria started playing with the napkin on her lap. “But I was hoping I could be introduced to a different culture at the same time.”
The queen nodded thoughtfully. “That would be fun.” The truth was, Harper had long known about Kyria’s plan. She and the younger girl had become quite close in recent months, with Harper taking on a de facto role as big sister. She felt very protective about Kyria, more so when Khalil’s shy cousin had confided to her about, well...everything.
And oh, how shocked she had been the first time she realized what those things were.
“Christopoulos University.”
All heads snapped towards Malik’s direction, but the sheikh met their stunned gazes calmly. “It’s in Miami, and it’s one of the best schools in the world.”
Unbelievable,Harper thought, half-confused, half-incredulous. Was he really letting go of Kyria just like that? And why suggest that of all places?
“Thanks but no thanks.” Kyria’s voice was strained, and who could blame her?
“Then perhaps Tsubaki in Tokyo?”
Okay, that made for two strikes now. This time Harper was close to scowling at the sheikh. Was he reallythatobtuse or was he doing this deliberately? Those two schools had something to do with Katerina Chariot, the girl currently (albeit unknowingly) causing such grief to Kyria. And Malik wanted her to study in either of those places?
“No.” And this time, Kyria’s voice was tight with anger.
Malik frowned. “What are you being mad about?”
Harper’s teeth gnashed. How could one be so dense? If she could be sure that throwing a glass of water on Malik’s too-beautiful face fell within her rights as queen, she would have done so then and there. Although Khalil had been reluctant to speak of Malik’s feelings for the girl, he had said just enough for Harper to understand that Malik had been half in love with Kyria for most of his life. If that was the case, then why couldn’t the idiot see how much he was hurting the girl he supposedly loved?
During Katerina’s stay at the palace, Malik had been less subtle than usual in the way he had flirted with the girl, and when the sheikh even flew all the way to Tokyo to meet with her, most people were convinced that marriage was in the works...Kyria included.
“Does that man really love her,” Harper burst out angrily as soon as she was alone with the king in their chamber.
“With his whole being, and probably more than we can ever comprehend.” Khalil swept her up in his arms as he spoke and carried his wife to bed.
“I know Malik must have told you what caused them to have this...this very civilized war between them...”
“I wouldn’t know what you’re talking about.” The king’s tone was polite, but his touch was gentle as he laid Harper on the bed.
She snorted. “No need to admit it. I know you guys don’t hide anything from each other.”
“If that’s the case...” His weight settled over her, and she bit back a gasp of pleasure as he licked her lips. “What’s your point?”
“Umm...” It took her a while to answer, that tiny taste of pleasure more than enough to make Harper lose her senses. Clearing her throat, she said, “That morning changed things between them, and for as long as they don’t talk about it, they’re just going to keep hurting each other.”
“Probably.”
She gaped. “That’s all you’re going to say?”
“It’s what I think—-” And this time, Khalil’s dark gaze held a serious look of warning. “—-but you and I and the others are not allowed to say anything.”
