AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tarif’s lip curled. “Did I?”
“I wouldn’t lie about something like this, brother.”
“And yet you treat her differently from the rest—-”
“Because she’s Hyacinth’s sister,” Rayyan admitted heavily.
It took more than a moment for Tarif to get past his incredulity. “Hyacinth? This is all because of Anisah’s sister?”
“Yes,” Rayyan bit out. “So do you get it now?”
This time, the truth in Rayyan’s words was unquestionable, and tension slackened its grip on Tarif’s powerful form. Shaking his head, he muttered testily, “You should have simply said so in the first place.”
“Easy for you to say,” Rayyan snarled under his breath. “You weren’t the one being hounded by a seventeen-year-old—-”
Tarif was stunned. “That long?” As vast as the palace was, it also operated no different from a small town in the sense that everyone knew everyone’s business. He couldn’t even begin to think of the things that Rayyan and Hyacinth Kahveci had to do in order to keep their involvement a secret for years.
When Tarif looked back at his cousin, Rayyan said, “Back at you, brother.”
“Eafi?” Pardon?
Rayyan’s lips twisted. “I’m saying I’d rather you forget I said anything as well.”
The two sheikhs stared at each other, their faces yielding nothing beyond their expressionless masks.
“How much does Hyacinth Kahveci matter to you?”
“Probably as much as her sister means to you.”
“If I agree to keeping your secret, do I also have your word that you will refrain from interfering in my business?”
Rayyan’s lips pressed together in a tight line. “I cannot make such a promise – you know that.”
The utter ruthlessness in which Tarif pursued Anisah had not escaped him or the other sheikhs, and the knowledge had left them struggling to determine the right thing to do. As innocent as Anisah was, she was also an adult, and while Tarif’s tactics were not in any way criminal, the other sheikh wasn’t exactly being fair either.
“Do you not think you are taking things too far?” Rayyan asked finally. As much as he wanted to interfere, he knew he would only do so as a last resort, and now wasn’t the right time for it.
“Maybe.” Tarif’s broad shoulders moved in a shrug. “But there’s nothing else I can do now. I want her.”
“That has become obvious enough,” the other sheikh said carefully, “but in all honesty, Tarif – you have me and the others surprised. We thought your interest in her would have long waned by now. After all, she is not exactly your taste, is she?”
Tarif’s expression turned brooding. “No. She’s not.” And when he saw the look in the other sheikh’s eyes, he knew that Rayyan was thinking the same thing he did.
Anisah was too opinionated, excessively proper, and as politically invested as a natural-born martyr.
She was too much like his mother, in short, and God knew how much Tarif detested the woman who gave birth to him.
****
“Ramil malaka!” Ramil forever!
The session came to a close when the sheikhs, together with everyone inside the Grand Chamber, pounded their chests as they affirmed their oath of loyalty to the kingdom. A cheer followed, and as some of the sheikhs moved toward the gallery to speak with the people, Anisah’s gaze remained on Tarif Al-Atassi.
It was one of those rare days he had on the kingdom’s traditional robe, and its loose fit only served to accentuate the impressive breadth of his shoulders and his intimidating height. As required by The Noble House, the sheikh had also donned a formal headdress, but while this made some of the men look weak and frail, it only served to emphasize the classical perfection of the sheikh’s features.
With the way she was practically drooling over the sheikh’s good looks, Anisah knew she was acting no better than the female students in her class, all of whom had dreamily declared their undying love for the Al-Atassi sheikhs.
Oh, if only that was just it.
