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Azem stood his ground, peering steadily at Kadeem. "I am doing what I think is right in order that my daughter be spared an unfortunate future with an outsider who has no place in this kingdom."
Kadeem felt the full blow of the words. They hit him with a physical force.
Outsider! Was that how Azem viewed Kadeem? An unwanted interloper. Someone who had no right to be here.
Kadeem peered at Azem. There was determination in Azem's eyes. Kadeem could see that there was no way Azem was going to back down.
Kadeem thought about Eliana. Thought about last night. A burning ache welled up in his heart. This couldn't be happening! He'd been a fool. He should have remained sitting last night at the banquet. Then none of this would have happened. But how could he possibly have known about that condition? It was his own fault for not reading it carefully enough back in Qazhar.Buried in the smallest scribblings of the very document which had made all of this possible in the first place was the clause to end all hope of a life with Eliana.
Kadeem felt his shoulders sink. "What now?" he asked simply.
Azem tilted his head. "You leave."
The words were like the crash of a heavy object in the room.
Indignation flamed in Kadeem. "Without seeing Eliana? Surely you're joking!" he exclaimed.
"I am being perfectly serious, Sheikh Al Kharif. I have already arranged to have your things transferred to the waiting jet out on the runway." Azem turned to the window. "In fact, I am sure they are waiting for you, even as we speak."
"You're throwing me out like some unwanted lout?" Kadeem snapped.
Azem shook his head. "I believe you've been treated most civilly since you arrived." And then Azem narrowed his eyes in a threatening and very knowing way. "And you've certainly enjoyed the attentions of my daughter. Of that I have been well informed."
Kadeem had to summon up every ounce of strength in his body to stop himself from leaping for Azem's throat. He'd arranged for Kadeem and Eliana to be spied upon while he'd been with her. Eliana had been right. There were eyes everywhere in the palace. Kadeem wondered if Azem understood just how much of Eliana's attentions Kadeem had enjoyed.
The door opened behind Kadeem. He looked and saw two bulky male servants waiting at the door. Kadeem turned to face Azem, who looked imperiously at Kadeem. "Goodbye, Sheikh Al Kharif," Azem said. "You'll forgive me if I do not shake hands with you."
Kadeem smiled sardonically at Azem. "I wouldn't want you to get your hands dirty," he said acidly.
Azem gazed at Kadeem, unaffected by that remark.
Then, Kadeem turned and started toward the door. It was going to be an impossible journey back to Qazhar.
CHAPTER TWENTY
"Father asked me to come and see you, mother," Eliana said as she walked into her parents suite of rooms on the west-facing wing of the palace.
Gretchen was on the sofa, reading a magazine. She looked up at Eliana. "Come in, Eliana."
Eliana nodded. "He told me you had something to tell me about today. I hope it's about me and Kadeem doing something nice together. We need something to take our minds off what happened at the banquet."
Gretchen put the magazine down and patted the sofa. "Sit down, Eliana," she instructed.
Eliana sat down by her mother's side. There was some concern in her mother's eyes. Eliana knew that look all too well. "What's wrong, mother?"
Gretchen frowned. "Your father has been thinking about what Kadeem did, last night. And he's come to the conclusion that it was very troubling."
Eliana pouted. "Surely father wasn't offended by it. I think everyone else thought that Kadeem spoke very well."
Gretchen smiled. "Of course, Kadeem behaved impeccably. I know that," Gretchen said. "But, your father doesn't see it in the same way." She shook her head and sighed. "Not at all."
Eliana shrugged. "So what. There's nothing he can do, is there?"
Gretchen turned and faced Eliana. "There's where you're wrong, Eliana." Gretchen frowned. "Quite wrong."
Eliana felt something heavy sink into the pit of her stomach. She hadn't seen her mother look this worried. Ever.
"What are you talking about?" Eliana said.
