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He looked around, at the glittering opulence of the throne room. At Brianna, who was being given to him as... Some sort of guide. At his brother, who was now leaving. “I have not expected any of the things that have occurred in this last eight days. Why should I make others comfortable by giving them what they expect?”
“Because you’re a sheikh. You have to be somewhat expected.”
“What is your plan?” Riyaz asked. “Give me something to expect.”
“In a month’s time I wish to present you to our people. Riyaz... They have been in captivity as well. Even if not quite so literally. But until we can show you, physically to the public, I don’t want to disclose what has occurred. We must move carefully. We must not ever allow anyone to think that we are weak. We cannot invite more unrest. Not after what we have already endured.”
“I could fight. If we were attacked.”
Cairo looked at him. “I know. But I would rather not have to fight.”
Cairo turned to go. “I will be back next week. After which I will be going to Europe to secure Ariel. As instructed.”
“Good.”
“My wish is only to serve.”
His brother gave a small bow, then turned and walked out of the room, leaving him alone with Brianna Whitman. And now he would ask her whatever he wanted. Because Cairo was not here to tell him that he couldn’t.
“Is my brother your lover?”
Her face turned a startling shade of pink. “Excuse me?”
“He touches you as a man familiar with your body would.”
“Cairo is not... He is not familiar with my body.”
But he could see by the way she said his name, and by the way that her cheeks colored even darker, that the idea was not an unpleasant one to her.
This time he made sure to keep the growl inside. “But you would like him to be.”
“We’re friends. We do not have that sort of relationship.”
“Do you have a lover?”
Her lips went tight. “What we’re doing is not about me,” she said. “It is about you. Shall we go take lunch?”
“I cannot eat this food,” he said. “Not every day. It is... Too much. I cannot even fathom it. All day every day, changes in texture, flavor. In addition to all these other things going on. How does one even have a thought with so much...?” He waved a hand. “Everything?”
“Is there something specific I can ask the kitchen to prepare you?”
“Porridge,” he said. “And bread. Toasted.”
The day that he had been set free from the dungeon he’d had a cheeseburger. After that, he had wanted to return to what he knew. He could manage at least one different thing every day, but the relentlessness of it all... He did not care for it.
“Then that is what you will have.”
“And then what?”
“And then... Your training begins.”
CHAPTER TWO
BRIANNATRIEDTOcatch her breath while she waited for Riyaz to join her in the dining room.
She hadn’t been prepared for him. Of course she had come here because Cairo had asked her to. And she would do anything that Cairo asked. And disturbingly, Riyaz seem to have identified that immediately.
Was he herlover?
