Ann Lethbridge - Mills & Boon New Voices - Foreword by Katie Fforde

Raised voices brought him sharply back to the present. Sheikh Abu Bakr had gone to stand by a window with his back to the group. Sheikh Hassan sat with his arms crossed and a militant expression on his face. Zafir’s ministers looked exasperated.

Zafir had had enough for now.

“Let us take a break,” he interjected. “I will return in an hour’s time, and I expect you all to be here, ready to talk.”

He stood. Everyone in the room shot to their feet and bowed. Zafir turned and strode out the door. There was just enough time to see Genie, maybe have a little lunch with her. He wouldn’t tell her about his idea just yet. It was too new, and he was still too uncertain it was the correct path. His heart believed it was, but his head needed time to adjust.

There was a shortcut to the harem and he took it, passing down long dark corridors that were rarely used anymore. He was excited about the idea of changing the code, about talking Genie into marrying him and staying in Bah’shar, but he was torn as well. Though it felt like the best solution for him personally, was it best for his people? For his nation?

As he passed a dark alcove, a sharp pain sliced across his arm. Zafir spun as something flashed silver in the dim light. All his senses were on high alert as the assassin’s knife descended again.

“Die, traitor,” a voice breathed as the knife plunged home.

GENIE was in the library, researching the Temples of Al-Shahar, when two men in dark clothes burst in. She recognized them as being on Zafir’s security team from the Uzis slung across their chests and the microphones in their ears. She didn’t even realize she’d gotten to her feet until they crashed to a halt in front of her.

“You will come with us,” one of the men said.

“Where are we going?” She’d faced menacing characters before in her line of work, but these two made her heart pound a little harder than usual. Perhaps because they were part of the team that ensured Zafir’s safety. If they were here, was something wrong? Was there danger?

A tremor of apprehension snaked along her spine.

“The hospital.”

“But what has happened?” she said as they hustled her toward the exit.

One of the men looked down at her with a grave expression. “The King has been stabbed.”

Zafir winced as the doctor probed at the wound.

“You are lucky, Your Majesty,” he said. “It’s only a flesh wound.”

Yes, but one that hurt like hell. And one that he would not have gotten had he not been distracted by thoughts of the woman he’d been in a hurry to see again.

“A few stitches and it will heal nicely,” the doctor continued as he finished his examination.

The man went to get his supplies and Zafir turned to the guard who stood silently by.

“Is she here yet?”

“They are bringing her now, Majesty.”

A moment later the door burst open and Genie rushed in. He was no longer surprised at the kick in the gut he felt when he saw her, but he pushed it down deep and put a lid on it. She was pale and her cheeks were tear-streaked. He took in her puffy eyes, her red nose, and felt a pang of guilt.

He had to let her go. For her safety. Until the moment he’d been attacked he hadn’t stopped to think how his people might react to a Western woman as their queen. There were those who would never accept it. Though it made him want to howl in frustration to be forced to give up happiness just when he’d thought he might have found it, he had to do so.

For her. What he wanted didn’t matter when contrasted with the risk to her life.

Because who was to say that she would not be the target of an assassination attempt at some point? She would be resented by those who didn’t want change, and she might draw the wrath of extremist groups.

He could not allow that. Not ever.

“Zafir,” she gasped, rushing over to him. She stopped short when she saw the bloody wound on his arm. Then her gaze lifted to his. Her voice wavered. “They said you’d been hurt.”

Not as hurt as the assassin he’d disarmed. “I am fine, Genie. It’s not serious.”

He wanted to hold her, reassure her. But he would not. Keeping his arms at his sides was one of the toughest things he’d ever had to do.

“Do you know who did it?” Her eyes were huge pools of rainwater gray and tears trembled on the brink of her lashes.

“Oh, yes. The conspirators will be dealt with, I assure you.” Once the would-be assassin had realized he’d failed, he’d spilled his guts to the police.

Zafir said a quiet word to the bodyguard. The man went to stand outside the door.

Once he was gone, Genie reached for Zafir’s hand. “I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you—”

“Genie,” he cut in before she could say more. He must have spoken sharply because she fell quiet instantly. He squeezed her hand before letting it go. How could he do this? How could he send away the only bit of happiness he’d ever known? He drew in a painful breath. “I am sending you back to your camp.”

She bit her lip, confusion playing across her expressive face. Her guard was down and every emotion she felt was there to read in detail. It pained him to look at her, but he would not look away.

“Now? Today?”

He nodded. “You have fulfilled your end of the bargain, and I will fulfill mine. You are free to go. Yusuf will give you all you need for contacting the proper authorities for the excavation. They will be told to cooperate fully.”

She looked stunned. “I…I…Why, Zafir? Why now?”

His heart was a lead ball in his chest. “It is time.”

“Does this mean you’ve concluded your negotiations with the Sheikhs?”

“Yes,” he said. “It is done.” Done because one of their number had tried to kill him in order to frame the other group for murder. The leaders were so horrified they would now do anything to demonstrate their loyalty. And he meant to take advantage of it.

“That’s good. Congratulations.”

“There is much work yet to be done, and you have served your purpose.” She winced when he said that, and he mentally kicked himself for it. “I can ask no more of you.”

“Is this your revenge?” she asked. “Making me care for you again and then sending me away?”

The words pierced him. For a brief moment he thought it might be easier to let her believe that, but he couldn’t do it.

“No, Genie, this is not revenge. We are two different people now, from two different worlds, and it’s time we got back to them.”

She took a deep breath. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. I—” She swallowed “It was great to see you again.”

“I enjoyed our time together.” A hard lump had formed in his throat and made it difficult to speak. He ignored it. Letting her go was right. For her, for him. She didn’t belong here, and he needed to get back to the business of governing his kingdom.

He thought of her swollen with his child. It nearly overwhelmed his will to release her. “I trust you, Genie. You will tell me if there is a child?”

“Of course,” she said, all business. “I would never keep that information a secret from you.”

“Yusuf will give you my private number. Call me when you know.”

She nodded. “Absolutely. If that’s all, then? The sooner I get back to camp, the sooner I can get to work again.”

She stood stiffly, like a soldier. Even her hands had disappeared behind her back. He imagined her clasping them together with military precision. She was already leaving him in her mind. How easily she returned to the life she’d led before.

Perhaps his had been the only heart affected after all.

“Goodbye, Genie.”

“Goodbye, Zafir.” And then she was gone.