Chapter 6 #2
Holy fluff. “Unacceptable?” Owen balked, quickly understanding this was a no-win situation.
Say he found it unacceptable and he was back in the dungeon.
If he didn’t, though, they’d call his character into question—also put him back in said dungeon, right?
He had to find ground that would appeal to those in this House.
“It goes against Sharia law. The Central Kingdom follows that, yes? She—we—could be stoned. Killed for being alone together…” He stretched his jaw, staring at the man.
The prince. “Is this girl I saved some kind of trouble or pariah? I mean, this sure sounds like someone is trying to set her up. Does the king want her gone?”
Which made no sense since they had kidnapped her from London.
“Why would he do that and hire you?”
Owen thought hard but came up with nothing. “Got me, but this…this is wrong a thousand ways from Sunday.”
“Would you prefer I return you to—”
“No.” He lifted a staying hand. Guessed he’d figure out a workaround.
He motioned the prince onward. “Take me to her.” When the prince resumed course, Owen had to force himself to follow.
They made a couple of rights before they strode to the end of a narrow passage.
The doors here came quicker, making him believe the rooms were smaller.
“Any house phone,” Rayan said, indicating to a small table along the balcony rail, “will let you reach me. Dial 766.”
“766,” Owen repeated, committing that to memory.
A guard stood outside a room and affected a curt bow to the prince.
“Khamil, the king relieves you of duty, which he transfers to Mr. Apollo.” He held out his hands. “The key to Nouri’s room, please?”
Surprise lit through the man as he eyed Owen and produced the key. “Of course, Your Highness.” He headed down the hall.
Rayan unlocked the door.
Owen started—what, they gave Leighton no warning of their intrusion into her privacy?
The prince extended the key to Owen and then knocked. “Nouri, we are coming in.” With that, he pushed inside, flinging the door wide.
Surprised at how casually the prince entered her room without her clear permission, Owen caught sight of the princess rising from a padded window seat, book in hand. Swallowing, he followed him in and shifted aside to let the door close.
“Nouri,” Prince Rayan said, “I believe you met Apollo last night. He’s the one who saved you in Paris.”
Though she did not look at him, she inclined her head.
“He is your new guard.”
At that, her gaze came up. Swung to Owen.
To his disappointment, she did not look at him with hope or even admiration. But with…anger.
“Nouri.” Rayan’s voice held reprimand.
Her gaze bounced to the thick carpet beneath her feet.
Holy fluff, talk about suppression. Oppression. And every other -ession he could think of. It ticked him off to see her so browbeaten.
Rayan pointed to a small round table with two chairs. “Ah, I see breakfast has been served.” He grinned at Owen. “I’m afraid she did not leave you much, Mr. Apollo.” The prince picked up a date from the tray, tossed it into his mouth, and headed for the door. “Enjoy your stay.”
Shock riddled Leighton as she stood alone in the room with Owen Metcalfe.
He had lied to the king about his identity, and she might have completely missed that he had been the one to rescue her in Paris.
Here, however, standing in the awkward silence, she knew him.
Well, not knew knew, but after Sophia Neeley’s party, she had researched him.
Learned everything she could about the guy who had made her feel seen and naked.
The guy with killer blue eyes that pierced her soul.
Even back then, she’d had this terrible, irrational fear that he would unearth her secrets.
Destroy a lifetime of careful, meticulous order that kept her and her secret safe. Kept her ummi safe.
His intrusion tilted her world, sending a thrum of panic and…something else through her—hope. Dangerous hope. Cursing herself for even thinking that, she reminded herself he could ruin everything. She was here for a reason. And it would not be undone by pretty blue eyes.
“Hey,” he said, coming forward, his expression eager.
She looked away—not out of the same subservience these royals demanded but because she did not want him to look at her. Expose her. “I’m tired.”
“It’s 0945,” he chuckled.
She turned and stalked to the bathroom. Shut the door—not to use it, but to think.
What was happening? Why was he here? He made it impossible to think with those blue eyes and smirk.
She dropped back against the wall and gripped her head in her hands.
Why did it have to be him? Oh, she needed Dad and Mom to help her sort this.
“Hey…” A rap came at the door. “Sorry to interrupt, but garden time is happening now. It’s only an hour, so…wasn’t sure if you wanted to go.”
Garden time?
“Okay…” he said in resignation.
She stomped over and yanked open the door. “What’re you talking about?”
Blue eyes blinked. “It’s, uh, ten a.m., and Rayan said you were allowed in the garden from ten till eleven.”
Surprised at his words, she left the bathroom, hugging herself. “I…I have never had outside privileges.”
“Privileges?” A scowl dug into his handsome face and smoothed out just as fast. “So, ready to go?”
Leighton nodded, then remembered. “Wait.” She rushed into the dressing room and grabbed a scarf. Draping it over her head and around her neck, she returned.
The storm returned to his eyes. Hey, she didn’t like wearing it either, but she would take this over another beating.
She silently willed the new guy not to make a fuss.
When he tightened his jaw and opened the door, she swallowed her irritation.
It was weird to have a semblance of freedom, but as soon as she stepped out and saw someone coming, that infusion of fear reminded her “freedom” was an illusion.
She lowered her head and stayed close to Owen as the man she did not recognize passed them.
Halfway down, Owen glanced around, then looked at her. “Right or left?”
Leighton started. “How would I know?”
“You’ve lived here—”
“Yes, in a dungeon until a week ago, then we were in Paris for three days. I’ve never been to any gardens.”
“I thought you were leading us there.”
“I thought you—” She snapped her mouth closed at the sight of the crown prince emerging from the other side of the atrium that yawned between them. With a gasp, she realized where they were. “Back!”
“What?”
“We have to go back.”
Apollo glanced across the atrium. “Who is that? I saw him last night—”
“The crown prince,” she said staring at the floor. “You brought us to the royal apartments—we have to leave. Now.”
“That sounds bad.”
“You have no idea.” She pivoted to return to her room, walking faster. Wanted to run. Did not want an encounter with Maaz and end up with another split lip. When she saw Prince Nasir round a corner ahead, she tensed and slammed her gaze down.
Apollo held a hand in front of her, stopping. “Excuse me, Your Highness. Could you help us?”
No no no. Why on earth was he talking to Nasir?
“What?” Nasir bit out.
“First day on the job. Can you tell me how to get to the gardens?” Apollo asked.
Despite the silence that lingered, Leighton knew better than to look up. In fact, she eased behind Apollo, who seemed to read her cue and shifted to block her from the prince.
“Prince Rayan told me to take her out,” Apollo persisted, “and since the king has put me in charge of her, I want to carry out my duties efficiently.”
With a huff, Prince Nasir shook his head. “Back down the side hall, take the stairs, then turn left. Door is at the end of the hall.”
“Thank you,” Apollo said as he stepped aside and urged her toward the passage.
Leighton seized the chance to escape unscathed and strode toward the door he’d mentioned.
Owen hustled ahead of her and pushed open the door. They followed Prince Nasir’s instructions and found the garden without trouble. Stepping into the sunshine was glorious, and she inhaled deeply.
“So, the crown prince—”
“Not here,” she hissed, yanked out of savoring the day.
With determination, she paced to the far hedgerow and surreptitiously glanced back.
Noticed that while the armed guards watched from the upper terraces, they were not overly concerned.
And there did not seem to be anyone else nearby.
Using a tall, thin tree to block herself, she whirled on him. “What on earth are you doing here?”
Apollo drew up sharp. “Whoa. Way to whip out Cruella.”
She would not be diverted, no matter how much that hurt. “Why’re you here? Tell me Paris was a coincidence.”
“I could,” he said quietly, glancing around, “but I don’t make it a habit to lie.”
“Don’t you?” she challenged. “Apollo.”
He smirked. “Callsign.”
Leighton felt the tendrils of anger wrapping around her heart. “Do you think this is a joke?”
After another quick scan of the gardens, he focused on her. “Your mom and Navas sent me.”
Defenses shattering, she gaped. “H-how do you know that name?” Her heart tripped and fell over this complication. She waved him off. “No, I don’t believe you.” She couldn’t. Wouldn’t. It’d be too dangerous.
“Your mom said you wouldn’t,” Apollo said. “She told me to say, ‘religieuse may be your favorite, but it is not the best pastry.’”
Leighton recoiled, sucking in a breath as those words spilled a torrent of grief and shock through her.
Her eyes stung. She turned away, hiding the tears.
The ache constricting her chest. Relief that Ummi had not been killed or discovered.
But she could not afford weakness. Could not let this man come here— “I don’t care.
” She jutted her jaw. “This can’t happen. You cannot be here.”
“Well, I am.”
“I do not want you here,” she spat, anger tumbling over every ounce of self-restraint she had left. “You’re going to ruin everything!”
Apollo scowled, glanced around, then edged in, his voice dangerously low. “If by ‘everything’ you mean ruin your getting beaten again, your getting raped or killed—yeah.” He seemed to bare his teeth. “I’m going to ruin things.”
“Sweet, merciful menaces!” she hissed. “If they suspect we know each other—”
“So you do remember me.”
She wanted to claw that smirk off his too-perfect face!
Yet she also faltered that he could even question that she didn’t remember him.
She’d done nothing for weeks after that party but troll him online.
There might even be a screenshot or two—or ten—on her phone that she’d captured from Sophia’s social media.
But that was beside the point. “This is not about you!”
“Hate to beg to differ, but it really is—at least, you’re making it that way. I was sent here to rescue you, so I’m getting you out, one way or—”
“No!” Heat rose into her cheeks at the infuriating man. “You aren’t.” How had she ever daydreamed about this egotistical jerk? “I’m staying here, I don’t want your help, and I most definitely do not need to be rescued!”
“Yeah, because that bruise on your cheek and the insidious way you shrink at every man in this palace says this is such a great place to be.”
“It’s the only place I want to be right now.”
“What in the Dark Ages is wrong with you?”
“You! You are what’s wrong with me.”
“So, what—you enjoy being treated like a slave?”
“It’s better than Ummi being killed because I couldn’t hack it, or worse—because I let some guy overstep what I know is right and best.”
Apollo drew up at that, eyes sparking in the sunlight as understanding washed away all tension. Compassion and empathy rippled into place, and for the love of all that was holy, he looked even more gorgeous.
“Now,” she ground out, “I think my hour is up. At least, I hope it is, because this conversation is over.” She marched back toward the house.
“Whoa, whoa. Wait.” He caught up and slid in front of her, rocks crunching beneath his shoes. “Two minutes. Just give me two minutes for clarification.”
Leighton fought the urge to roll her eyes.
“Your room is bugged?”
Her frustration wavered, but she managed a clipped nod—anything to avoid those eyes.
“And out here it’s safe to talk.”
“No, I just like to sabotage work I have literally put my entire life into.”
His eyebrows winged up. “Girl, you have a lethal bite to your words.”
Though her conscience quailed at his rebuke, she wasn’t backing down. “Any other questions?”
“So, hear me out… If I can somehow get it arranged to extract you on the safari, would you go? Or will you fight me the whole way?”
“My mother—”
“Is safe. My team has her. Navas is with her.”
She frowned. “What about Gerard?”
“Who?”
“Her…driver-who-is-more. If he’s not safe, then she’s not safe.” She shrugged, feeling a little awkward at mentioning him. “I think there’s something between them, though they tried to hide it while I was with them in London.”
A look of consternation tangled the strong ridge above those blue eyes. “I hope Navas doesn’t find out.”
She gave him a speculative look and sniffed. “Navas walked out on her before I was even born, so he doesn’t get a vote.”
Apollo cleared his throat. “And circling back to the question…”
“No.” Leighton pushed around him and headed to the house.
“Uh, is that no to the first question or the second?”
She didn’t slow, didn’t answer, because she honestly wasn’t sure which question she’d answered. But she could not fathom altering the entire course of her life because one man said Ummi was safe.
If there had ever been a trap, this was it.