Chapter 23
“Peace be upon you, Father,” I greet him over the phone.
“And upon you first, Kaled. But why the formality?”
“Maybe because what we’re going to discuss today is something I never imagined doing in my life.”
“Have you found your brother?”
“No. This call isn’t about Naim; it’s about my future.”
“You’re sounding rather mysterious, son.”
“There’s no mystery. In one of our last conversations, about a month ago, you advised me to find a wife. Do you remember?”
“Yes. And you told me you’d rather be tortured than get married, which, as we both know, is nonsense.”
That’s exactly what I thought at the time. And though I can’t say the idea of marriage thrills me, the fact that it’s to Adeela makes a lifelong union bearable.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“Just like that? Overnight?”
“What do you want me to say, Father? Sooner or later, I have to choose a wife, according to your advice. So I’m calling to let you know I’ve found one. In fact, we got engaged last night. This call, and the one I’ll soon make to her father, is merely a formality.”
Or a declaration to the world that, no matter what position I hold, I’ll always decide my own life.
I know he already had some candidates in mind: princesses from other emirates, daughters of neighboring rulers, even the niece of a president. I never considered any of them. The day someone dictates my choices—or which woman shares my bed—hasn’t yet dawned.
But that was before I kissed Adeela for the first time. Because after holding her, soft, trembling, sweet, the decision was made.
And then came last night, when unexpectedly, the shy, inexperienced girl surrendered to my touch, revealing her desire without fear. Trusting me to guide her.
I can’t deny it aroused me when she practically challenged my fidelity with her noteworthy three-year “contract.”
If that’s what she wants, I’ll include the clause. But there’s no chance I’ll ever betray her. If she knew me, she wouldn’t even have imagined such a thing. Once I make a decision, I’d die before breaking it.
“Who is she?” my father asks, bringing me back to the conversation.
“Adeela Ghazal.”
“Adeela . . . Jazmina’s friend?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. You were never close to her. Why this decision now?”
Because only yesterday did I allow myself to see how perfect she truly is, even if she’s too young for me.
Because I can’t stop thinking about tasting every inch of that beautiful body, hearing her breathless moans.
Because . . .
There are too many reasons. And if I were a better man, I’d never bind her to me, but unfortunately for both of us, I want her and I won’t walk away.
“You told me to get married. I found the woman I want by my side. Why is that so hard for you to accept?”
“I never said I’d oppose the union,” he replies evenly. “I’m just trying to understand. Is that why they went to Paris? Was this arranged in advance?”
“Not at all. Their trip had a much more complicated reason.”
“I want to know what it was. My health isn’t what it used to be, but my mind is still sharp. I won’t be left out of matters concerning my sons.”
“They came here because of an unexpected situation, Father. I can’t give details—it isn’t my secret to share. What matters is that Jazmina needed to get Adeela out of Rheadur as fast as possible.”
“I don’t like mysteries, especially when they involve my family.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. Whatever danger Adeela was in, it’s over. She’s my fiancée now and under my protection.”
“Why her, Kaled?”
“Believe me when I say she’s the only person I could ever marry.”
“That’s not exactly a declaration of love.”
“No, but I care for her enough to imagine spending the rest of my life with her. That’s already a big step for me.”
He falls silent, and I know why. My father understands. Not all his marriages were born of love either. In our world, physical attraction carries far more weight than affection ever could.
“You don’t sound excited,” I remark.
“I am. About you getting married, yes. I was tired of seeing you parading around with a new model every week. My concern is with your choice.”
“Why?”
“Adeela’s a good girl, my son. Maybe you should reconsider. Like your sister, she deserves someone who loves her.”
I try to look at it from the outside. Imagine her with another man. Sleeping and waking in a bed that isn’t mine. Kissing someone else. Moaning in another man’s arms.
No. That will never happen.
If I’d thought about it from that angle before touching her, maybe I could’ve stepped back. But now I don’t want anyone else. No one else will do.
“I can be what she needs,” I say, closing the door on further argument.
“All right, I won’t spoil your joy. I’m happy for you both. She’s a precious girl. Now, let’s discuss practical matters: have you spoken to Arif yet? If not, you must do so immediately. You’ve already broken protocol, you know. You should have asked for her hand first.”
“It’s an outdated custom, and I’m not sure he would have accepted.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. What father wouldn’t feel honored to give his daughter’s hand to a prince?”
One who’s a bastard, whose life’s mission seems to be to make his daughter as miserable as possible.
“He offered her in marriage to a man fifty years older,” I reveal flatly.
“What? That’s impossible! Why would he do that when there are so many young, successful men in our country willing to marry her? You’re proof of that. A lifelong bachelor suddenly enchanted by her beauty.”
I don’t correct him. It’s true, after all, though “enchanted” feels far too mild a word. Spellbound might be closer. “Either way, it won’t happen. This isn’t the Middle Ages. Adeela has the right to choose, and she chose me.”
Saying it aloud somehow dissipates all the anger I felt toward Arif.
She’ll be mine by her own decision, never by force.
“I’ll speak to him before you call,” my father offers. “From one father to another, just to smooth things over.”
“Do as you wish, but it won’t change anything. Adeela Ghazal belongs to me now. Forever.”
Hours later
I have no desire to do what I must, because Arif Ghazal deserves no respect, and certainly no notification that I intend to marry his daughter.
Yes, because this isn’t a request. He’ll have no say in the matter.
But as a prince of Rheadur, it’s my duty to formalize the engagement.
And there’s another reason: he needs to understand that from this moment on, Adeela is beyond his reach. Anything he does to harm her or Daisy Ellis will be taken as a personal offense against me.
I wait in my office while my secretary arranges the call.
About ten minutes later, Giselle enters to say the video conference is ready.
I didn’t ask Adeela if she wanted to speak to her father, but I doubt it, though sooner or later they’ll have to face each other. Especially now that, if all goes well, Daisy will soon live in Rheadur.
This morning, I collected my fiancée’s documents to secure her travel visa to the United States. She’s anxious to see her mother again and worried about her condition, so as soon as her entry is cleared, we’ll fly there.
Coincidentally, her mother lives in New York, the same city where Odin Lykaios has settled with his wife. I’ve decided to meet him. I want to look him in the eyes. Only then will I know whether he had anything to do with my half-brother’s disappearance.
I open my laptop and launch the call.
The unpleasant image of Arif Ghazal fills the screen. “Peace be upon you, Your Highness,” he says.
“Good afternoon, Arif Ghazal,” I reply coldly, ignoring his greeting. “My day is busy, so let’s get straight to the point.”
“If I may, Your Highness, before that I’d like to ask that you send my daughter Adeela back home. She’s needed here, and I’ve already given her an ultimatum: she is to arrive in Rheadur by nightfall. But she hasn’t answered my calls, and I fear she intends to defy me.”
“You don’t have to wait for her anymore. She won’t be coming.”
His hands clutch the arms of his chair. “What? She can’t stay there! We’ve already discussed—” He’s so furious he seems to forget to whom he’s speaking.
“Are you telling me your daughter can’t stay in my home?”
In an instant, he sobers. “Of course not, Your Highness. It’s just that—”
“If you’d stop interrupting, I could explain why I’m calling.”
“My apologies if I’ve been rude.”
I don’t bother replying. “I’ll be marrying Adeela in a few weeks.” The words leave my mouth slow and deliberate, designed to strike every layer of his consciousness. I want him to understand that I’ll tolerate no objections.
He goes silent, eyes fixed on me, his face draining of color. For a moment, I think he might collapse, every drop of blood rushing to his head.
“Your Highness . . . it would be an honor, of course, but that’s . . . impossible. The dowry I can offer isn’t worthy of your stature.”
“I’m not interested in your money. I don’t need it. I want her, and I’ll marry her.”
I expect that to end the conversation, but the man seems to have no sense of self-preservation.
“I must inform you, however, that my daughter has already been promised—”
I raise a hand, cutting him off. “No, she hasn’t.
Whatever arrangement you made with another man was done without her knowledge.
” I lean back in my chair. “Let’s make something clear, Arif.
This isn’t a proposal. It’s an announcement.
I am Kaled Fouad Ayad Badawi Faheem, Prince of Rheadur.
I don’t need anyone’s permission to marry.
Last night, I received the only answer that matters, and she said yes.
So consider this a warning: you no longer have any power over Adeela’s future or”—I pause for effect, letting him absorb the weight of my words—”over Daisy Ellis’s. ”
“Daisy? What does my ex-wife have to do with this engagement?”
“My future mother-in-law is under my protection now. And as soon as she’s well enough, she’ll live with us in Rheadur.”