LITMIR.BIZ

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the admiral’s chair his father used to occupy at the end of the room during council meetings. As heir to the throne he had always been encouraged to sit in on those meetings and he’d loved them. He’d loved listening to his father taking charge and issuing orders. Watching him handle political issues.

      His father had openly shared this side of himself and it wasn’t until Nadir had left Bakaan that he’d realised how isolated and increasingly paranoid his father had become. How only a select few were ever allowed into his inner sanctum and then only if those select few agreed with him. From the age of twelve Nadir had started to do that less and less and that was when the rot had set in. That was when his father had started trying to keep him from his mother and sister, explaining that the ties he found the hardest to cut were the ones that needed to be cut most of all.

      He rubbed a hand across his face. One of the issues between him and Imogen was that she was, at heart, an emotional and sensual woman who didn’t hold back. It was both a draw and a deterrent—although right now he was honest enough to admit that the draw side was definitely winning out. Probably it had been too long since he’d had a woman. It wasn’t natural for a healthy male to go without sex for fourteen months.

      Hell.

      Did he owe Imogen an apology for his behaviour back then? It wasn’t a position he had found himself in for years and the last two people he’d needed to apologise to were dead.

      Out of the corner of his eye he noticed one of his father’s senior council members break away from the group and, like a drowning man grasping for a life raft, he welcomed the interruption to his thoughts.

      Old and set in his ways, Omar had never been on Nadir’s list of favourite people but he was knowledgeable and, as far as he was aware, loyal to a fault.

      ‘Well?’

      ‘We don’t know where he is, Your Highness. He’s not answering his phone.’

      Nadir gritted his teeth. His brother had said he needed to go into the mountains on some business or other. He’d flown the helicopter himself. Now he was nowhere to be seen and the helicopter was still at the airfield. There was no sign of foul play or anything amiss. ‘Fine—we’ll proceed without him.’

      ‘I’m afraid that’s not possible, Your Highness.’

      ‘Why not?’

      ‘In order for you to renounce your position as King, we need to have your successor present.’

      ‘Well, he’s not here and I have a business to run.’

      ‘The council understand, Your Highness,’ he said in a way that let Nadir know they didn’t understand at all. ‘But you are still our acting King and there is a UAE dinner tonight that has been planned for months. It is too late to cancel. Many of the heads of state have already flown into Bakaan. It was quite a coup for Prince Zachim to arrange it. Many will be staying all week on official business.’

      ‘Then Zachim should be here to run it,’ Nadir bit out.

      ‘Indeed, Your Highness.’ Omar nodded deferentially.

      Aware that he was being manipulated but knowing that he was boxed in until Zachim returned, Nadir muttered a curse. ‘Okay, I’ll do it.

      ‘Very good, Your Highness. And shall I set a place for your wife?’

      Nadir’s gaze sharpened on the older man. ‘Why would you do that?’

      ‘Because spouses have been invited to the dinner. As everyone has heard about your wife, they will expect to see her there.’

      Nadir had a good idea how Imogen was going to take that news. ‘Try calling my brother again.’

      ‘Of course, Your Highness.’

      Nadir paced again while Omar dialled his phone. Most likely it wouldn’t work, given the rudimentary telecom system his father had installed in the country. That was another possible reason why no one could reach Zachim. Either that or his brother was hiding out in some attempt to get him to step into the role as leader.

      Nadir stilled. Was that it? Was Zach forcing his hand? He frowned as the idea sprouted roots and leaves. As a child, Zachim had often run away and hidden when he was in trouble, waiting for their father’s wrath to subside before coming out again. By then Nadir had usually copped Zach’s share of the punishment as well as his own so it wasn’t a bad strategy—one Nadir had been too proud to ever try himself—but it was quite possible that Zach was right now holed up somewhere with a woman and a case of wine. If he was...Nadir shook his head. If he was, he’d beat him to a pulp when he returned.

      ‘No luck, Your Highness.’

      ‘Fine. Set a place for Imogen.’ Nadir turned to leave the room, already thinking about what needed to be done before the evening dinner when Omar’s next words stopped him cold.

      ‘And your wedding?’

      ‘Excuse me?’

      ‘Your wedding? You may have forgotten but a Western marriage is not recognised as legal for a member of the royal family. It would be best, Your Highness, if you formalised the marriage in a traditional ceremony as soon as possible.’

      Hoping that the issue of his legal ties to Imogen wouldn’t have arisen in the small amount of time he was supposed to be in Bakaan, Nadir sighed. ‘I suppose you have a perfect date available, Omar?’

      ‘As soon as possible, Your Highness. There is some unrest in the northern part of the country and some who would wish to destabilise the throne. It is important that the people observe their crown prince behaving in a way befitting the leadership.’

      ‘You know I do not intend to become the next leader of Bakaan, Omar, so the timing doesn’t matter,’ Nadir said tightly.

      ‘As you wish, Your Highness.’

      Realising that he was being obstinate and the council members had no idea why he didn’t want the damned leadership role, Nadir softened his position. ‘I know you’re worried, Omar, but don’t be. Zachim will most likely be back before the evening meal is served. In the meantime, if you think that formalising my marriage is absolutely necessary then organise the ceremony for a week from today.’

      That would give Zach plenty of time to stop playing his games—if he was actually staying away on purpose—and get back here. And on the off-chance he was still holding out on him in a week then they would marry. It wasn’t any big deal because it was going to happen, one way or another.

      * * *

      ‘I’m sorry—who did you say you were?’

      Imogen placed Nadeena in the baby recliner beside the beautifully paved swimming pool and fastened the safety catch, the fronds of the palm trees overhead keeping the scorching sun from burning her. When she was done she turned to the two women standing in the open doorway. One was young and striking-looking in the traditional cream-coloured outfit that denoted the palace servants and the other woman was much older and dressed in faded black garments. And her eyes were transfixed by Nadeena.

      ‘My name is Tasnim and this is Maab,’ the younger one said with a wide smile ‘We are your servants, My Lady.’

      ‘Oh.’ Imogen smiled kindly. Used to fending for herself and preferring it that way, she had no need for servants. ‘Thank you, but—’

      Before she could say anything, Maab had moved closer to Nadeena and was crooning something in Arabic. As if sensing Imogen’s regard, she turned and bowed her head, speaking in rapid Bakaani.

      ‘I’m sorry,’ Imogen said, ‘I don’t understand.’

      ‘Please excuse Maab, My Lady. She does not speak very much English but she is excellent with babies and helped raise the royal siblings when they were little. She is asking if she might approach the little princess.’

      ‘Well, of course she can.’ Imogen smiled encouragingly and the old woman knelt down in front of Nadeena

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