LITMIR.BIZ

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mother. Celia told her that the man who was her father was just a man she’d met. Ships passing in the night.

      “She claimed she never knew what happened to him, but it wasn’t important because she and Lana had each other. That was all they needed.”

      A pulse throbbed at the corner of his mouth. “How could she have kept that news from my grandfather?”

      She studied him through glazed eyes. “You of all people should know the answer to that question. His betrothal had taken place years before. He sent Celia away so there’d be no scandal. She loved him too much to cause him any distress.

      “My mother had to accept the explanation and let it go. A few minutes ago when I realized who you were, don’t you think I wanted to die? Now I’ve got to let you go the same way.”

      When she eventually found the strength to ease away so she could look at him, she didn’t recognize the man; he seemed to have aged ten years.

       “Lauren—”

      She forced herself to smile through the tears. “You have a phrase for everything. ‘It is what it is.’ That’s what we have to say now.”

      “But it isn’t what it is—” he fired back in pain. “I won’t allow it to be.” He shook her gently. “No one knows about this but you and me. We’ll forget everything because I’m not losing you!” He crushed her mouth beneath his.

      For a time she responded, losing track of time and place because she couldn’t help herself. But then the reality of what they were doing took hold. Much as she wanted to kiss and be kissed into oblivion by him, the truth was between them and she couldn’t keep this up. It was no use.

      As soon as he allowed her breath she said, “I could wish you’d told me who you were that first day. Then I would have closed my heart off to you, or broken down and told you we had the same grandfather. You always talk about fate. I’m afraid this time it had something else in mind for us.

      “If only you could undo our history, Rafi, you truly would be a god, but you’re still mortal and that means I have to go. Every minute I stay here, it’s making it that much harder to leave.”

      “I won’t let you.” He tightened his arms around her, kissing her with refined savagery.

      “We have no choice,” she half sobbed the words. “Don’t you see?” She caught his face between her hands. “We have two strikes against us. Even if we weren’t related, I can’t remain here another second and jeopardize the life you were born to no matter what you say. You’ll be king one day. Princess Azzah will be your queen. It’s written!”

      Finding her inner strength, she escaped his arms and flew out of his office. Outside the building, Nazir ran after her, but she didn’t stop until she reached the helicopter, out of breath. He helped her inside with a concerned look on his face.

      “Tell the pilot to take me to El-Joktor immediately. The prince has set me free. Please do this for me, Nazir. Please,” she begged with all the strength of her soul.

      “Yes, mademoiselle.”

      Since Lauren had fled from his arms like a sand devil spinning away with the speed of light, Rashad had sealed himself in his Raz apartment. Now that it was evening, the helicopter had come back for him.

      During the short flight back to Al-Shafeeq, Nazir reported that everything had gone smoothly at El-Joktor. He had walked Lauren on to the jet without problem. Since then, he had had word that her flight had landed in Geneva. Was there anything else he could do for Rashad?

      With nothing more to be done, Rashad assured him there’d be a big bonus in his paycheck for services rendered. After thanking the others, he went inside the palace and headed straight for his parents’ suite. When he walked in, Farah came flying across the sitting room and threw her arms around his waist.

      “I’m so sorry for speaking to you the way I did last night. Please forgive me, Rashad.”

      “There’s nothing to forgive because I know love motivated you.” He kissed her forehead. “I deserved it and a host of other things you didn’t say.”

      “This morning I came to say goodbye to Lauren, but she’d already gone.”

      Rashad closed his eyes tightly. “She’s in Geneva as we speak.”

      “You can pretend all you want, but I know you love her.”

      He studied his sister who’d always been there for him. “I won’t lie to you about that, but she’s gone now, so there’s nothing more to be said.” Their grandfather’s blood flowed in Lauren’s veins, too. One couldn’t jump high enough to get over that camel’s hump.

      She touched his face. “You look ill.”

      “It will pass.”

      “No it won’t!” she stamped her foot in a rare show of temper. “Go in to the bedroom and tell our father you can’t go through with your marriage next month.”

      That checked him. “How did you know about the change of date?”

      “Father’s been looking for you all day and could not find you. No one knew where you were, not even Nazir. Your phone has been turned off. He got so upset he called the entire family and told everyone to look for you.

      “I knew you were with Lauren, but I didn’t say anything to give you away. When I asked him why he was so upset, he let it slip that you have to let Sheikh Majid know of your agreement about the new date for the wedding by tomorrow night.”

      “I’ll go in to father now. Is mother with him?”

      “No. She’s still talking to the chef about the meal preparations for our birthday party in a few days. You know how she is.” Farah’s eyes filled with liquid. “She wants everything perfect for us, for you. So do I, but I know you’re never going to know joy. You can’t go through with this wedding, Rashad. It won’t be fair to you or to Princess Azzah.”

      Rashad ran a hand over his face in despair. As he’d found out this morning, life wasn’t fair. “Bless you for being you, Farah.” He kissed her once more, then strode quickly to the bedroom where his father sat on the side of the bed with his bad foot propped on an ottoman piled with cushions.

      His father simply stared at him. He didn’t need to speak. Rashad already knew every word he would say if he chose to express himself.

      “Farah met me in the sitting room. Forgive me for giving you a scare, father. I—”

      “You need explain nothing. I have my own eyes and ears around the palace. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have lived this long. The American. Is she gone?”

      “Yes.”

      His father’s dark eyes pierced through to Rashad’s soul. “For good?”

      A boulder lodged in his throat. “Yes.”

      “Good. Did you send her away with your baby?”

      Rashad threw his head back in torment. “No. There’s no possibility.”

      “That’s even better. The wound that bleeds inwardly is the most dangerous. Tell me what’s going on that has you writhing body and soul.”

      Rashad’s pacing came to a halt. “When we buried grandfather four months ago, was he wearing his medallion?”

      The change of subject caught his father off guard. “Who told you he wasn’t?” he snapped uncharacteristically.

      Pain shot through Rashad. Lauren’s truth was the truth. He was crucified all over again with that knowledge.

      “No one,” he whispered.

      “Since you know he wasn’t wearing it, why did you ask me?”

      Rashad shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I just wanted you to know

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