by Abby Green
Someone caught at Kat’s arm then, in a surprisingly firm grip which only intensified her panic and growing sense of claustrophobia. She pulled her arm free and stepped to the side in a bid to escape—and found she was stepping into nothing as she discovered too late that there must have been a step she hadn’t noticed.
She couldn’t stop herself falling helplessly, and all she heard at the last minute was a familiar voice saying, ‘Kat!’
She had flashes of being held in Zafir’s arms as he strode through the crowd, saying angrily, ‘Where the hell were you, Noor? Those people were all over her...’
Kat tried desperately to speak, to say something, but her tongue wouldn’t work and then everything faded out.
CHAPTER TEN
A COUPLE OF HOURS later Zafir was still experiencing waves of relief reverberating through his system. Kat had apparently not suffered any major injury apart from a bump to her head when she’d tumbled down those steps that of course she wouldn’t have seen with that thick crowd of people pressing around her.
His hands instinctively clenched tighter when he recalled seeing her lying there, so pale and unmoving, the crowd just gaping at her ineffectually.
She’d come round soon after arriving at the hospital, and her first concern had been to tell him that it hadn’t been the security team’s fault—she’d slipped away from them. Her instinct to protect their incompetence had only increased his ire at them. And made him realise how much he’d underestimated Kat’s innate loyalty.
Zafir was standing on the other side of a door with a window in it, looking at Kat, who was sitting on a bed dressed in a hospital gown. She’d had an MRI scan and they were just waiting to hear the results. Even in an unflattering hospital gown she took his breath away.
She wasn’t wearing her prosthesis and there was a wheelchair nearby. But she wasn’t alone—there was a little girl sitting beside her aged about nine or ten. The little girl was also a below-the-knee amputee.
He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the little girl was looking at Kat with wide eyes. And then suddenly a hesitant smile bloomed across her pretty face. She’d had tear-stained cheeks when a doctor had brought her to see Kat a short while before.
The little girl’s doctor came alongside Zafir now, and said in a low, awestruck voice, ‘Thank you for agreeing to let Amira visit with Miss Winters.’
Zafir desisted from saying that as soon as he’d told Kat about the young girl she’d insisted on him letting her come to visit.
The doctor continued, ‘Amira lost her leg due to meningitis. She hasn’t spoken a word in months to anyone—not even her family. But now look at her...’ The doctor shook his head. ‘Miss Winters is a remarkable woman.’
Zafir curbed his irritation that the doctor felt the need to point out to him what he already knew. He was on edge and unsettled.
The doctor pushed open the door and went in to get Amira. She hopped off the bed and got into her wheelchair and waved goodbye to Kat.
Zafir got down on his haunches as she was being wheeled out of the room and her eyes grew as round as they’d been when she’d seen and recognised him the first time.
He held out his hand and she put her much smaller one into his. Something completely alien inside him shifted and expanded.
‘Hello, Amira. I believe you’ve been a very brave young lady?’
She nodded soberly, her huge brown eyes wide with an awe that Zafir was sure wasn’t solely for him. Then she said something to him in their own language with an endearing lisp and that alien sensation inside him expanded even more, stopping his breath for a second.
He had to stand to let the doctor wheel her out, and he heard Kat ask, ‘What is it? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost. What did she say to you?’
He turned to Kat, and for the first time in his life he knew that he was being a coward when he said, ‘Nothing important.’ He went over to her. ‘How are you feeling?’
Kat grimaced and put her hand up to where she’d hit her head. ‘I think I’ll have a headache for about a week, but other than that I’m fine.’ She looked at him. ‘I didn’t mean to disrupt the evening so dramatically.’
Zafir shook his head, feeling anger rise again. ‘Those people were practically pushing you through the wall.’
Kat tried not to let herself read anything into Zafir’s concern—the way he’d stayed by her side from the moment he’d brought her to the hospital. She tried again, saying, ‘You really don’t have to stay...’
He shook his head and folded his arms. ‘I’m not moving.’
Just then the kind doctor arrived, smiling. He closed the door behind him and came over, saying, ‘Good news—nothing untoward appeared on the scan. I’m afraid you’ll just have a nasty bump for a couple of weeks, but it should go down in time.’
Zafir looked at the doctor. ‘You’re sure she’s okay?’
‘Yes. I can let her go home as long as someone keeps an eye on her overnight for signs of concussion.’
Zafir said immediately, ‘I’ll make sure she’s watched tonight.’
Jasmine arrived then, with some clothes for Kat, and helped her to put on her prosthetic limb and get dressed once the men had stepped outside.
The diamond had been dispatched shortly after Kat had arrived at the hospital—taken by a very meek-looking security guard.
Kat was wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair, as per regulations, but once outside she stood up, unsteady for a moment.
Zafir took her arm, leading her over to where his car was waiting.
When they were moving through the narrow streets towards the palace Kat said as lightly as she could, ‘I should still be able to make my flight tomorrow morning.’
Zafir looked at her, and the expression on his face brooked no argument. ‘I’ve postponed it, Kat. You need a day to recover. At least.’
Kat’s heart thumped at the thought of another day and night here, knowing that Zafir was just biding his time till she was gone. ‘But I’m fine.’
He shook his head, and something sparked in his eyes. ‘Is one more day really too much, Kat? You want to leave that badly?’
She was shocked. ‘No... I love it here.’
But I also love you, and one more minute than necessary is torture.
But of course she didn’t say that.
She swallowed her emotion and said, ‘It’s fine. I’ll stay.’
She turned her head to look out of the window. After their explosive conversation before the event, and Zafir’s ‘I’m sorry,’ Kat knew there was nothing more for them to say to each other. The past had been laid to rest. Now she would just have to suck up the fact that Zafir was acting out of a sense of responsibility. And possibly still that misplaced guilt. No doubt he wanted her continued presence here as little as she did.
When they arrived back at the palace Jasmine was waiting for them, and also Rahul, both looking worried. Zafir gave instructions to Jasmine in his own language and she whisked Kat back to her suite, shooting her concerned glances.
When Kat had had a bath and was re-emerging from the bathroom, feeling a little more human again without half a ton of make-up on her face, Jasmine was still there and looking determined.
Before Kat could say anything the younger woman said, ‘I’m not leaving. The King has told me someone needs to watch over you tonight in case of concussion.’
Kat knew that arguing would be futile. ‘Very well...’
She got into bed as Jasmine curled up on a large love seat nearby, her pretty face illuminated by the screen of her palm tablet. Kat felt a surge of gratitude at the thought of how much the girl had already come to mean to her.
Before she tried to go to sleep she said, ‘Thank you, Jasmine.’
The girl looked up and smiled. ‘You’re welcome, Miss Winters. Now, get some rest.’
Kat thought she’d toss and turn for a while, but she actually slipped into sleep almost immediately.
When she woke some time late
r the room was in darkness and her throat was dry. She struggled to sit up in the bed, and immediately saw movement in the corner—something big and dark. A scream stuck in Kat’s throat for a second, before she realised with a hammering heart that it was Zafir looming over her in the moonlight.
‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘Are you all right? Is your head hurting?’
‘No, I’m just thirsty. Where’s Jasmine?’
Zafir sat down on the edge of the bed and turned on a low light. Kat saw that stubble darkened his jaw and that his hair was mussed up as if he’d been running a hand through it.
He reached for some water and handed Kat the glass. She took a few gulps, hating how aware she was of Zafir’s big body. Was it only a couple of days ago he’d been making love to her with such zealous passion? Now he couldn’t be more distant.
He took the glass and put it back. His body was rigid with tension and something inside Kat broke. Clearly he couldn’t stand to be near her any more.
She sank back under the covers. ‘You don’t need to watch me, Zafir. I’m fine.’
He reached over and turned off the light and said, ‘I’m not going anywhere, Kat.’
And then he stood up and retreated back into the shadows.
* * *
When Kat woke up the next morning Jasmine was the first person she saw, and she wondered for a moment if she’d imagined Zafir being there during the night. She was too scared to ask.
Kat ate breakfast, and then took a shower and dressed. Jasmine helped her to put on her prosthetic leg—the girl was totally unfazed now by the whole thing.
She’d deliberately chosen from her own clothes, knowing that she’d be leaving all the other gorgeous garments behind. They belonged to a Kat who had lived a stolen dream for a short time.
After packing most of her things she looked up flights from Jahor to America, and saw that there was one late that night. On impulse she booked a seat, even though her flight home was meant to have been on Zafir’s private plane.
She stood up then, determined to go and find Zafir and tell him she was leaving and not to let him persuade her otherwise.
Kat made her way slowly to where Zafir’s office was located, absorbing the understated finery of the palace for the last time—its ancient murals and hidden inner courtyards covered in mosaics, and the peacocks strutting around loose and free, as if they owned the place.
When she got to the office she was surprised not to see Rahul outside, in his usual spot, but his cell phone sat on the table so presumably he wasn’t far away. Then Kat heard raised voices, and one familiar one sent icicles down her spine.
Zafir’s mother.
Instinctively Kat wanted to turn away from that strident voice, but something kept her rooted to the spot, near the half-open door to Zafir’s office.
‘What are you going to do about Salim? Your brother is out of control, and meanwhile the country he is meant to be ruling—my homeland—is falling into chaos.’
Kat recognised the tension in Zafir’s voice as he replied.
‘I am not my brother’s keeper, Mother, and maybe you should have thought of this a long time ago, when you proved how little we all really meant to you when Sara died. But if it’s any consolation I’m hiring someone who is an expert in diplomatic relations to help oversee Salim’s accession to the throne in Tabat.’
His mother sniffed and said ungraciously, ‘That’s something, at least.’
Kat’s heart clenched for Zafir and his siblings, and then his mother changed tack.
‘And what is she still doing here? Wasn’t she meant to be gone this morning?’
Kat’s heart stopped.
There seemed to be a year of silence before Zafir said coldly, ‘I presume you’re referring to Kat Winters?’
His mother made a rude sound. ‘If you’re thinking of making her your Queen again, then you’ve learnt nothing about being a King, Zafir. She is the most singularly unsuitable woman to be Queen of this country. There’s her scandalous past to think of—not to mention the fact that she made a complete fool of herself last night and ruined the event!’
Kat somehow managed to take in some oxygen at that point. She whirled around and walked away as fast as she could—before she could hear Zafir assure his mother that of course he wouldn’t be making Kat his Queen. She tried not to feel hurt at what Zafir’s mother had said, but it was hard when it echoed her own deepest insecurities.
She didn’t see Rahul until it was too late and they collided. Kat said sorry and kept going, terrified that he’d see how upset she was.
When she got back to her rooms she was glad to find them empty, and was relieved she’d gone ahead and booked that plane ticket. She continued packing, telling herself she’d go to the airport early. She would wait there.
‘What are you doing?’
She whirled around at the deep and familiar voice, holding some trousers up to her chest. Zafir was inside her room, the door closed behind him. He was clean-shaven now, making Kat suspect again that she’d dreamt his presence during the night. He was the King! And she was now his inconvenient ex-mistress. Of course he hadn’t been there.
She turned around again and forced her voice to sound cool. Unconcerned. ‘I’m packing. I’ve booked a commercial flight home tonight, Zafir, there’s no need for me to prolong my stay.’
He came over and took her arm, turning her to face him. ‘You said you’d stay another day.’
She pulled free and let the trousers fall to the floor, stepping back. ‘I’m fine. I don’t need to stay—and you have stuff to do.’ She cringed inwardly at stuff.
‘I want to talk to you.’
Something illicit fluttered in Kat’s belly. ‘What is there to talk about? I think we’ve said everything that needs to be said.’
‘Rahul told me he bumped into you outside my office just now... You obviously came to talk to me. Why did you leave?’
Kat glanced away. ‘You were busy.’
‘I suspected as much,’ he breathed. ‘How much did you hear of my conversation with my mother, Kat?’
She looked back at Zafir and pain scored her insides. She backed away further. He was too close. ‘I heard enough,’ she said painfully. ‘I didn’t stick around to hear you agree with her assessment that I’m entirely unsuitable.’
A flush stained Zafir’s cheeks. ‘Dammit, Kat, you are not unsuitable.’ Then he stopped. ‘You didn’t hear what I said to her?’
You are not unsuitable.
She cursed her silly heart for leaping at that. Kat wanted to look anywhere but at him, but she couldn’t look away. He was like the sun—blinding and devastating.
She lifted her chin. ‘No. I told you. I’d heard enough.’
‘So you didn’t hear me tell her that I’ve no intention of letting you go anywhere?’
She just looked at Zafir, her brain moving sluggishly. A tangled mass of sensations roiled in her gut, but worst of all was a kernel of something that felt awfully like hope.
Kat refused to give in to it. ‘Why would you want to keep me here? Our liaison is over.’
Zafir stepped closer to her, his eyes intense. ‘Is it?’
Kat felt flustered. ‘Well, of course it is. It was never going to last beyond this job, and you couldn’t have made it more clear after our conversation yesterday that whatever was there is gone...’ Kat was breathing jaggedly and tried to compose herself.
Zafir grimaced. ‘When I found out about my father... Kat, it was a huge shock. It made me realise how badly I’d judged you...how badly I’d disrupted your life. But it hasn’t changed how much I want you. Do you know how hard it was for me not to touch you last night?’
His words were like a punch in the gut. She breathed, ‘So you were there...’
He frowned. ‘Of course I was—who else would it have been?’
Kat shook her head and muttered, ‘I thought it was a dream.’
She took another step back, putting her arms around herself. ‘So...yo
u’re saying you still...’ She trailed off.
Zafir nodded and his mouth compressed. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever not want you, Kat.’
Something painful gripped her insides. ‘So what are you suggesting, Zafir? Are you going to lock me in your harem and make a carnal visit when you feel the urge, while you marry your suitable bride and have a legion of heirs?’
‘What are you talking about? There’s no such thing as a harem here and there hasn’t been for years.’
Mortified, because she was giving herself away spectacularly, she looked away, wishing she had something to hold on to. ‘Forget it.’
Zafir came close and put a hand to her chin, forcing her to look at him. He had a fierce light in his eye. ‘Do you really think that I would want to set you up as my mistress?’
She swallowed. ‘I don’t know what to think any more.’
Zafir shook his head. ‘I don’t want a mistress, Kat. I want a wife—a Queen.’
The pain was excruciating. She pulled away from Zafir and somehow managed to say, ‘And that’s what you deserve. I’m sure you’ll choose the perfect Queen.’
Zafir folded his arms. His eyes were like laser beams now. ‘I’ve already chosen her.’
Kat looked at him and felt a surge of jealousy at the thought of this mystery woman. ‘Then how can you not let me go? I can’t be here now—it’s unconscionable.’
Zafir shook his head. ‘It’s very conscionable, actually, because I want you to be my Queen, Kat. And that’s what I told my mother—before I told her to get out of my sight and that I wanted her gone from Jandor within a week. She’s no longer welcome.’
Kat shook her head. Something was happening inside her...something was cracking open... But she couldn’t let it. There was too much at stake, too much not yet said. Too much had happened in the past. There had been too much hurt.
‘You wanted to make me your Queen before, so what’s changed, Zafir? Is it the fact that the truth of my history is a little more palatable? Or is it because you feel guilty that your father interfered? It doesn’t change the fact that I did keep things from you. I’m just as guilty for what happened.’
Zafir looked pale now. ‘No, it’s not because your history is more palatable, or because of the guilt I feel—which I don’t think I’ll ever unfeel.’ He said heavily, ‘The truth is that I didn’t fight hard enough for you before.’
