The Secret of the Sheikh's Betrothed

by Felicitas Ivey

  But… the consequences of that would be catastrophic for the tribe. Ikraam wouldn’t be able to lead; Fathi doubted Ikraam had been trained to do so or that his people would follow him. If Ikraam even wanted to be chief when he was freed of his sister’s control over him. Leadership would go to Bahiyya’s oldest son, Rashid, but that wouldn’t punish Bahiyya, since she would try to rule through him instead of her husband. And what about Ikraam’s other sisters? Fathi doubted they were ignorant of what was going on, but he hoped they hadn’t been as cruel as Bahiyya. Even so, none of them seemed to have tried to get Ikraam out of her clutches either. As for Sabah… she seemed to be the only innocent bystander in this, aside from Ikraam. And Ikraam had only confessed his secret to keep her safe.

  Fathi paused and sighed. When was Ikraam going to tell him he wasn’t a woman? On their wedding night? Unless the man had hoped he didn’t notice his bride’s particular attributes? Or had Ikraam just wanted to get away from Bahiyya and had wished for the best to happen when he confessed her fraud? Had he hoped Fathi wouldn’t hurt him for lying? Fathi shuddered. Ikraam knew that if he married a man of the tribes, he would be beaten to death or worse when his ruse was uncovered. That explained why Ikraam hadn’t been married before this, their betrothal contract notwithstanding.

  Fathi got himself a cup of tea and continued to puzzle out the problem. If Ikraam was gay, it solved most of his dilemma. He would marry Ikraam and continue the charade, if that was what Ikraam wanted. If Ikraam wasn’t, which was much more likely… he’d marry him still. Ikraam wasn’t going to suffer for Bahiyya’s cruelty. That left the problem of Sabah. He didn’t think Grandfather would mind if the girl moved in with him and Ikraam. He’d just forget to send her to her groom when the marriage was supposed to take place. He wouldn’t trust Ghalib as far as he could throw him not to abuse anyone in his power. What he would do to a nice young woman like Sabah made Fathi’s stomach churn.

  He finished the tea and then got up to pace again. He wasn’t going to be able to get any sleep tonight. He had too much to think about. He bit back laughter. He hadn’t wanted to get married because it would be unfair to his bride. Yet he got one who was perfect for him and he didn’t know what to do. And the next time someone said to him an arranged marriage was easier to deal with, he was going to punch them out. This had turned into a huge mess, but part of that was the fact his intended bride actually was his intended groom. He lusted after Ikraam all the more because of that.

  Fathi looked around the room and decided he just wanted to get out of there. The walls were closing in on him, and he wanted to see the sky. He put on his shoes and walked out the door, hoping if he moved long enough, he’d figure out the answers he needed.

  Chapter Fourteen

  FATHI walked around the inner courtyard, trying not to trip over anything. While the moon was full, his eyes hadn’t adjusted from the light. The night was clear and he wanted to see the sky, though he wasn’t foolish enough to wander outside his grandfather’s home, since he didn’t know the desert well enough to do so.

  Fathi paced, feeling like a teenager again, coming to grips with his sexuality. Discovering he was attracted to men instead of women, as would have been proper. Wondering if he could ever be honest with his family about it, and how they would react to the news. Would they accept him for who he was? In the end, he’d kept quiet and now he was in this mess. Well, not alone, because his “bride” was in the same trouble he was—he was pretending to be straight, and Ikraam was pretending to be a woman.

  Fathi wasn’t alone and scared like he had been then. Rayyan accepted that he was gay. And while his twin might chuckle at the irony of his bride being a man, he would also help Fathi face down Grandfather if that was what he wanted. But did he want that? Ikraam gave him the illusion of respectability to the world, and it wasn’t like the man hadn’t been acting like a woman all his life. Having him as his “wife” wouldn’t be an issue. They could always adopt if Ikraam wanted children. However, Ikraam deserved to be a man if he chose to, also. To see the world without being hidden behind a piece of cloth, if he wanted to.

  Fathi rubbed his head. Walking around in the dark wasn’t helping, and it wasn’t like he had a destination at the end of this marathon. He could walk his feet off and he would still be facing the fact that Ikraam was a man. A very tempting man, a houri, even if the sex was wrong, and one he could love. Fathi turned to go back to his suite. He’d wait until a more decent hour to wake Rayyan, and together they would figure out some way of keeping Ikraam and Sabah with them, marriage or not. After he apologized to his twin for being an ass earlier.

  Fathi just had to figure out some way of getting in touch with Ikraam. He had to reassure her—him he wasn’t going to abandon the man, though he confessed he was one. He was walking toward the stairs to his quarters when Ghalib came running down the stairs, almost bumping into him. Ghalib’s left sleeve was dark and sticking to his skin, ripped up the center.

  “Have you seen her?” Ghalib demanded.

  “Seen who?” Fathi asked.

  “Ikraam!” he snapped.

  “My betrothed should be safe in the harem right now,” Fathi said, wondering what had happened. His stomach clenched. Why did Ghalib want Ikraam? Anything could have happened, and he wouldn’t have heard it even standing right here, he had been so lost in his own thoughts. The harem was on the far side of the fort, and the thick walls absorbed a lot of sounds also. “And why are you chasing after Ikraam?”

  Ghalib leered at him. “She’s—”

  Fathi didn’t let him finish his sentence. He lashed out and punched the man. That Ghalib was referring to Ikraam as “she” meant he hadn’t done anything with him, but Fathi was still enraged the man was leering about his betrothed, no matter what his sex was. Fathi hit him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of Ghalib, and then got out of the way. He didn’t know how to fight, and he didn’t know why he was starting one now, but he knew enough to keep moving now he’d started it.

  Ghalib bent over with a wheeze, even as he was punching back. Fathi managed to dodge it, but he didn’t think he’d last too long; he just wanted to not think right now. Having a fight with this thug sounded like a better way of working off his conflicts about Ikraam than hashing them out with his brother.

  Ghalib threw another punch, clumsily, but with enough power to hurt when it connected with Fathi’s arm. Fathi had managed to get his arm up in front of his face in time, so he wasn’t spitting out teeth. He threw his own punch, jumping sideways again to get out of the range of Ghalib’s arms.

  “Is this a private conversation, or can anyone join?” Rayyan asked as he walked out of the darkness.

  “I’m looking for Ikraam,” Ghalib snarled.

  Fathi prudently got out of his way, moving toward Rayyan.

  “You are chasing after my twin’s betrothed?” Rayyan asked coldly. “Disturbing the rest of the household while you’re doing it? You’re being a poor guest.”

  Ghalib waved his left arm at them. “She stabbed me!”

  “Then you were probably doing something to deserve it,” Fathi snapped. That explained the damage, and he hoped it was more painful than it appeared to be.

  Rayyan just looked at Ghalib in contempt before he turned to Fathi. “And I was expecting this foolishness out of you tomorrow night.”

  “Since you are injured, let’s get you some medical attention, like the good hosts we are.” Rayyan smiled like a shark. “And then you can explain to me what you were doing in the harem, violating our grandfather’s word the ladies wouldn’t be bothered there. You were there when he gave it. Do you want to make the amir a liar?”

  Ghalib looked worried by Rayyan’s threat, and Fathi wondered when his mild-mannered twin had become so imposing. There must be something to hanging out at the souk and gossiping. But Fathi felt exhausted now, the adrenaline from the fight, such as it was, draining away. He wanted to sleep, to forget what was happening, yet he needed to also find Ikraam and
make sure he was all right.

  “Fathi,” Rayyan said quietly.

  He jerked his attention back to his twin. Fathi nodded, understanding what he was telling him in that one word. He needed to bring Grandfather up-to-date on what was happening.

  “We’re going to the servants’ area. I know a couple of the men have medical experience. Ghalib can be taken care of there.”

  Fathi went to Grandfather’s rooms, keeping an eye out for Ikraam. He wanted to get his side of the story, because Ikraam hadn’t struck him as someone who just went around randomly stabbing people. Ghalib had either attacked him or had attacked Sabah. As he walked, Fathi decided Ghalib had attacked Ikraam, because Ghalib wouldn’t be alive if he had laid a hand on Sabah. Ikraam would be looking for him to help hide the body, not fleeing from Ghalib.

  Fathi knocked on Grandfather’s door before entering his room. Grandfather was a light sleeper and the knock would wake him up.

  “Grandfather,” Fathi called from the doorway.

  “What is the matter, Fathi?” Grandfather asked.

  “There has been an incident with Ghalib,” Fathi said. He winced when he wiggled his fingers, feeling Ghalib’s blow when he did so. That was going to hurt in the morning. “A couple, actually,” he admitted.

  Grandfather sat up and got out of bed. “What happened?” he demanded.

  “Ghalib was looking for Ikraam,” Fathi started.

  Grandfather looked outraged when he said that. “What did he want with your betrothed?”

  “Ghalib claimed Ikraam had taken a knife to him,” Fathi said calmly, even though he wanted to kill Ghalib for threatening Ikraam. Not that he thought Ikraam needed defending, but that the scum had threatened him enraged Fathi on a primitive level he didn’t know he had. Ikraam was really confusing him. “But he didn’t explain why Ikraam attacked him.”

  “That’s the first incident,” Grandfather said.

  “I think I might have tried to hit Ghalib once or twice before Rayyan found us,” Fathi admitted. “Unfortunately, I’m not a very good fighter.”

  “And what does Ikraam say about this?” Grandfather asked as he slid his feet into slippers and started out the door.

  “I haven’t found Ikraam to ask,” Fathi said.

  “She isn’t in the harem?” Grandfather demanded.

  “Rayyan wanted me to get you before I started to find her.” Fathi paused. “Please don’t hold this against Ikraam. She doesn’t seem fond of Ghalib. Ikraam…. Sabah is betrothed to Ghalib. Ikraam doesn’t think he would be a good match for Sabah. If this is how he acts, then Ikraam is right to worry about the girl.”

  “What does that matter?” Grandfather scoffed.

  “Ikraam has expressed concern about how he would treat Sabah,” Fathi said carefully.

  “A woman’s folly,” Grandfather scoffed.

  “He’s broken his horse in a manner that would have him arrested in most countries, was the impression I got from Ikraam. And I believe it. You agree with me the man’s a thug.”

  Fathi kept his tone calm, even though what Ghalib had done sickened him. He supposed since he was city raised, he was a little more sentimental about animals than the desert folk, but to abuse an animal should be upsetting to anyone.

  “And so?” Grandfather prodded.

  “A wife would be less worth to Ghalib than a horse,” Fathi told him. “So how do you think he would treat Sabah? I know this seems like nonsense to you, but it’s important.”

  “The man violated my harem,” Grandfather stated. “He seems to be as foolish as Hashim.”

  “I hate to say, I don’t know where this happened,” Fathi admitted. “I met Ghalib outside in the inner courtyard.”

  “What were you doing out at this time of the night?”

  “I had a lot to think of,” Fathi said stiffly. “I find it easier to think at times when I pace, and my room was feeling a little… cramped.”

  Grandfather snorted. Fathi wanted to agree, since the room in question was bigger than his apartment. But how could he explain that the weight of everything in his life had sent him running?

  “What were you thinking about?” Grandfather asked.

  “What about afterward?” Fathi asked. “You’ve… we’ve concentrated on the wedding and getting married. You want babies to spoil. But where are those babies, if there are any, going to live? Ikraam isn’t going to be comfortable in the city. Should we stay here? Buy property someplace else? Live together all the time, or should I commute?” He paused. “Also, it’s hypocritical to punish Ghalib for violating the harem, because I have.”

  “Ikraam didn’t knife you,” Grandfather chuckled.

  “But we have talked a little, and she seems to be very fond of her niece, from what I’ve seen,” Fathi said. “She would like her to not marry Ghalib. If we aren’t going to live together full-time, Ikraam might be lonely. Sabah could help with that. She could keep Ikraam company.”

  “Is the niece pretty?” Grandfather asked.

  “How should I know?” Fathi snapped. “I haven’t seen her face. What I’m trying to do is make this whole experience as painless as possible. If that means Sabah lives with us, then she does.”

  “You’re going to spoil her,” Grandfather grunted as they arrived at the servants’ quarters.

  “Someone should,” Fathi snarled. “Bahiyya has been abusing Ikraam. Ikraam had bruises, from what little I’ve seen, and Sabah mentioned her mother wasn’t a pleasant woman to deal with.”

  They walked down the corridor and into a small dining room. Ghalib was sitting at a table, with his shirt off and his left arm on the table. A man was looking at the cut on his arm. Fathi saw it was shallow and long, so it probably didn’t need stitches.

  “Why did the lady feel a need to stab you?” Rayyan asked.

  “It’s more like a slice,” the medic said with amusement. He then proceeded to paint the cut and the surrounding area with iodine. “But she’s got good aim. I wouldn’t want her angry at me.”

  “It hurts,” Ghalib whined.

  “You haven’t answered my grandson’s questions,” Grandfather stated.

  Ghalib looked at him. “I didn’t do anything,” he grumbled.

  “You’re saying my brother is marrying a lady who stabs people for fun, then,” Rayyan joked.

  “I was always told marriage was exciting,” Fathi quipped, even if he didn’t think this was funny. “And it looks like she’s quite good… did even more damage than I did.”

  “This is a serious matter,” Grandfather snapped. “I can’t have guests in my household attack one another.”

  “If Ikraam wanted to stab him, wouldn’t it have been better to do so when they were traveling?” Rayyan mused, watching Ghalib like a hawk, even as he halfheartedly defended him. Fathi shot him a glare, but then realized Rayyan was trying to be “nice” and get Ghalib to confess to his sins.

  “Not with the way Bahiyya was watching her,” Ghalib muttered. “And Ikraam—”

  “Needs to be found,” Fathi interrupted, suddenly tiring of the game.

  Ikraam must be so worried about how Fathi was going to react to his confession he was a man. He didn’t need the additional stress of how Grandfather was going to react to this mess. Fathi needed to reassure Ikraam Grandfather wasn’t angry with him. It looked like Grandfather would blame Ghalib.

  “I can go look for her,” Rayyan offered.

  “Do so,” Grandfather snapped. “I want to hear more about Ikraam’s doings from this one.”

  “Grandfather—” Fathi protested.

  Rayyan smiled. “I do want to meet my sister-by-marriage.”

  “Rayyan!” Fathi snapped.

  “Deal with him,” Rayyan said, waving his hand at Ghalib. “I’ll watch after Ikraam. Not that I think she needs watching, but you’re going to be busy here.”

  He walked off before Fathi could protest. Part of Fathi wanted to search for Ikraam to make sure he was all right. However… he also wanted to make
this scum’s life miserable for what he did to Ikraam. Call it petty and miserable, but he wanted Ghalib to pay for the way he treated Ikraam.

  Fathi turned and loomed over Ghalib, smiling coldly. “Where were you when Ikraam stabbed you?”

  Ghalib leered at him. “She was in my room, unveiled—”

  He didn’t get to finish what he was saying, because Fathi squeezed his injured arm, making Ghalib howl. “You lie,” he said flatly.

  He didn’t know why he was acting this way. He was usually so logical and calm, but Ikraam had changed that and he was thinking it wasn’t so bad it had happened. Right now, he wanted to start hitting Ghalib again, even if he hadn’t hurt him the first time. Feeling his fist smacking into his flesh would make him feel better.

  “Let him speak,” Grandfather ordered.

  Fathi let up the pressure on Ghalib’s arm. The man took a deep breath and continued. Fear and respect were in his eyes for the first time since Fathi had met him, and Fathi wondered what kind of man only respected violence. And who would be foolish enough to let them near their daughter.

  “Bahiyya escorted Ikraam into the common room I was sharing with her and her husband. They were bringing us food, like proper women should.”

  “Where did they get this food?” Grandfather demanded.

  Ghalib smirked at him. “Ikraam had a visitor to the harem. Didn’t your grandson tell you about that?”

  Grandfather glared at Ghalib for his implication that Grandfather didn’t know what was going on in his own household.

  “I informed my grandfather of my intentions, even if he didn’t approve of them,” Fathi said. “The amir is aware of everything that happens under his roof.”

  “Did he tell you Ikraam asked him to leave and he went, with his tail between his legs?” Ghalib asked. “A man doesn’t do what a woman asks.”

  Fathi leaned on Ghalib’s injured arm again as he pushed his face into the other man’s, enraged at his arrogance, even as Ghalib howled in pain once more. “I was not invited. Ikraam asked politely for me to leave, and I left. As a real man should.”