Bound to Her Desert Captor

‘I’m sorry,’ Milena said, tears forming at the edges of her eyes. ‘I was really desperate and I thought you’d say no if I asked.’

The stark truth of that flashed across the king’s taut features. ‘Who else knows about this?’ he asked stiffly.

‘Only Chad.’

Jag nodded curtly. ‘You look exhausted. We will talk more about this in the morning. Mr James, you will not leave the palace until this situation has been officially resolved.’

‘What are you going to do to him?’ Milena asked.

‘That is not your concern.’

Milena leapt to her feet, her small fists clenched. ‘Dammit, Jag, sometimes I wonder if you’re even human any more.’

‘Milena!’

His harsh call stayed her exit, her slight body vibrating with tension. She didn’t turn to look at him. ‘Permission to leave your presence, Your Majesty.’

The muscle in Jag’s jaw clenched tight. Regan’s heart jumped into her throat because she could tell by the flash of emotion across his face that he had taken Milena’s words to heart. No doubt he felt responsible for everything that had happened, and she knew he wouldn’t welcome her attempts to make him feel better about that.

‘Go. We’ll talk more in the morning.’

‘Don’t expect me to go anywhere without my sister,’ Chad said.

Jag gave him a faint smile. ‘I would expect nothing less.’

Finally he turned to face Regan. ‘I believe this is when you say “I told you so”.’

A lump formed in her throat, her hands trembling. ‘I don’t want to say that.’

What she wanted to say was that she loved him, that she wanted to be with him, that she understood his anger, and wanted to be the one to soothe it, but knowing that he had never wanted anything like that from her held her silent.

‘Gracious of you. But this is definitely the time I apologise for inconveniencing you. I was wrong.’

‘I don’t want your apology,’ she whispered fiercely. What she wanted was for this formal stranger to disappear and bring back the lover she had known at the oasis.

His gaze seemed to take her all in at once, and then there was nothing. It was as if he had closed down every emotion he’d ever had. ‘Mr James, please follow me.’

Regan felt shell-shocked by Jag’s departure. Was he coming back after he’d talked to Chad? Or was that it?

But of course that was it. The reason she was even here had been resolved. His sister was safe and the summit was over. Did life just return to normal for him now?

A breath shuddered out of her body and she clamped her arms around her waist. Was it that easy for him? That simple? But then, what had she expected? It had always been going to end when Chad returned. She’d known that. All day she’d reminded herself of the same thing and had convinced herself that she was just taking it for what it was. Well, now was the time to prove that. He’d told her that practice helped him contain his emotions and, well...now would be the time for her to try that too.

Only she wasn’t so sure she could move on from him that easily. She’d fallen in love with him. It was exactly the scenario she had feared. Falling for someone who didn’t want her back. It was almost as if she’d willed into being the very experience she’d spent years avoiding. But then, fate had a way of making you face your worst fears. She should have known that. And what was the mantra after you faced your fears and survived? You’d be stronger for it?

A sob rose up in her throat and she stifled it. That might take a while.

An hour later someone knocked at the door of the garden suite and she immediately assumed it was Chad.

It wasn’t, it was Tarik. He smiled at her soberly and handed her a document.

Regan scanned it. It was a press release stating that her engagement to the King was over. It completely exonerated her of any responsibility, merely stating that after careful consideration she had decided to return home.

‘If you’re happy with the wording, my lady, the King asks that you sign it.’

Regan nodded, her heart in her throat. ‘That was fast.’

Tarik handed her a pen. ‘His Majesty likes to work that way.’