Told him what would happen?
The prince released her and stepped back, a victorious, snake charmer’s grin on his face. ‘He’ll get blood, but it won’t be mine.’
A lightning streak of fear shot through Farah. ‘What are you going to do to him?’
Ignoring her, Zach raised a hand and a nearby guard materialised at his side. ‘Take Miss Hajjar to the harem.’
She grabbed his forearm. ‘I want to see my father.’
‘Don’t let her out of your sight,’ he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. ‘Not even for a second.’
Nadir stayed the guard before he could move. ‘Unfortunately I told her father I would bring her.’
‘Why would you do that?’ the prince snapped at him.
Nadir’s brow rose and Farah wasn’t sure if it was with censure or surprise. ‘He wants to see her for himself.’
‘I don’t care.’
‘I do.’ This time the look was definitely censure. ‘This is my wedding night, Zach,’ he said grimly. ‘You need to take care of this quickly and smoothly before Imogen realises something is amiss.’
The new king’s care of his bride made Farah’s stomach clench. Men did not put their women first, in her experience.
‘Fine,’ the prince growled. ‘Let’s get this over with.’
Farah tensed at the ominous ring in those words. In Bakaan, the prince wouldn’t need a court order to have her father imprisoned or put to death, and desolation overtook her as she realised that, despite all her efforts, there was next to nothing she could do to save him now.
CHAPTER EIGHT
FARAH’S HEART CAUGHT in her throat as she saw her father standing proud and tall in what looked like a private office. Amir was beside him, four palace guards surrounding them both.
Her father’s eyes fell on her and widened before turning to the prince. ‘What have you done to my daughter?’
Farah felt the prince’s barely leashed anger. ‘Greetings to you, too, Hajjar,’ he drawled insolently. ‘How good of you to grace us with your presence.’
Her father’s eyes narrowed. ‘Just answer the question, cur.’
Farah nearly groaned at her father’s rudeness. Now was not the time to challenge the man he had kidnapped.
‘You will not be making demands here, Hajjar,’ the prince said with grim certainty. ‘You are in my realm now.’
Her father raised his head. ‘I’m sure you will do your worst, but not to my daughter.’
‘I’ll do what I like.’
‘Gentlemen.’ Sheikh Nadir stepped between them. ‘I urge you to keep this civil.’
‘This is not one of your boardrooms, Nadir,’ the prince overrode his brother. ‘I intend to see justice done.’
‘Justice?’ Her father spat. ‘You wouldn’t know justice if it jumped up and bit you in the backside. You’re just like your father.’
‘Careful, Hajjar.’ Sheikh Nadir’s tone was unmistakably deadly. ‘This is my wedding day and you did kidnap my brother.’
‘I don’t deny it. But he took my daughter and spent two nights with her alone in the desert. That is a slur against her good reputation and he should be forced to make amends.’
Amir shifted forward. ‘Did you touch her?’ he bit out.
Farah’s eyes flew to his. A muscle jumped in his jaw as he eyeballed the prince.
‘That’s none of your business.’ Prince Zachim’s piercing gaze cut from Amir’s to hers and Farah felt her face turn brick red as she recalled every time he had touched her and how much she had secretly enjoyed it. A spark of awareness simmered behind the prince’s eyes, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, as if he too could still feel the press of his blunt fingertips against the underside of her breasts. An unexpected shaft of hunger tightened every one of her nerves, as if in anticipation of that touch, and she released the shaky breath she’d been holding for too long. She knew she should be saying something but she couldn’t move under the weight of that unmistakably sexual look; couldn’t think.
‘By Allah!’ Her father’s righteous bellow filled the room and Farah shook off the sensual malaise that threatened to consume her. ‘If this cur has compromised my daughter’s honour then he will marry her.’
Marry her?
‘No!’ Farah’s automatic response was nearly drowned out by Prince Zachim’s insulting laugh and Amir’s horrified shout of disapproval.