To Tempt a Sheikh (Pride of Zohayd 2)

Her eyes lashed him with more vexation. He realized that her belief that she’d been taken in was exaggerating her anger. “Sure I would have. I was being worked by a master manipulator. But then, after I escaped being interrogated to death by a gang of desert hooligans, anyone would have seemed a knight in camouflage to my fried mind and senses. But you’re not being very clever. Telling me who you are was the worst mistake you could have made. You would have served your goal far better if you’d let me believe you were small fry, one of the hundreds of ‘princes’ with the odd drop of Aal Shalaan blood. Exposing yourself as the premium pure brew only makes you more accountable for the crimes your family perpetrated. It makes you the enemy I’m here to bring down.”

Talia watched her words sink into Harres Aal Shalaan.

She’d managed to wipe away that indulgent smile that had seemed permanent on his face a couple of minutes ago. Now she’d gone a dozen steps further, causing his expression to be engulfed in a tide of grimness.

She almost bit her tongue, but she might get poisoned by the venom flowing from it.

But she couldn’t stop. Disappointment urged her to pour it out before it ate through her. Her hero, her savior, the man who’d risked his life to rescue her, was an Aal Shalaan. And not just any Aal Shalaan. One of the four big guns. And the one who had as much jurisdiction and even more law-enforcement power than the king himself. Which meant only one thing.

He had more to lose than any other member of his family.

He had everything to lose.

And she was using her considerable provocation powers to declare herself in a position to affect those incalculable losses. While she was stranded in the desert with him, with no way of rejoining humanity except through him.

Any bets she ever would now?

She held her breath for his reaction. So rage and indignation and—damn him—him were loosening every last one of her discretion screws. But not to the point where she’d lost track of the possible, and expected, consequences.

He lowered his gaze, relinquishing hers for the first time. She watched the long sweep of his downcast lashes as they stilled, her heart ramming her ribcage. Next time he raised those eyes he’d take off the mask of geniality and tolerance. They’d be cold and ruthless. And he’d no longer be her persuader but her interrogator, not her rescuer but her warden.

Then he raised his eyes and almost had her keeling over in his lap.

Those golden orbs were emitting a steady energy, a calming power that seeped through hers, into her brain, flooding her whole body.

The son of a…king was trying to hypnotize her!

And he was almost succeeding. Even now.

So. She’d gravely underestimated him. She’d thought, with the novelty of her resistance depleted, his facade of endless patience and indulgence would crack, exposing his true face. That of an all-powerful prince used to having people cower before him. But it seemed he was also an infallible character-reader, realized that intimidation would get him nowhere with her. So he wasn’t playing that card just yet. Not before he gave all the others in his formidable arsenal a full demo.

So Prince Harres Aal Shalaan wasn’t who he was just because he’d been delivered into the royal family, hadn’t qualified for his position in the family business because he’d grown up playing desert raiders. He evidently had staying power, was in command of himself at all times. He had long-term insight and layered intelligence, remained on top of any situation. And he had uncanny people skills and truckloads of charisma, made willing followers of everyone he crossed paths with.

He had of her, too. But no more.

The bucket of drool stopped here.

Then he spoke in that polyphonic voice of his, which made her feel as if it was coming from all around her, from inside her, and she almost revised her certainty. Almost.

“I don’t know what you’ve been hearing about the Aal Shalaans, or from whom, but you’ve been misled. We’re neither despots nor criminals.”

“Sure. And I’m supposed to take your word for it.”

“Yes, until I’m in a position to prove it. I would at least demand you grant us the benefit of the doubt.”

“Oh, if I had any, I’d grant it. But I don’t, so I won’t.”

“Won’t you at least make your accusations and give me a chance to come up with a defense?”

“I’m sure you can come up with anything you wish. You’d fabricate enough evidence to confuse issues with reasonable doubt. But this isn’t a court of law, and I’m not a judge. I’m just someone who knows the truth. And I’m here collecting evidence to prove it.”

“To prove what?”

“That you’re not all above reproach as you paint yourselves to be.”

He gave a shrug with his right shoulder. It was eloquent with concession and dismissal. The man spoke, expressed, with every last inch of his body. “Who in any place of power doesn’t have someone with a beef against them? Ruling a country isn’t all plain sailing. Laws and rulings are contested, whether economic, military or judicial, by others with opposing views or interests. In my own peacekeeping and business capacities, I’m sure my decisions and actions always leave someone disgruntled. That doesn’t mean I’m evil. I’ve certainly done nothing criminal in my life.”

“Oh, you’re too clever to do something overt. But you, Mr. Peacekeeping Entrepreneur, manipulate the law, and people. Like you did me. Like you’re still trying to. But I’m on to you. I’m on to your whole family. That you call yourselves a royal family doesn’t make you any less criminal. Many so-called rulers were deposed then brought to justice for crimes against their people. As you one day, and soon I hope, will be.”

Okay. She’d done it. She’d ensured her place at the top of his blacklist.

And again, the tenacious man refused to get it over with and validate her fear, release his mask.

His face remained the very sight of sincerity, his voice the very sound of earnestness. “You can believe what you wish, Talia. But I will also say what I wish, my version of the truth. I would have come to save you, no matter who you were. And whomever I saved would have been safe with me. Whatever your agenda is, you are safer with me than with your own family. You scoff now, but when you weren’t applying your prejudice to me, you, too, believed it was an act of fate for us to share this, to feel this powerfully about each other, to see the other for what we truly are without the help or hindrance of identities and history. I now urge you to look beyond what you think you know, to what you do know. Of me. You’re a doctor, and you’re used to seeing people stripped to their basic nature during emergencies. You’ve seen me as I really am through the best tests of all—the litmus of mortal danger, and your own valiant efforts at exercising your potent provocation.”