Page 18 of The Prince's Wife

"Shir!" Merza said as he stepped inside. "Where have you been?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Aradishir said as all three swarmed him, and explained all that had transpired. "I should have thought to send someone to tell you where I'd gone, I apologize."

"You are determined to give me gray hairs," Heydar grumbled, kissing his temple. "I'm glad you had so much fun, though. " He smiled softly. "You are a wonderful uncle, and you'll be a wonderful father someday."

"I'd rather not think about it right now." He slipped from their hold and headed for the bath, determined to wash and dress quickly, so he would not keep the others waiting on him overlong.

His harem, however, had other ideas, and had him dressed far more finely than he'd normally bother for breakfast, though not so ornate that his sister would give him looks. The very last thing he needed was his sister realizing he was smitten with his future sister-in-law. He would quite literally rather die.

"Am I finally suitable enough for you?"

"You'll suffice," Merza drawled.

Javed smiled softly and kissed his cheek. "Beautiful as always, my prince. Come on, your sister and your lady—"

"She's not mine!" Aradishir snapped. "I can tolerate the three of you teasing me on everything else, but not that."

"But—"

Aradishir strode off, not wanting to be angry with them or say something in that anger, but ithurt. They knew Relanya wasn't his, would never be his. He'd have more luck marrying the palace head chef.

His harem caught up to him, Javed sliding an arm around his waist in silent apology. "I don't think you should lose all faith, my prince. She looks at you too."

"Please just stop."

"As you wish."

Thankfully the rest of the walk was in silence, and a short time later guards slid open the doors to the dining room where Relanya, Jahanara, and their respective maidens and concubines waited. Javed sat next to Aradishir, and the other two scattered amongst the women, a casual arrangement in this instance rather than the strategic moves of a formal dinner.

"I'm so happy you could join us," Relanya said with one of her lovely smiles. "Thank you again for being so kind to Keri. He's never had the easiest time making friends, and moving to a whole new country is an entirely different set of challenges." Her mouth twisted slightly. "At least here he doesn't have to worry about people saying unkind things about his mother. Not yet, anyway."

"People can try it once," Aradishir said. "I promise they won't feel inclined to try it a second time. Whatever problems someone might have with a person, they shouldn't be dragging children into it unless the child is in danger." He smiled ruefully. "I wish I could stop the negativity entirely, but I overhear near daily that I'm a sanctimonious busybody who doesn't know what he's mucking with."

Jahanara narrowed her eyes. "Who are these people you have been overhearing? Because I don't take kindly to threats, veiled, vague, or blatant."

"I keep the guards apprised, put your teeth away."

"That does not give me any comfort, given the sordid history this palace has of backstabbing guards."

Heydar sighed. "My father is many things, most of them frustrating at best, but he would agree with you and is ruthless about cutting off those damaged limbs. I keep close watch of every whisperer, Your Highness, I promise."

Relanya tilted her head. "Who is your father?"

"Commander of the Guards."

"He's lucky he had the sense to still be your father," Aradishir said. "I think we'd all benefit by pitching his sorry ass into the ocean."

"Down, sweet prince. Family is nothing if not complicated."

"He had youwhipped, multiple times!" Aradishir hissed. He would never forget all the blood on Heydar's back on multiple occasions, soaking through his layers of clothes. How despondent he'd been that night Aradishir had followed him into the city and finally worked up the nerve to ask Heydar to be his. He'd been certain Heydar would say no, would prefer to be quite literally anywhere else in the world.

His stupid father had recanted disowning him the next day, but Aradishir doubted it was from true remorse. More like he'd seen his son a royal concubine and realized all the trouble being at odds with him could cause. The man was a weaselly coward, and nobody would ever change his mind on that.

"Down, sweet prince," Javed echoed, kissing his cheek, one hand stroking his neck, thumb at his pulse. "We're all safe and happy now, you do not have to remain angry on our behalf."

"Or you could just let me throw people into the ocean," Aradishir grumbled.

Relanya smiled in understanding. "It's an even more pleasant daydream back in Penna, because the water ices back over quickly and they're trapped."

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