Page 19 of The Prince's Wife

"What a lovely thought for all the cretins I'm enduring while I sort out this trafficking nightmare." He thanked the servants who set out a marvelous-looking breakfast, and took a sip of the tea Javed offered up.

"Two bloodthirsty scorpions in their den," Jahanara said dryly. "Speaking of bloodthirsty, I believe Mother is going to seek you out to help her sort a problem at the temple."

"Me?" Since when did their mother need him?

"You're easily the most diplomatic of us, Ari. It's a pretty contentious fight, from what she's told me, and she thinks you'd be able to help sort it out better than her."

"All of that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I can't even fight off mercenaries."

"Mercenaries don't put that much effort into hunting down someone they'renotscared of," Relanya said, surprisingly somber. "If they thought you a pushover, they would have tried different tactics. Bribing, blackmail—though I can't imagine what they would use—or beating you. Instead, they've tried at least twice to assassinate you. That is the work of fear and anger. I have not met Bakhtiar yet, obviously, but I would agree with the assessment you're the most dangerous of you three. Patience, empathy, and a willingness to listen and compromise is a rare combination of traits, and all the more dangerous to people like the traffickers."

Aradishir had no idea what to say to that, face hot with discomfort. He was the youngest and most unremarkable. He was tending the trafficking matter because it was equal parts punishment and no one else having the time. "I don't think—"

He stopped as the doors opened, frowning that something was important enough to merit interrupting them.

The breath left his lungs as a familiar figure limped into the room supported by his personal bodyguard, as he was the only one of the three of them who required such a thing. "Bakhti!"

Grinning despite the obvious pain he was in, probably from pushing himself too hard on a broken leg, Bakhtiar grinned. "Hello, Ari, Nara. Miss me?"

Chapter Nine

"Not even a little," Jahanara replied, making him laugh. "What are you doing back so soon? I didn't think you could even be on that leg yet."

"I couldn't just let you two do all the work, now could I? That's no way to treat my future wife," Bakhtiar replied, finally sweeping his gaze over Relanya, and then giving her a bow that was surprisingly graceful, given the awkwardness involved. "Your Highness."

"Your Highness," Relanya returned, climbing to her feet to give him a proper bow. A slight hesitation, and then she set her shoulders and approached him. "It's an honor and pleasure to at last make your acquaintance, though your siblings have been extremely kind and welcoming in your absence."

"Oh, really? So they can behave."

"Shut up, Bakhti, we're not the ones always getting into trouble, are we?"

Bakhtiar only grinned.

"Will you join us for breakfast?" Relanya asked.

Her face was the most closed off Aradishir had ever seen it, like she was taking great care not to share whatever thoughts were in her head. What could they possibly be? He doubted she was reacting negatively to Bakhtiar. His family might want to kill him on a daily basis, but to everyone else he was bright, charming, beautiful, and captivating. He was all the best and worst parts of their parents, and if he could ever stop acting like a fool, he'd be a magnificent king someday.

"I would love to, but I've only just arrived, and I should get cleaned up and let the royal healer fuss over my leg," Bakhtiar replied, "but perhaps I can see you at lunch, dear princess?"

"Of course," Relanya said with a warm smile that made Aradishir's gut churn. Why couldn't he have had just a little more time? Just one more day?

It didn't matter, though, whether he got one more day, one more week, or just one more hour. Relanya was meant to be queen, to be Bakhtiar's wife. There was no world where she would settle for him, pretending for a moment the thought had ever even crossed her mind.

No longer hungry, he pushed his food away and rose, waving off his harem as they moved to do the same. "I'll help you to your room, Bakhti. Where's your harem?"

"I sent them ahead to our rooms. They were exhausted from all the hard travel."

"You're lucky they don't smother you in your sleep," Aradishir said as he reached him, slinging one of Bakhtiar's arms across his shoulders and taking most of his weight. "Nara, Your Highness, we'll see you later."

He didn't wait for their reply, just hauled Bakhtiar out of there.

"What's the fucking hurry?" Bakhtiar muttered. "I worked hard to get back here so you didn't have to keep doing all this stupid courting stuff for me."

"I'm going to clobber you."

"I haven't done anything!"

"'Courting stuff' like it's a chore and not an honor, you're impossible," Aradishir replied. "You shouldn't be pushing yourself, anyway. What if you cause yourself permanent damage?"

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