Page 31 of Dirty Wild Sultan

It was a surprise to see Princess Zara for the first time and greeting her when she gave me a dimpled smile, telling me she loved how I did my hair and needed me to teach her. I promised I would.

But knowing the angered look on Khalid’s face at my father’s hint of marriage, I knew there was something more than just brotherly protection towards Zara.

My father was giving Zara odd looks as she talked and laughed with Khalid, her beauty different from ours, with her pale skin, doe eyes and elfish face. I had the urge to protect her from him and Sadiq, who kept glaring at her.

I flickered my eyes from my brother to Zain’s. “I should thank you for your proposal.”

“And I should thank you for accepting it.”

I tugged at his suit and leaned closer to whisper in his ear. “I mean it, Sultan Zain. I owe you.”

He chuckled, his eyes glittering brightly. “You owe me nothing, Princess Nasrin. Let’s eat before the food gets cold and tell me about your favorite sweet.”

I talked to him about the sweet taste ofkunafah, my mouth watering while I ate the spicy curry with naan. He seemed amused by my explanation and promised to try it as we talked back and forth until my father cleared his throat. For the umpteenth time.

“Here,” Zain leaned over and poured water in my father’s glass. “Cold water will help with the spicy food.”

I tried to hide my smile and stared wide-eyed at Zara when she let out a small giggle.

My father looked furious, ignoring the glass of water. “I think it’s time we discuss the marriage arrangements.”

“We should. I think it’d be best if we do it early. Next month?”

Sadiq butted in, “No need to be eager, Sultan Zain. I was hoping we could wait till winter.”

I certainly did not want to wait for six months and live in Maahnoor with my father and brothers.

“Why not ask Princess Nasrin?” Zara spoke up, sensing my discomfort. All heads turned towards me. “She is the bride after all.”

Zain squeezed my hand and whispered, “What do you want, Nasrin?”

My stomach coiled tightly when he gazed at me with his obsidian eyes. His large hand was warm and the way his thumb caressed the pulse of my wrist made me remember that his thumb was between my legs, teasing the pulsing nub in the same manner. His eyes gleamed as if he knew what I was thinking about.

“I was thinking next week,” I grinned, hoping no one could see my flush. “I can’t wait to be a sultana after all.”

A few of Zain’s peers chuckled along with his grandma, who smiled at me. Zain squeezed my hand in return. He glanced at Sadiq. “You heard your sister. The preparation will take no longer than a few days and we will hold the wedding in the palace so you don’t have to worry about the details.”

“Sultan, may I suggest you exchange the rings tonight for public announcement,” his advisor spoke up.

“Of course, Rahim,” Sultan of Azmia looked at me. “We will have the ring ceremony this evening. If it’s no trouble, I would like Nasrin to stay here, get used to being a sultana.”

My brother didn’t like that idea, glaring at me as I stared straight into his eyes, challenging him, daring him to belittle me. But he couldn’t.

“I think that’s a great idea,” I said, faking a cough. “I get sick when I travel so I’ll stay in Azmia.”

My father rolled his eyes at my lie and continued to talk about the bonding between Azmia and Maahnoor through our marriage. How it would end the rivalry between the two countries and benefit both of them.

Zain held my hand under the table during the remainder of lunch and I missed the warmth of it when we had to stand up and go our separate ways.

16

Zain

“You can exchange the rings now,” our advisor announced, people clapping and cheering around us.

We had finished thetulbaceremony privately, where I had to formally ask Nasrin’s family and her for her hand in marriage. After accepting the blessings from both of our families, Rahim had announced that the royal guests had arrived to take part in our engagement.

Taking a deep breath, I held her hand and hesitated only for a moment before sliding the emerald diamond ring on her finger. Cheers erupted around us as my eyes flickered to her honeyed orbs. They were glittering when they glanced from the ring to my face.

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