Page 16 of Wildflower

Reza chuckled and prodded Bakhtiar in the chest."See?Only you thought it wasn't good enough, Your Highness."He winked at Aaralyn."The proper one has more elaborate, bejeweled flowers and actual gold.Befitting a concubine, hmm?Yes, flowers for you, from head to toe.I know just the sets to pull from storage, and my prince will no doubt commission piles more."

Aaralyn had no idea what to say to that, and his burning cheeks seemed to be saying enough anyway.Farrokh and Kurosh washed him, a strange experience to be sure, and something that ordinarily might have him embarrassing himself, but right then he was simply too overwhelmed by everything, and wrung out from the confrontation with the worst of Havarin.

As Kurosh had promised, by the time he climbed from the bath, he was all but asleep.They dried him off, and then Reza carried him to the back of the room and settled him in the enormous bed there.He'd never slept in a bed so soft and cozy.When he'd first arrived in the palace, he'd thought the bed in his room was the finest thing ever, but this one left that bed in the dust.

Bakhtiar settled beside him, sitting up against the pillows and pulling Aaralyn to lie so his head was practically in his lap.He stroked his hair in a gentle way Aaralyn hadn't felt since his mother had done it when he was a child.Would she be happy he'd found such a good life, or resent him for it?

Nearby, Taher picked up his book and resumed reading, but aloud this time, and nearby Kurosh and Farrokh started a new game of taaki.

Aaralyn drifted off to sleep smiling.

Epilogue

Aaralyn looked up as the main chamber door slid open, and smiled warmly as Bakhtiar stepped inside—alone, which was odd, as he'd left with Farrokh and Reza at his side."Welcome back, my prince."Two such small, insignificant words they were,my prince.But he'd learned quickly it was an endearment of sorts, something only concubines and spouses used.No guard or noble would ever address Bakhtiar so, and if they did, it would be considered more than a little strange, and possibly a serious breach of etiquette.

Bakhtiar returned the smile."How is the studying?"

"Interesting but also boring, if that makes any sense."

"Oh, definitely.That was how I described my history lessons.The information was interesting, the method was exhaustingly boring."He removed his elaborate outer layers, tossing them on the bed to be dealt with later, likely by someone else.Not because Bakhtiar expected someone else to handle his clothes, but because he would forget about them entirely in the next few minutes.

The door opened again, and Pejman came in with a tray of wine and food.

Sitting down, Bakhtiar said, "How are mother and daughter?"

"She just started walking!"Pejman said excitedly."Asal is still sick, but she brightened considerably watching our daughter walk over to her.She fell once, but got right back up."

"Of course she did.Takes after her father in sheer determination," Bakhtiar replied."Is Asal improving?"

"Considerably.The healer says shewillget better, it will just take time, and we're not to rush anything."

Bakhtiar smiled."I'm glad.If you need anything, let me know.I'm always happy to help."

"You've done more than enough, Your Highness.Lord Farrokh said to tell you he'll be a couple of hours yet, but should still be back in time to attend dinner."

"Thank you.Tell your family I said hello.I expect a visit from the little one once she's well on her feet."

"Of course, Your Highness."He bowed and left, leaving them alone once more.

Aaralyn poured the wine.In their rooms, Bakhtiar seldom bothered with any sort of formality, pouring and drinking on his own.But Aaralyn offered the cup up anyway, still not nearly as graceful as the others in his movements, but always more than happy to keep practicing.

Bakhtiar smiled and took the sip of wine, let Aaralyn drink the remaining sip, then bent and kissed him softly.Kissing was rapidly becoming his favorite thing to do, and he didn't think that would change when they all finally fucked.

"So how did you lose Farrokh and Reza?"

"My leg was being troublesome, so instead of working further, I agreed to come back here and rest it for a bit, which freed up Farrokh and Reza, though they offered to return with me.Farrokh is helping my mother in the library, and Reza went off to do some training with Beynum, Aikhadour, and Witcher, since they also wound up with some free time today unexpectedly.My father has a nasty headache and was still feeling unwell from whatever made him sick at dinner last night, so he took the day off.An incredible moment for him, but I'm glad he's being less stubborn.Kurosh is probably at the training too.I've no doubt someone dragged him away from stalking the Havarin group."

They'd been tentatively allowed to wander the palace again, though only during certain hours.According to Bakhtiar, Lord Nigidius would be leaving by the end of the month, as soon as his replacement arrived.

Thankfully, because he was confined to the royal wing until he was fully healed, Aaralyn hadn't been forced to see either Nigidius or Seius again.What he had received was an obscene number of apology gifts.He would have loved to see their faces as they were forced to concede defeat on that point.He highly doubted they'd even seen the gifts, at most maybe they'd looked them over for final approval, but they definitely would have had to pay for them.

If only he could tell his mother that Grand Duke Seius had been forced to send him apology gifts.

Bakhtiar poured them more wine and offered it to him, looking entirely too pleased with himself when Aaralyn drank it.

"I know I haven't been your concubine long, but I think you've got this backwards."

Scoffing imperiously, Bakhtiar said, "I'm crown prince.How I do things is the right way."

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