Page 90 of The Ruler
He looked up at me and opened his arms when he saw my devastated expression.
“Come here,” he said and pulled me down on his lap.
“She’s summoning the council,” I whispered and leaned against him.
“You expected her to do that much, didn’t you?”
“Uh-huh.” I heaved my heavy chest.
“I’m sorry that being with me is causing you pain,” Khan said and caressed my hair. “But I’m afraid this is just the beginning.”
“You’re right.”
Khan and I weren’t naïve or stupid. We had already spoken about the different scenarios that could happen. But theory was one thing; seeing the disappointment in my mother’s eyes was completely different.
“She wants me to come back and explain myself to the council,” I said softly.
“And what did you tell her?”
“That I wanted a guarantee that I could return.”
“Did she give it to you?”
“No.”
Khan tightened his grip around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest. “Then I’m not letting you go.”
I stiffened. “It’s not your choice.”
His breath was in my ear and his body was throwing off heat. I didn’t have to turn my head to see his jaw clench.
“I’ll listen to you, of course,” I said to calm him. “But ultimately, I make my own decisions and that will not change.”
“Yes, it will; when those decisions affect me, I want a say in them,” he said and I could tell he was holding back the frustration he felt.
I pulled free from his hold. “If we’re lucky, the council will see it as a good thing that we’re together and let me go without problems. I hope they do.”
“But…” he said, forcing me to say the more realistic alternative.
“But we should prepare ourselves for a strong reaction.”
Khan
The next morning a message arrived from the border with a video for me. Not Pearl. Me!
I cursed, low, that we were back to the medieval days of passing messages back and forth.
Since I hadn’t been able to sleep much anyway, I was up early and watched the message without Pearl.
It wasn’t her mother, Isobel, speaking, but a woman with very unflattering drooping eyes.
“Lord Khan, my name is Councilwoman Leah, and this message is to inform you that the council is very disturbed to hear of Pearl’s relationship with you.” She spoke softly but with a voice bearing indignation.
“We demand to see Pearl returned safely within two days or we’ll be forced to close down the borders and ban all trade between our nations.”
Fuck…I gave a low groan and rubbed my face.
“Your deadline is the first of August at 12 p.m.,” Councilwoman Leah said and ended with a greeting that pissed me off. “May peace remain and may both our nations prosper.”
