Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Documents clutched in her hand, she left her family’s private wing in the palace and asked one of the guards of Kyria’s whereabouts. Where that girl was, he should always be, and when she made it to the palace’s library, she indeed found the two.
As this part of the palace was restricted to members of the Al-Atassi family and their most special guests, few people were aware that the royal library had been one of the inspirations for the Beast’s library in the animated classic. Towering shelves that reached all the way to the hundred-foot ceiling covered every wall, and above was a domed glass ceiling to reveal the azure skies of Ramil.
There was also the famous wheeled ladder from the film, only the one in Ramil’s palace was made entirely of gold rather than plain wood, and there were three of them, with the shelves divided into levels of more manageable heights. And also like the film, this particular ladder bore the weight of a lovely – albeit younger – bookish brunette. She was holding on to the ladder with one hand as she perused a stack of books, and thirty feet below her was a man as grouchy and princely as the film’s beast.
“Lueta.” Damn it. “If you don’t come down this instant, you’ll end up giving me a heart attack.”
“Stop shouting,” Kyria pleaded. “You know how you make me nervous when you shout so—-”
“Aira.” Fuck. “Don’t say you’re nervous when you’re up there because now I’m nervous as hell, too.”
It took almost a minute, but the thirteen-year-old finally made it back to the ground, and as soon as she stepped off the ladder, her slim body disappeared into a crushing embrace.
“From now on,” Malik muttered, “you’re forbidden from climbing that thing.”
“But Malik—-”
The young sheikh pulled away, cursing under his breath, but the sound still echoed in the library. “You could’ve fallen to your death,” he gritted out.
“Please?”
She watched Kyria peer up at her younger son with dark eyes full of pleading, and Vanna mentally shook her head.
Malik’s jaw clenched.
That look was—-
“Fine then,” Malik said finally. “Let’s compromise.”
That look was powerful, her younger son was a softie, and she almost let slip an inelegant snort.
“No climbing ladders when I’m not around. Do you understand?”
“What about if I have a guard—-”
A look of utter affront crossed the young sheikh’s face. “And have some man look up your robe while you’re at it?”
“Malik!” Kyria appeared dismayed. “I’m sure they wouldn’t—-”
“Of course they would,” Malik countered in a steely tone. “You may think you are still a child, but other people will see you as a young woman. The most traditional members of Ramilian culture still believe that twelve is a proper age for marriage, and you know that.”
The girl bowed her head in apology, properly chastened. “Maehdina.” And when she heard Malik sigh, she looked up and touched his arm. “Please don’t be mad anymore, Malik.”
“I’m not.” His tone was gruff. “I can never be with you.”
The two started walking, the sheikh taking the books from her hands as the young girl enthusiastically launched into a story about her day in school. When they made it back to their desk, the two sat next to each other, their dark heads bent close as they went through Kyria’s choice of reading materials. The two then started to squabble, just like the way a younger sister would when defending her taste to an older brother, and Vanna found herself smiling. Oh, if only they were full-blooded siblings-—
It’s not like you to take the easy way out, my love.
The voice in her head was familiar.
Imaginary.
But even so, Vanna’s teeth sank into her lower lip to keep it from trembling.
In front of her, Malik’s head suddenly jerked up, and if she were in a fanciful mood, she could’ve sworn he had his own moment, too, with Hadwin commanding him to comfort Vanna. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath, so that by the time her younger son turned to her, her smile was real.
I know, husband. I shall not fail you.
By now Kyria had also discovered her presence, and her two children came to her. Kyria kissed her on the cheek with a shy but warm smile. Malik did the same, but the look he directed at her was faintly curious.
“This is the library, Mother.”
She frowned. “And?”
“I thought you should know,” her younger son drawled solemnly, “in case you’ve forgotten what books look like.”
“You aggravating wretch!” She grabbed the first thing she could reach – a cardboard box from the library’s check-in counter – and threw it straight at his face. Unfortunately, Malik was an Al-Atassi, and all men in the family were gifted with the quickest of reflexes.
He caught the box handily with a grin, and incensed, Vanna reached up to pull his ear.