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)
Malik winced. “I was only concerned. The last time I saw you pick out a book was when Kyria liked having bedtime stories read—-”
Kyria, gaze darting worriedly between mother and son, said earnestly, “I still enjoy having bedtime stories read to me.”
“That’s unfortunately not the point, my dear—-” She heard her son start to laugh, and her teeth gnashed. She twisted his ear as hard as she could, and Malik’s laughter abruptly died. Shooting him with a warning look to behave, she released his ear and turned to Kyria. “Apologies for that, darling. You know how your dear brother—-” This time, it was Malik’s face that turned rigid. “—-can be.”
“Umm...” The poor girl looked torn. She clearly thought that all Malik could be was perfect.
Malik’s gaze slid to the documents his mother held, and his gaze narrowed when he caught a glimpse of certain photos. He looked back at his mother, and her uneasy expression confirmed his suspicions. He turned to Kyria. “I need to speak with Mother for a bit. Stay here, and I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
Malik led Vanna to one of the private reading rooms in the library, and as soon as the door closed behind them, she said quickly, “It’s not what you think it is.”
Her younger son didn’t answer right away. “Please have a seat, Mother.”
She reluctantly did as asked, muttering, “I hate it when you act like this.” So utterly calm when they believed she was overstepping her bounds. He and Altair took after their father this way, and it always made her feel dreadfully defensive.
Malik took the chair across her. “May I?”
She handed him the files. “It’s not really what you think—-”
“Is it not?” He flipped through the documents. “Then if I say these are personal files of bridal candidates, you will tell me I’m wrong?”
Vanna didn’t answer.
Her younger son glanced up. “Mother?”
“Oh, fine. It is that.”
“And it’s for me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” he asked bluntly. “Shouldn’t it be Altair you’d consult as the first son—-”
“Altair will marry whomever he is duty-bound to marry,” she said shortly. “Your brother is just that type of person. You, however...” She took a deep breath. “I know we’ve never talked about this, but Kyria—-”
“For the love of Allah!” Malik shot his mother a look of seething frustration. “She’s thirteen,” he exploded. “And you, my own mother, are making me sound like a pedophile—-”
“Of course not,” Vanna rejected vehemently. “But can you also say that you have not once thought about it? Can you look me in the eye and tell me that you have not once considered waiting to see how things play out when she’s of the rightful age?”
Malik didn’t say a word, but they both knew that in itself was an answer.
“I know you don’t love or want her that way yet, but human minds have a talent for seeing the ugly and depraved while ignoring everything else that’s sweet and beautiful. These bridal candidates are just that: candidates. I don’t need you to be engaged to them. I just want you to show the world that you’re considering any one of them. You need the world to look at you and all these women so they don’t see Kyria until it’s the right time.”
The silence stretched between them, and Vanna stared at her younger son in helpless despair, knowing that she could only imagine the torment he was feeling. “This is for you and Kyria—-”
Malik’s fist slammed against the desk. “Lueta. Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?” he grated out. “She’s a child!”
Vanna met her son’s gaze unflinchingly. “It’s precisely because she’s still a child that we must do what we can to protect her.”
Malik’s fists clenched. “So what will you have me do then?”
“Find something – someone – to take up your time. Both of you owe it to yourselves to see what the world has to offer.”
“Are you asking me to leave the palace?”
“If you believe that is what’s necessary to ensure you stay within your limits, then yes.”
Malik flinched.
Hating that she had hurt him, she gazed at him with eyes that implored for his understanding. “I’m doing this for you, son – to protect your future, the tomorrows that could be yours. You’ve changed too much, Malik, and sooner or later it will get people to talk. It used to be that your father and I had to practically chain you and bolt the door to prevent you from leaving the house every night. And now – when was the last time you’ve hit a club?”
He let out a choking sound of disbelief. “So you are now ordering me to go clubbing? Is that it?”
“I’m ordering you to act like a normal twenty-something man,” she cried out. “For both your sakes, I’m ordering you to act like you haven’t yet found your soulmate!”