But instead of running away, she ran into a brick wall. A hard, immovable force that stopped her in her tracks. She gasped and looked up at the man who was stopping her, his hands holding her arms as he watched her carefully with dark, fathomless eyes that showed no emotion. Not even a flinch of pain when she ran into the shoulder she’d just stitched up for him about a week ago even though it must still be tender. There was no way a wound that deep could have healed so quickly.
“What are you doing here!” she turned and looked at Rashid, wondering if this man had told her brother what she did during the nighttime hours.
Spinning back around, she snarled at the man who was holding her arms, wrenching her body free from his touch. She didn’t care that he wasn’t to blame. She was hurt, scared and angry at her brother for marrying her off to a man who was loathsome in her mind. This man, so tall and handsome, so rugged and….well, he was just a target because he made her nervous which shouldn’t have filtered through to her anger!
She gasped as her mind finally figured out what had happened. “No! This all makes sense now! You told him what I do at night.” She turned to glare at Rashid. “And you’re punishing me by making me marry the man who slaughters his people. How could you!”
“Silence!” Rashid commanded. He couldn’t believe that his normally obedient sister was making such a fuss. Rashid actually thought she would be happy with his choice of a husband once she’d met him. Never in his wildest imaginings had he thought she would be this unconscionably rude to her future husband. “The papers have been signed. You will marry Hussan El Hamin so stop fighting this and insulting the man!”
Isla tried to push out of this man’s arms, furious that he’d witnessed her unladylike behavior but more terrified of her impending groom. She hated to think that Rashid would be so cruel as to punish her like this. And how could her brother have found out? Only if this man had told him could her brother know her secret so all of her fury was directed towards this stranger.
“Get your hands off of me! You bastard! I can’t believe you’ve gotten your master’s way by telling on me. How juvenile! And all my team was doing was helping anyone who needed assistance. That’s not a crime and it wouldn’t be necessary if your leader weren’t such an evil power monger!”
“Isla! You will cease right this instant!” Rashid roared.
Isla spun around, shaking her head. “I won’t! I’ll tell the whole world what a horrible man you’ve sold me off to. And there’s nothing you can do about it! Every pre-wedding interview will be a news conference on how horrible the conditions are in that poor country with all the people suffering. Just you wait! If that disgusting pig is going to make me marry him, then I’ll damn well tell the whole world what he’s done.”
Hussan looked at his friend and raised an eyebrow. “If that’s the case, would you mind if I took measures to limit the potential damage to Siliaria’s reputation?”
Rashid was looking at his sister, dumbfounded at her behavior. The only time he could remember being angrier was when his security forces couldn’t find Sidra. Things had turned out well with her and he was now happily married to the beautiful woman. He looked up at the man he respected possibly more than any other and nodded. “Do what you need to do,” he replied. “With my blessing.”
Isla had no idea what they were talking about, but she couldn’t get her arm free, no matter how much she tried to shake off this huge man’s hold. She’d probably have several bruises tomorrow, but right now, she was too hurt by her brother’s betrayal to worry about that.
She knew that her future husband wouldn’t care that the brute he’d sent to sign the papers had bruised her skin. No, he’d probably take pride in the fact that she’d had to be disciplined. “Let go of me!” she snapped.
Rashid was livid at this un-precedented lack of decorum on his sister’s part. She’d never behaved in this manner. “Is there anything I can do to help with this situation? And please, I apologize for her rudeness.”
Hussan dismissed the apology, almost smiling with anticipation. This woman surprised him with her spunk. He was impressed and actually enjoyed her movements. Beyond that, apparently his future wife needed an education in what was really happening in Silaria and he was just the man to do it. “I’ll handle this with all the respect she deserves at the moment.”
Rashid almost smiled at his friends reply, knowing exactly what was about to happen. It was precisely what he’d do although he might be a bit more bruising than Hussan was probably going to be. Rashid could see in his sister’s eyes that she had no idea what was going to happen and he tried to hide the smile of satisfaction. She’d made her bed, she could just lie in it.
With a nod to Rashid, Hussan bent slightly, then picked the unsuspecting woman up, tossing her over his shoulder. He quickly walked out of the dining room, heading directly for the exit.
Isla was so shocked that she was actually being carried over the man’s shoulder, her butt stuck up in the air like she was some kind of…..well, she just couldn’t even imagine what he was thinking! “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Isla screeched as she pushed her hair out of her eyes. “You can’t do this to me! Put me down this instant!”
Hussan simply ignored her and walked down the long hallway, uncaring of the servants who were witnessing the scene, their mouths literally hanging open in shock. A part of him knew he shouldn’t do this, should show her the respect she probably deserved if only due to her status and title. But after hearing her call him a monster, among all those other things, he wasn’t in the mood to be delicate to his future bride. She’d been yelling loudly enough for the servants to hear her through the closed doors, so he wasn’t going to let them think she could get away with that. He had a reputation, one which he’d been carefully building over the past several years, and she’d maligned his character.
Besides, she felt good and he liked the way she wiggled. She needed to gain some weight though. She was definitely too thin.
He was impressed with Rashid’s guards. As he carried his woman out of the palace, they’d already been informed and had the gates open. Not a single guard smiled, at least not while he was passing with their princess over his shoulder, even though the slip of a woman continued to try and give him orders.