"Mehmet? That Turkish contender?" Zaynab asked, interest flickering in her face for the first time. "Laila's cousin?"

"And her ex-fiancé," Amina added, her tone vicious. I hid my shock at the statement when I saw all eyes turn to me.

"Why is he coming here, Baba?" Khalid asked his eyes on his brother. I shifted, watching Amina's eyes shift to Ali, her face set in a polite mask.

He was coming for me. I knew it. My eyes swept up to meet the Caliphs. He knew it.

I didn't dare my turn my head to look at my husband, suddenly afraid. Not for me. I knew he would not hurt me. But Mehmet? I wasn't so sure.

"Why do you think? He needs allies to prove that he's the rightful heir to the Ottoman throne."

I shivered. My father had secured us both a bright future. Both of us were royalty and our bloodline was safe. My marriage with the Prince would have solidified his claim. His connections through me would secure his alliances with the rest of the world.

But I knew Mehmet.

I knew the gentle, mischief loving boy. He was a skilled courtier. He was a warrior but he wasn't coming to gain alliances for his war, he was coming here for me.

I stared at my in-laws, knowing that he was walking into a trap. The Abbasids had longed to conquer Constantinople. Now Mehmet was their key to putting a puppet ruler on the throne.

My panicked gaze bounced around the room, watching the gears work in Khalid's mind, seeing Amina straighten up, her hand on her stomach and the Caliph's eyes shine.

A sudden new fear took root. What if they killed him? Just to align themselves with the other side?

They wouldn't give me up, I had yet to give Ali an heir. Giving me up would also lead to a possible war with all of the Turks.

I had two major problems on my hand right now. I had to warn Mehmet and I had to get on birth control, immediately.

"You're his cousin! Ali and you will be ready to welcome him. I'm handing the reins to you daughter, your family is visiting the Palace. Do what you must to make him comfortable." I nodded, my heart racing with a new realization.

This whole thing was a test. For me. For Mehmet. And our loyalties. None of those around me seemed at all surprised by this announcement.

"I can help!" Zaynab cried out. I gave her a small smile, feeling the band around my heart tighten, accepting her sincere offer.

"If I may ask, when will he be arriving tomorrow?" I asked. The Caliph looked up, surprised.

"He and his men have camped a day away and would arrive in Cairo by sunset. A lavish dinner would be appropriate for his arrival."

A day away? There was no way his spies had not told him about Mehmet's impending arrival. Even my father would have known.

Understanding dawned and I lowered my face to hide it.

This whole meeting was a farce. An official announcement. Ali shifted on his feet, and I swallowed the bile crawling up my throat. He had to know. As the General, he had to know of Mehmet's arrival.

The attackers yesterday!

I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out loud. My fingers dug into the palm of my hand and I forced my body to relax. They'd been in the city for a reason. To warn me? To threaten me? Or to spy for Mehmet?

Whatever the reason, they were the ones I needed to listen to for now. I needed to warn Mehmet, and I knew whom to contact.

Zaynab and I exited the room together, discussing the details of the dinner tomorrow.

Thankfully, Ali had been asked to stay back with his brother. I wouldn't have been able to hide my emotions from him. After what we'd just shared, I needed some time to come to terms with the changing situation.

Anger and bitterness swam through me. It hadn't even been a day and I already had a new reason to doubt my husband. I had been married for a week and a half and I was already worried about my survival.

For the millionth time, I wished I'd just been an ordinary girl, who'd been married to an ordinary guy, without the fear of losing her life.

"So, what's he like?"

"Who?" I said absentmindedly.

"My brother," Zainab snapped and I raised an eyebrow. "Mehmet!"

I had to be careful. She had the same blood. "I don't know. I haven't seen him since I was ten."

"So you've never been in contact with him?"

"No." Lie. "How do we plan this?"

"Well, we've already got a set menu." Something about her interest did not sit right with me. "The cooks know what to do, if you want, I can double-check..."

"No need, I'll do it. I've arranged plenty of these for my father. I'll need your help with the interior." We had reached my room and I turned around to give her a bright smile.

Zaynab raised an eyebrow but thankfully accepted her dismissal without another comment. I walked into the room, my eyes snagging on Ali's bed. The sheets had been changed, the pillows and covers rearranged.

Soon, the whole palace would know about the consummation.

Tears stung my eyes. Did I regret the act? No. Whatever Ali's role was in this whole game, his care and concern had been genuine. I could not expect him to go against his father's wishes, the safety of his caliphate, and leave the politics aside.

Just like I couldn't go against my family.

"Ayesha! Haleema?" I muttered walking into my chambers. They appeared, their hands folded primly, eyes downcast. It was now or never. "Ayesha, can you draw me a bath? And get the nice lavender soap." She nodded, running to fetch the hot water.

Haleema stood back her eyes fixed on me, resentful. "I'm going to ask you this once and I expect you to answer me truthfully. Were they here for me?"

Haleema blinked, her lips curving into a slow smile. "They're all here for you." A strange mixture of two opposing emotions washed over me. Relief that she was the spy. Panic, well, she was the spy. Meaning that there were others. That I was right. That the woman in the Bazaar had been right.

"I want you to do two things. First, I want you to tell Mehmet to stay away from here. This whole thing is a trap."

I started to untangle my hair, worried and agitated. Her nimble fingers replaced mine, trying to soothe me. "And second?"

"Get me some birth control. Go to Yaqub's in the Bazaar. He has some. If he doesn't agree, ask for Sanaa, she would. Both of these tasks need to be done today." She nodded, her gaze serious. "Now go. I'll tell Ayesha you were feeling poorly."

My heart thundered in my chest.

I was taking an enormous risk, but I couldn't let him come here unprepared. Sacrificing my freedom, going against my husband, my fingers twisted together and I nearly fell off my seat in shock at Ayesha's entrance. She gave me a comforting smile and proceeded to prepare my bath.

I relaxed in the warm water, letting her wash my hair, my eyes closed.

Sunset was still some time away and Haleema still hadn't returned. Worry gnawed at my stomach. I had to consume the herb before the day ended if I wanted to avoid conceiving a child tonight. Haleema was smart, she'd wring the herb out of Uncle Yaqub.

My hands drifted across my arm and I sighed. I had been happy and content, learning to accept my life. And now Mehmet had decided to drop in.

As if she'd been summoned from my thoughts, Haleema walked into the room, her eyes red and splotchy.

Had she been crying?

"What's wrong?" Ayesha asked, sitting up.

"There's something wrong with the spices, Princess. You need to follow me! The Palace cooks won't listen to anyone else." Ayesha gasped, her hand flying to her mouth and I almost rolled my eyes at Haleema's dramatics.

"Let's go," dressing quickly, we made our way down the grand staircase, bypassing the stationed guards, towards the palace kitchens.

We rounded a corner and Haleema placed a soft bundle into my palm. "Here, chew on this." I stuffed the herb in my mouth, wincing at the bitter taste. "Yaqub told me you'd know the time..."

"I know. Make sure to steep these in my tea every morning."

"Will you be continuing with those activities?"

"He's my husband. What do you think?" She coughed. "Besides, I can't take any chances right now." Not when my future was on the line.

We walked in silence, Haleema leading the way. She paused in front of an ancient tapestry, her eyes searching the empty corridor.

"Go," she hissed, pulling the material aside to reveal an old entryway. Heart pounding, I looked around, walking into my private gardens. The one right below my balcony. "Go, he's right there!"

My heart pounded and I felt anticipation, hope, excitement, and relief mix in a complicated tangle of emotions. I didn't have to ask who he was. I knew that he would come to see me.

Haleema guided me towards a small cluster of trees. I stared in the darkness, trying to determine where he was.

A young man, taller than Ali, detached himself from the dark shadowy wall. His hair had been cut close to his skull, his face hard and unforgiving. He stilled and waited as I stepped closer, peering into his eyes.

I knew those eyes. I'd dreamt of those eyes.

"Mehmet?" I whispered, raising my hand to brush his cheek. He leaned into the touch, his eyes closing for a brief moment.

"Laila," his voice, so unlike the one in my memory, sent a pang of sadness through me. He'd grown up into a hard man. I looked in closer, trying to find traces of the boy I remembered in his face. His eyes were the same vibrant green, the hollows beneath them pronounced, and his bladed features seemed even more severe with clear lines of fatigue at their edges. But the smile. His wonderful open smile was the same. Bright, unassuming, and carefree.

"Why are you here? You should be leaving!"

"I won't be leaving Laila. Not without you. Not without my crown."

"I can't leave with you, I'm a married woman, Mehmet"

"So I heard. Uncle Abdullah didn't even wait a day..."

"He did what he had to."

"He married my fiancée off to someone else, without even notifying me!"

"It's done."

"It's never just done. You were mine. You are mine."

"Mehmet, you have to focus. You can't lose this."

"Does he treat you right?" I stood there, open-mouthed. "I can't believe Uncle Abdullah married you off to that monster."

"Mehmet. He is not the one in trouble here. You are."

"Do you know what he's done? To our family? To us?"

"It was war Mehmet! Please don't..."

"Systematic killings aren't war Laila. He's not the hero you've always wanted."

"He may not be a hero, but he is my husband and I am his wife."

"So you're going to ignore all of this? For him?"

"I am not ignoring anything. I am trying to save you. Putting my neck on the line, for you. Doing all of this, for you. As for his conduct, you're the one to talk. Have you already forgotten about the Austrians? I believe a certain someone hunted them down!" He glared at me, his eyes flashing dangerously. I softened my tone. "Whatever he's done, I won't forgive him for it. But I need to know. You can't hide it from me..."

"He killed a tribe of innocents in his rage. He attacked a caravan that had been crossing through after they'd been granted safe passage! We suspect he may have been involved in the murders of my aunt and uncle." I scuttled backward. "Does that change your opinion of him, Laila? He's not a hero. He's a monster."

My heart cracked wide open, pouring ice into my chest. "I..."

"Don't trust him. Any of them. You're in a den of vipers." His hands captured mine. "I'll make sure that I take you away from here."

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