The silver tray in front of me was getting cold.

Chilled yogurt soup with dill, mint, green raisins, and walnuts, cold and refreshing on the tongue; stewed chicken with tart sweetened barberries; saffron rice with a crunchy brown crust; tangy sheep's cheese; hot bread; and a plate of radishes, fresh mint, and bitter greens awaited my husband's arrival.

I rolled around and swung my feet back on the carpeted floor. Heading to the small bookcase I had ordered to be brought in yesterday, I picked out one of my recent loans from the royal library. Just as I was settling down, Ali burst into the room, his eyes wary, his turban in his hands.

I got up to greet him and he pulled me in for a brief kiss.

"How was the meeting?" I asked, watching him run a frustrated hand through his hair. It was fascinating to watch him be this relaxed and unguarded in my presence.

"Was your cousin always this annoying?"

I chose my words carefully "He has a tendency to be overdramatic."

He made a sound of amusement. "How diplomatic of you," I shrugged and proceeded to place the food on his plate. He nodded his thanks and sat back, taking a bite of his food.

"Was it really that bad?"

"We got the land, message conveyed, story over. Now he wants us to go down to the Moroccan border," Why would Mehmet want to go to Morocco? There was no need for a Turkish presence there. Not to mention that the Byzantinians were just across the sea.

"That's strange."

"Baba thinks so too.We got a missive from Emir Abdullah. Your father will be coming home tomorrow. We'll go and pay him a visit tomorrow, if you want" he added after a small pause.

"Is it safe?"

"No one will dare hurt you now," I was not too sure about that.

I moved to place the book back on the shelf, just as he grabbed my arm, his eyes squinting at the title.

"War history?"

"I'm the wife of a General, I should know this." His eyes narrowed as surprise flickered across his features.

"As much as I appreciate the thought, you're the wife not the General."

"I know that..."

"You could have just asked me."

"This is the first time in days we've had lunch together."

Amusement flickered over his face. "Ah, always quick to remind me." He moved closer, his knee brushing my thigh, his body inches away.

"You wouldn't be here if I didn't."

"Did you like them?" His hands were now playing with my hair.

"Hmm?"I muttered distracted.

"The cushions, did you like them?"

"Yes, they're lovely"

A smirk pulled at his lips. "Remember what I said?"

I decided to feign ignorance. "Remind me?"

"I'd rather show you," he leaned in and inhaled. Butter-soft lips brushed my neck, his breath a hot caress.

"As much as I'd like that..." I inched back, trying to ignore the feelings swirling in my stomach "We need to slow down. We barely know each other."

"There's nothing to know"

"Ali!"

"Fine, but if you can concentrate."

"What?" He smiled before his lips started to  move fervently against my neck and his palms slid across my stomach.

"Ask your questions Laila."

Heat suffused my cheeks as lust surged within, taking me to that dark place in my mind that simply wanted. "I... favorite color"

"The color of your hair," he groaned, his lips  against my skin, nibbling, sucking. The act sent a fresh burst of heat over my skin.

"Uh... your first sword?"

"Sparring sword, a small wooden one..."

"Didn't you craft your own?"

"Who told you that?" I'd have to thank Zaynab for that small tidbit. "Yes, I did, much to my father's disappointment"

"Is he always disappointed?"

"One would think," Despite his jesting manner, irritation sharpened his voice. "Any more questions?"

"I..." If this progressed much further, it would be pointless to even consider such a thing as thought. I had to ask now, before the flames consumed me.

"Hmm?" he said, even as his arms tightened around my waist to crush me hard against him—where I'd wanted to be all along. My heart soared, and the guilt clutched at it.

"What really happened between you and the Turks?"

Until Ali, I hadn't thought of stillness as explosive. My heart sank with dread. Why had I prompted this conversation? Curiosity would be the death of me.

He pulled back just far enough to show me his eyes, to let me see the flurry of intense passion, anger, and wild desperation in them. "Don't."

"Ali, please..." He stiffened, moving away.

"Why Laila? Why would you ask that?" his eyes flashed.

"I need to know..."

"What? Is your husband a monster or not?" He said it so smoothly and calmly, it was all the more scarier. "That's it, isn't it?"

"No."

"You can be more convincing than that." I could stay silent and let him come to his own conclusion. I could let him think whatever he want to.

But silence was a dangerous place for a couple and I wasn't going to let us go there.

"And you can answer the question."

I needed to know. I needed to know the truth before I lost myself in him completely. A brief wave of emotion flared in his eyes before he was able to get it under control, to ice me out.

He knew it. He knew why I needed to know the truth. He could see the struggle in my eyes. And I saw the pain in his.

"I am a monster. It'll do well for you to remember that."

He strode out of the room and I buried my face in the cushions and began to sob.

I gripped the railing tightly to avoid the temptation to jump and forget the letdown, the hollow ache in my chest growing.

Ali had not come to bed that night. Or the next. It seemed that his strategy to avoid answering any questions was to physically avoid me. Anger and concern simmered just below the surface. I paced before my bed, wearing a path in the carpet beneath my feet. Every step was a war between wrath and resentment, between pain and petulance.

The third day, I'd had enough.

My handmaidens had wisely decided to stay silent at my emotional state. Getting dressed, I decided to hunt him down.

If he thought that icing me out and ignoring me was going to solve any of his problems, he had another thing coming. Baba was coming to the Palace today, and I could not let him see how my marriage was failing miserably. Besides, I'd planted myself in his camp, under his care, he had to tell me the truth.

I was not backing down.

Hamza started to follow me just like the previous two days, his presence quiet and comforting. Ali had disappeared but he'd left his shadow to tail me. Ayesha and Haleema trailed after us, their silence deafening to my ears.

"Laila, my dear cousin," Oh God, not now.

I turned around to see Mehmet lounging near the doors to the throne room. Straightening my posture, I gave him an icy glare.

"Prince Mehmet," He plastered a wounded look on his face, his eyes dancing with mirth.

"It's been a few days. You weren't there to receive us after our victory," I opened my mouth to warn him not to toy with me-

"Laila?" Khalid called out and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I turned around to greet him, only to also face the glowering face of my elusive husband.

"Is everything okay here?" he continued, throwing a scathing look towards Mehmet.

"Everything's well, ah Baba! I was just inviting Mehmet to have dinner with us, at our place?" Baba schooled his features into a placid expression, the corner of his eyes crinkling.

"Of course, tomorrow? Laila and Prince Ali, Prince Khalid, Lady Amina, you're all invited." Both Khalid and Ali placed a hand over their hearts and bowed.

"Of course Baba! And Khalid, why don't you and Amina have dinner with us tonight?"

Khalid smiled, his face reflecting genuine happiness. "We accept your offer Laila,"

"I'm sure Prince Ali has a very busy schedule," Mehmet intervened.

"Oh he wouldn't deny his wife," I said with a bright smile.

"Of course he wouldn't," Khalid chimed in, hitting Ali on the back. He gave his brother a small nod, his amber eyes on me, his lips twitching at my manipulation.

The game was in play.

Mehmet rolled his eyes as Khalid beamed. Baba gave me a curious look and I maintained a pleasant smile on my face.

"I would never deny my wife," he muttered, his eyes never leaving my face. Those strange, mesmerizing eyes glinting with a hint of mischief and a lot of hurt.

I had to find out the truth, that much was certain, but I wasn't letting Ali go in the process.