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He'd seduced me! And I'd fallen for his antics! Ugh! I'd been a mess in his arms, wanting, and needing him. Frustration and shame bled through me and I punched a nearby cushion. That man... He knew exactly what he was doing.

I seethed in the middle of my room, my hair in a mess, and my body still trying to recover from his touch. Fanning my face, I settled in the middle of the bed. This was a two-way street. I fingered the silky shift, stretching my smooth legs, remembering the way his eyes had widened. A plan began to form in my mind.

I wasn't going to be made a fool.

He wanted to play dirty? I was going to play dirty.

Two days later, Ayesha and Haleema worked on my hair, trying to cheer me up by talking about the Palace gossip. I ignored them, wondering if I was going to die from boredom, solitude, or neglect.

Friday was tomorrow and I had not seen or talked to Ali since that day. Ali. It seemed so informal and personal. Although, it did seem a bit strange to think of him as Prince Alizayd, after all that we had shared.

Flashes of that night still haunted my dreams. My dear husband was avoiding me like a plague of locusts, not bothering to contact me or look at me or talk to me. He had not even come to his room.

I gritted my teeth. I knew he was deliberately avoiding me. Maybe he felt repulsed. Maybe he felt I was not worth his attention.

Both of those notions filled me with anxiety. While the situation was much more agreeable than being a loving, caring wife, I had zero chances of persuading him to let me go.

His absence was a hurdle and I had too much of an ego to go around asking for my husband's whereabouts. I let out a laugh when I wondered what the gossip in the Palace would say.

'The New Bride couldn't hold her husband's attention for a week' If only they knew.

"I want to go to the gardens," I declared, standing up. Haleema and Ayesha stared at me.

"But Princess, it's not safe"

"Not safe? It's inside the Palace walls"

Haleema chewed her lip. "I...yes, but someone could see you"

I frowned. "It's a private enclosure. It's my enclosure, why would I need to worry about that?"Ayesha stared at her hands.

I knew that look. Sanaa had exhibited that expression multiple times. "What is it?" I asked in a much sharper tone.

They flinched and lowered their heads. My eyes flicked from one girl to the other.

"Did the Prince say something about this?" Like how my father had restricted my movements. My mouth twisted as they stared at their hands, not moving. "Well, since you're being so helpful, I've decided that your logic is flawed and I will visit the gardens."

They stood up in a rush with stricken expressions. "Please Princess, the Prince will have our heads. He doesn't appreciate it when his orders are not followed," I crossed my arms, looking at the absolute fear in their eyes.

My resolve strengthened.

"No one is going to tell him... we can keep a secret, can't we girls?" They stared at me, their mouths gaping open.

"But... he'll know. He always knows," Haleema muttered.

My mouth fought a triumphant smile. He was having me watched. Smart boy. An idea formulated in my brain and I decided to use my authority.

"He won't know. And even if he does, I will not let anything happen to the two of you. I can promise you that," they looked at me, unconvinced. "I'm his wife. I'm the Princess. Now, let's go"

Hands clenched, I walked with my head held high. My handmaidens led me into the beautiful terraced courtyard arranged like colossal steps in a descending staircase. I had only seen it from my room, an aerial view of the gorgeous landscaping. Egyptian gardeners were truly the best.

The evening light was slowly disappearing behind the moonlit clouds. I shivered from the breeze, wondering how long it would take him to find me.

My eyes wandered around as I waited. The garden seemed to come alive under the moonlight, it's flowers and grass illuminated with magic. The first of these terraces were filled with flowering trees and an elaborate aviary enclosed on all sides by carefully wrought trelliswork. The sturdy acacia wood was covered with a thin layer of white paint and anchored by bolts of polished bronze. Lush green grass flourished between paving stones of coarse granite.

It took him less than half an hour. He found me standing on the terrace, overlooking a side entryway flanked by fountains. I did not turn around when he arrived. Instead, I leaned over the railing and smiled to myself.

He paused for a moment and then joined me.

A crescent moon hung high in the sky, reflecting back into the shimmering pools of water below.

"You aren't supposed to be here," he said, his voice dangerously low.

"It's my garden"

"You're not allowed here," he amended. I turned around to face him, my eyes narrowed.

As always, he was dressed to perfection. His off white qamis, fitted across his broad chest, his sword at his side. He'd left the turban off and my eyes drank in his appearance. My hands itched to glide through his soft curls.

I shook those thoughts away, focusing on the task at hand.

"What am I allowed to do Your Highness?" he did not flinch, his expression fixed. "Will you tell me?" I paused, sweeping my dress to the side. "Oh, but how could you? In our brief time as a married couple, you have not bothered to talk to me, except to interrogate me like a criminal."

His eyes flashed with amusement. "You're upset"

"Yes"

"Why?" I glared at him, not understanding his confusion. I attempted to move past him and he grabbed my wrist. A shot of lust zinged through my body from his touch, making my breath catch. "Don't walk away without answering the question," His fingers scalded my skin and I jerked back. His brow furrowed.

"You don't get to say that after what you did the other day," understanding settled into his features and he stepped back, letting go of my wrist. I ignored the urge to rub, his touch still lingering on my skin.

He stared at me, his eyes shuttered, dark, considering me for so long and so intently that I felt like I was going to lose my mind.

My heart thumped. What was he thinking? What was he about to say? I was being judged and I knew it. What if this was a mistake? What if I'd overestimated his kindness and he truly did not care?

I opened my mouth, just as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head.

"My apologies. I am not used to having someone in my life," I blinked, a little shaken by his compassion, despite my reservations of this whole interaction.

"And I am?"

"I would really hope not," I gave him a bland smile. His lips quirked in reply. He was joking. With me.

Will miracles never cease.

"I apologize for my behavior. I should not have left in such haste," and ignored me. I completed the sentence in my head.

"Apology not accepted," surprise and then annoyance flickered across his face. For a heartbeat, it looked like he'd back away and leave me here, but at the last second, he crossed his arms across his chest.

He settled back, relaxing against the railing, his eyes sharp, dancing with amusement. "Tell me how to fix this then"

"Are you sure you'll be able to follow through with it?"

"I'm just a man," the wariness in his words surprised me. For the first time, I noticed the lines around his mouth, the lack of sleep in his eyes. "What is it that you want?"

My freedom.

The words were right there, on the tip of my tongue but I swallowed them in. "I want to visit the market place"

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Muwahahha! They're learning how to communicate with one another. The game, however, has just begun. The next chapter is filled with excitement *.* Comment and let me know!

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