“WELL DONE, SAYED,” his mother mocked.
He turned quickly to face her, angry in a way he never was with his beloved parent. “Why would you suggest something so fraught with risk? And if you were going to do so, you could have at least given us both the courtesy to approach me without Aaliyah present.”
His mother stood up, her expression filled with censure and unmuted disappointment. “Because it never occurred to me that you would lack any courtesy whatsoever and make it so obvious you did not want to spend time with that poor girl. She is here because of you, or had you forgotten that salient fact?”
“It was a one-night stand.”
“Was it?”
“Of course, what else could it be?”
“A gift of fate?”
“How can you say that?” He spun away, his emotions in turmoil he did not want even his mother to see. Especially when she was voicing thoughts he’d done his best to suppress in his own mind. “There can be nothing between Aaliyah and me.”
But the words rang hollow, even to his own ears.
“Because she doesn’t come with a breeding certificate and border treaty as Tahira would have done?”
Shocked by his mother’s attitude, he blurted, “I am an emir.”
Though that mattered less and less with each passing day. Aaliyah had connected to Sayed the man and respected the prince. What more could he want from his emira?
His practical brain had no answer.
“I thought sending you to school in the States would curb some of that elitist mentality.”
“I am no elitist.” He didn’t like the sensation of having the same argument with his mother as he’d had with Aaliyah.
“Perhaps not, though evidence would suggest otherwise. You are, however, undoubtedly an idiot.” Affection in her tone dulled some of the sting of her denouncement.
He turned back to face her, only to watch as his mother left the room, throwing both doors wide.
“She always was good at the grand exit.” His father stood near the door leading to an adjoining room.
Sayed dry-washed his face with his hand. “Yes.”
“She has also always been very intuitive. If she is pressing you to spend time with Miss Amari, perhaps that is what you should be doing.” Was it possible his father agreed with Sayed’s mother?
Maybe the melech didn’t realize how close to gone on Aaliyah his son, the emir, was. “Why? So I can get into yet another weeklong wait to discover my fate?”
“You are that attracted to her?”
“I wanted to snatch the birth control pill from her hand and throw it in the garbage rather than let her take it,” Sayed admitted.
He’d wanted to just let destiny take its course, but a prince could not deny his responsibilities. Sayed thought Yusuf might have realized it, too, but like a true friend, he’d said nothing.
“I am surprised,” his father admitted, sounding it.