“No one knows this place exists, do they?”
Resuming his slow tread, he shook her head. “Only us and a handful of servants.”
“And I’m not allowed to tell anyone that I have seen it.”
He reached her, and again she felt his gaze like a physical caress on her features. “No one will believe you.” Said with a simple smile.
She extended her arm and he looped it around his without comment. Drawing in a deep breath, they walked ahead. Every now and then, she felt him studying her. She slowed her stride to match his, the tang of sandalwood and his skin combined, brushing up against her senses every time their bodies grazed ever so lightly.
“Going away on a trip with me to an unknown destination without Ayaan’s protection or the buffer that the palace offers doesn’t bother you?”
“No.”
“And if I leave you here and disappear, as my brother fears?”
“I know you’re hurting, and you can’t see past your grief and guilt, but I know you, Azeez, probably better than anyone else. You won’t leave until Ayaan himself permits you to go.”
He didn’t jeer, or call it misplaced confidence. His fingers tightened over her arm and Nikhat returned the pressure.
Had they finally achieved some kind of peace with each other?
She was more than reluctant to go inside as they reached the walkway that led to the foyer of the palace, when an echo of laughter and conversation reached her.
The high voices sounded familiar and yet…
Tensing, she clasped Azeez’s hand and moved to stand behind him. “I thought we were supposed to be the only ones here.”
Tugging at the hand that she had laid around him, Azeez met her gaze. “Go in.” He ran a finger over her cheek. He inclined his head toward the palace. “Everything you require should be inside.”
Suddenly, she didn’t want to bid him goodbye just yet. “I would like to come with you. Wherever you’re going, I’m sure I can be of help.”
He shook his head, a small smile digging grooves in his cheeks. She locked her hands at her sides when all she wanted was to trace those grooves.
Was it so wrong if she did? The attraction between them was as strong as it had ever been. Why deny them both what they wanted?
“Nikhat?”
Heat suffusing her skin, she met his gaze.
“I need to be stealthy. And you, with your big eyes and your modern attitudes, you will be hard to blend in. I will return in two days. In the meantime, enjoy your stay.”
Nikhat nodded as he left. Before she could utter another word, she heard her name behind her. Stunned, she turned and saw a woman of around twenty run down the stairs. Her heart crawled into her throat, her chest felt hollow, her head dizzy as the woman’s long legs ate up the stairs.
Before she could draw another breath, Nikhat was enveloped in two pairs of arms, laughter and surprise rolling around her. Grabbing Noor and Noozat, her youngest sisters, she looked up and saw Naima, who was four years younger than her and closest to her in temperament.
Joy and excitement and shock and gratitude—everything barreled through her, robbing her of speech.