THE TRUE KING OF DAHAAR(77)

                The one thing she did wish she could do was tune out the world around her. It was hard enough, every second of every day, to push back the realization that he was just a few miles away in the palace and yet he had never been farther from her.

                It was a month in which every day she felt her heart breaking again, in which Dahaar and its people had exploded with the news that Prince Azeez bin Rashid Al Sharif was alive and back in Dahaara.

                Clutching the cold metal surface of her desk, she swallowed back the dizzying whirl of grief that rose through her. If she gave in to one tear, she was afraid she would not stop.

                “Nikhat?”

                She whirled around and saw Princess Zohra standing at the entrance to her office, security guards hovering behind her. Drawing in a deep breath, Nikhat smiled. “Princess Zohra, please come in. You could have just summoned me to the palace if you—”

                She caught herself as the princess dismissed the guards and closed the door behind her. Neither Princess Zohra, nor even Ayaan, could summon Nikhat to the palace.

                Nikhat’s name was not to be mentioned in the palace, not even her shadow was to be near it. That was the condition Azeez had laid out in front of his brother, Ayaan had told her, his face pinched.

                Azeez Al Sharif did nothing in half measures. His rejection of her was as absolute as his love for her had been.

                Even though still in her second trimester, Zohra was already big, and the strain showed on her fragile features. Hurrying to the other side of the desk, Nikhat pulled out a chair for her. Drawing a loud breath, Zohra shook her head.

                “I would rather stand. All I do these days seems like sitting around, waiting for people to arrange my day, and my life.

                “Now that King Malik and Queen Fatima are back, even my body is not my own. Queen Fatima is driving me crazy with her advice, her rituals, hovering over me. She won’t let Azeez or me out of her sight, checking on us every few hours. Ayaan said he is beginning to feel like the ignored middle child.

                “How I wish you were back there, Nikhat. The new ob-gyn is terrified of the queen and agrees to everything she proposes. Queen Fatima actually forbade me from visiting Siyaad, from seeing my sister and brother, and the stupid woman just nodded.

                “I finally had to threaten Ayaan that I would leave for Siyaad and have the babies there unless he lets me see you here. I will come to you every few days, Nikhat. That way, you can check my progress and I get away from the blasted palace for a few hours. Ask your administrator to call my assistant. I’m sure my being your patient can be used to spread the word about the clinic. And if there’s an emergency at the palace, that woman can tend to me. Will you still handle my delivery?”

                Clutching Zohra’s hands in hers, Nikhat smiled. “Of course, Princess Zohra. I—”

                “Really, Nikhat. Can I just be Zohra with you?”

                Smiling at her assertiveness, Nikhat nodded.

                “That’s great.” She walked around her office and Nikhat had a feeling the princess was nowhere near done. Turning around, she studied Nikhat, her sharp gaze lingering over the dark shadows under her eyes. “You have no idea how thrilled I am that I don’t have to be the queen. I know that Ayaan will still be extremely busy, but at least—”

                Nikhat froze. “But…the coronation, it was supposed to be in a fortnight. Is it being postponed?”

                Her gaze steady, Zohra shook her head. And Nikhat realized what Zohra was saying, what she had come to tell Nikhat. Blood rushed from her head, and spots danced in front of her eyes. The truth slammed into her from every side, she swayed where she stood. “He…” Ya Allah, it hurt to even speak his name. “He…is to be king?”