But even if she handled being a queen, how would she feel once she realized she could be a target of violence as well? Dark voices started to whisper in Talib’s head. He’d already cost one woman her life. How could he even think about risking another?
“Tal?”
He turned slightly and caught sight of his cousin, Alea. She was dressed informally, but the troubled frown on her youthful face matched her personality. No amount of trying to convince her to finish university had helped. During her first year, she’d been abducted and rescued from a nightmare of sexual slavery by two of Tal’s old friends, Cole and Burke Lennox. Since then, nothing Tal had done, no amount of therapy—psychological or retail—seemed to cure the darkness that had settled into her soul. Of course, he couldn’t exactly cast stones himself.
Six years ago, he’d been taken and tortured in an attempted political ploy. And he’d learned the hard way that a sheikh bled and prayed just like any other man. Yes, he’d been rescued, thanks to Cole Lennox, but nothing had been able to banish his darkness, either.
“You are not sleeping,” he chided.
“Neither are you.”
“Touché. What is it, dear?” he asked gently.
At least she didn’t flinch when he approached her now. It had taken six months before she stopped screaming every time any male came near.
“It’s Khalil. I don’t trust him.”
Alea no longer trusted anyone, but in this case, Tal agreed. “What has he done now?”
“I overheard him giving an interview about your lack of a bride
As if Khalil’s little mouse of a wife would be the strong pillar of a queen Bezakistan required. “I have six months to marry. I assure you I will do my duty to my country, then my part in this archaic ritual will be done. Bezakistan will be safe.”
“He’s also harping about and how you’re going to send the country into deep debt with this new green energy project.”
Little bastard. Tal sighed. “He’s trying to build his case with the people, as pitiful as it is. For now, Khalil has very few options. I will, of course, assure the country that the green project is the best course of action. After all, I have facts and figures on my side.”
And his potential bride would be instrumental in that. Piper had all sorts of interesting ideas on financing the project. She thought out of the box. Her creativity and drive to make things happen were two of her most appealing qualities.
If only she was a bit more attractive. But it was perhaps best that she was not. He had no intention of falling for his bride. She was a means to an end, and he would pay her well. Love would be dangerous, and Piper was too smart to expect romantic gestures. Theirs would be a marriage of minds. If she wanted anything more, she would have to look to his brothers.
“Who is this Piper woman?” Alea asked, peering at the file on his desk between them.
Damn. So much for keeping her a secret until he and his brothers reached a final conclusion. “She’s a woman I’m vetting as a potential wife.”
Alea flipped the folder open and scanned, her mouth turning down. “An American?”
“Yes. She is from Texas.”
Alea gave an amused huff of a laugh. “Good, cousin. Perhaps she will come with her six-shooters and teach you a thing or two.” She sobered. “Do you like her?”
“I like her very much actually.” He often found himself smiling at their conversations. Her soft, Southern voice alone was adorable.
But would that be enough upon which to base a marriage? Tal worried a bit that she hadn’t seen his face, nor he hers, really. All he had of her after a rushed investigation was a grainy driver’s license photo that was nearly five years old and a high school yearbook photo. Piper was young; he knew that. But after several months of conversation, Tal was convinced that she was mature beyond her years. Intellectual interests mattered to her. She had a solid moral character and a very big heart. She would make an excellent mother someday. All admirable qualities, of course, but nothing to truly tempt his heart and make her someone his enemies could use to weaken him.
That made her perfect.
“I’m glad, Tal. I hope Rafe and Kade don’t shoot you down. They were right about that ambassador’s daughter, though. She was completely selfish. She would have been a terrible mother. And the Swedish girl had the most obnoxious laugh. The press would have crucified her. The Miss America contestant was polished and would have played well with the press, but she lacked heart.” She shrugged. “You’ve had a tough bride hunt.”
Indeed, something had been wrong with every candidate, and Rafe and Kade hadn’t been shy about saying so. They’d had valid points, but if they could not collectively settle on a single bride soon, their country would be in ruins. He prayed that his brothers could look past Piper’s sensible façade and see the wisdom of his unusual choice.