Which just went to prove that he could be naïve. What if Brittany Hahn wasn't the only one who had resented Alea's "privileged" treatment? What if more women came out and accused her of cowardice or outright collusion? How could they build a family when she was covered in scandal? "I won't marry anyone."
Dane proved he knew their customs way better than she'd given him credit for. "Your Highness, I would like to make a formal declaration of intent to marry your cousin. I meant to do this later and with proper pomp and circumstance, but she's not giving me room for that."
A single eyebrow arched over Tal's right eye. "Really? You want to put her in a corner like that?"
Alea turned to Dane, her eyes widening. "You're trying to force me to marry you?"
According to strict law, because she'd been formally adopted into the royal family and bore their name, she was actually considered to be Talib's property. It was an old law, but still a valid one. Dane wasn't asking her to marry him. He was petitioning Talib to force the marriage.
"I believe I mentioned you wouldn't like how I fought. And don't think I'm alone in this. I have no doubt Landon and Cooper are ready to sign the paperwork, too. We're not going to let your fear rip us apart." He took a long breath and reached for her. "Lea, I don't want to do it this way. Let's go somewhere quiet and talk this out, you, me, Lan, and Coop. We'll hash this out."
So calm. So reasonable. And he'd just threatened to treat her like property. "I am trying to do what's right for all of us. You can't think for a second that my cousin is going to force me to marry you."
"I will admit, I would prefer not to," Tal commented.
"But he will because I haven't played my best card yet, baby. I'm begging you not to make me do this." Dane spoke to him, but never took those predatory eyes off her.
His best card? What the hell? Her blood was pounding through her body. She'd been treated like a sack of meat before, and she wasn't about to let anyone curtail her freedom. She'd been willing to offer it up. She'd meant what she said to Tal. She was willing to hire another guard and to submit to all of their security protocols. She would do it because it helped her family and it protected her men, but she would be damned if Dane and Tal decided her fate.
"Alea, what is this really about?" Tal asked, his voice softening marginally. "I don't understand what's going on here. This is between you and your men, truly, but you've forced me into this situation. I believe Dane when he says he doesn't want to push the marriage rites on you, but I also think he will do it. Don't put me in a position where I have to choose between my family and my very good friends. Tell me what's going on."
"I won't marry them. After this, I won't even talk to them again." The words sounded stupid and stubborn, but she couldn't give in. They deserved good lives with someone less broken, with someone who wouldn't always have a horde of reporters trailing after her, intent on ruining her life-and everyone around her.
"Did you or did you not sleep with these men?" Tal asked, though she was certain he knew the answer.
Alea knew immediately that her sweet cousin had left the building. This was the Royal Sheikh of Bezakistan addressing her as the head of her family, and she felt like she was five years old all over again.
"I don't see that it matters."
"It matters, cousin. I will not ask again."
She felt her fists clench. "This isn't fair. It's not like you, Rafe, and Kade were pure on your marriage bed. No one expected you to marry that first girl the three of you shared."
"This isn't about us, cousin. This is about you. You gave your body and, I believe, your heart to Dane, and yet you will not do him the courtesy of talking to him. It is a disgrace and not worthy of the woman I know you to be."
"I guess you don't know me as well as you thought." It was nothing less than the truth, but her heart broke at the thought.
Tal sighed, a weary sound. "Please, Lea. Don't make me turn them out."
"It's for the best." God, she felt the burn of Dane's furious stare all over her and wanted this to be over so she could lock herself in her rooms and scream and cry and start to mourn them.
Tal turned to Dane. "I am sorry, old friend. I cannot force her to my will. This scandal will pass. The family will survive. The press will turn around when the new baby is born."
Dane had gone cold as ice, his whole body perfectly still. His voice was frigid. "Are you talking about your child, sheikh, or mine?"