Behind him, Saif rubbed the back of his neck, visibly uncomfortable.“Seriously.You need to make it stop.I walked by her room this morning and heard that sad, sniffly-silent cry women do.It’s like…audible guilt.”
Ramzi shuddered.“It echoes.Right in your soul.”
Rylan, leaning against the wall like a very large gargoyle, finally muttered, “Makes me want to throw flowers and chocolate at her and apologize for existing.”
Zayn just rolled his eyes and stalked off down the hall.“You’re all pathetic.”
But he was already bracing himself.Because honestly, they were kinda right.
Crying women were terrifying.
Especially when one of them was your little sister.
He was already moving down the corridor, grateful when none of them followed.As he reached Nahla’s door, Azlyn’s name flared in his mind again.He shoved it down, hard.
Not the time.
He knocked.
No answer.
Zayn opened the door quietly and stepped inside.His sister was sitting by the window, curled in one of the cushioned chairs that overlooked her private courtyard.She didn’t turn.Just stared out, her hands limp in her lap.
He took the seat across from her and gently reached for her hand.
She let him take it, but her grip was loose.Uninterested.
That’s when he really saw her.
The dark circles under her eyes.The weight she’d lost.The ash-gray dress that did nothing for her complexion.Nahla usually glowed with energy, ideas, laughter.Now, she looked…small.Dimmed.
“What’s going on?”he asked softly.
Her eyes welled up.That twist in his gut tightened.
“I’m fine,” she whispered.
That was a lie.
And a bad one.
“Nahla.”His voice was sharper now.“Who hurt you?”
“No one,” she insisted quickly, drawing a breath like she was about to dive underwater.“I just…I got caught up in something that wasn’t good.”
His fingers tightened on hers as she tried to pull away.“What was it?”
She reached out and ruffled his hair, trying for a smile.“Nothing important.”
“You’re lying.Why?”
Her fake smile wobbled.“Because you’re my brother.And if I told you the truth, you might start a war.”
His eyes narrowed.“Does this have anything to do with your trip to Alons last month?”
The look on her face told him everything.
“No,” she said quickly.Too quickly.“Sheik Alons was—he was very polite.”
