He’d done his best and through no fault of his own that could be named, failed.
There was only one conclusion: I suck.
Would he ever be anything other than the guy who always came up short?
Slowly, he peeled himself off the cot and eased his feet to the ground. Sat there for a long second, pounding head in his hands, trying to sort through what to do. Was there a chance to save this complete trainwreck?
The extraction hadn’t happened—yeah, he’d messed up by losing the comms piece—but Dante said not to change things. And pretty much everything had changed. Was Omen even in play now? He didn’t believe Maaz’s claim that Mugo had arrested them, but that did not necessarily make it a lie.
And forget all that—Leighton. The one good thing to ever come into his life… The one person who truly, deeply needed him to get it right for once—and he’d failed. Failed her.
If ever there was a time to talk to Dad, get advice, this was it. But then, Midas had never met with the incessant failings like his screwup son, so what advice could he share?
“May I make a suggestion?” a man asked quietly.
Owen lifted his head and found Rayan’s cousin, Rafi, standing on the threshold of the bunkhouse, holding the door open, daggerlike sunlight piercing the darkness.
It made the back of Owen’s eyeballs ache, and he groaned. “As if I could stop you.”
“My people respect strength. True strength. But more than that, we respect honor.” Rafi eased in a few steps and paused. “I would…”
Great. Here we go. A lecture.
But when the guy didn’t continue, Owen eyed him.
“Go outside. Be present. Do not back down.” Tall and scrawny, Rafi shrugged bony shoulders. “The king… It would not bode well if he learns you hid in here when he entrusted his daughter to your skills.”
Was he for real? Why was this guy trying to help him? Owen gave him a long look, saw Rafi’s hunched posture, the way he shifted his feet. Nervous? Why would he be nervous?
Understanding dawned and drew Owen straight. “What do you know?”
Rafi’s expression faltered and he checked over his shoulder, out of the tent.
Owen followed his gaze and spotted the royals gathering around picnic tables. Seeing Leighton standing there in a teal kaftan, one arm over her midsection—as if holding herself together—gutted him.
“I would recommend,” Rafi said, “you stay at her side, even if she does not want you there.”
Not want him there… The guy assumed that because she’d told Owen to stand down. He came to his feet, not liking the warning in the guy’s tone. “Why? Is something going to happen?”
“It is considered poor to speak ill of one’s family,” Rafi said quietly, glancing around, as if making sure nobody was eavesdropping, “but I know two things: they do not like Americans, and all are aware of the circumstances of Nouri’s illegitimate birth. As such, to them, she is a blight.”
Hot coals burned in Owen’s gut.
“Daria will not have her wedding overshadowed by an illegitimacy. She will keep Nouri close, control her, so she ensures she is not outshone. Her fierce protection of family extends to Aliyah,” he explained solemnly, the whites of his eyes all but glowing in the dim light of the bunkhouse, “who sought your favor and was rejected.”
Cringing at that, Owen wouldn’t offer an apology. He hadn’t been here for fun times and flirting. “So, feelings were hurt.”
“To put it mildly,” Rafi said with a sniff. “They are patient—not in a good way. I do not know that they specifically intend to harm her, but I have seen this before. My cousin has a darkness in her whose patience morphs into cruelty, malice.” He drew in a long breath, his voice barely a whisper, his expression taut. “I fear the friendship Daria offers Nouri is not one of friends—especially after seeing Aliyah snubbed by an American—but of…priest to a…lamb.”
Owen heard the word Rafi left out. The one that would promise pain and heartache. “A sacrificial lamb.” In other words, they wouldn’t hesitate to throw Leighton under the proverbial bus. They’d set it up and shove her into its path. “But why separate us? They could kill two birds with one stone.” For lack of better words. “I think they already tried.”
Rafi gave a near smile. “Haven’t you figured it out? Turning her against you—it would be the ultimate coup, considering your purpose here.”
Great balls of fire! They did know the comms device had been his.
The preternatural calm Rafi possessed was unsettling. “While Nouri is considered unpure and illegitimate, she still has royal blood. If they can convince her to reject you and you fail to do your job…”
Nausea roiled through Owen.
