“Aleksi?”Munir asked.
“He’s well also,” she told him.“He found mebefore they could follow through on their vile threats and got mesafely away, though he suffered a knife wound to his shoulder whenwe fought the bast”—she glanced over her shoulder as her fatherwalked up—“the Wolf and the Tall.”
Munir mimed spitting on the floor.“Where arethe Wolf and his pack now?”he said.
“Aleksi killed the Jackal the night herescued me, and I killed the Tall the night we rescued Lasair.”
“You did what?”her brother asked, his voice,his expression, showing more pride than surprise.She gloried init.
“Aleksi and I fought the Wolf and the Tall,”she told them.“I beat the Tall to death with a stick and Aleksipulled the Wolf’s blade from his shoulder and stuck the Wolf in thebelly with it.The Wolf rode off.How far he got, we don’t know.”She looked to her father.“Brawn went after him to find out whathas become of him.”
“We’ll have much to prepare for,” her fathersaid.“No matter what Brawn discovers.But for now—”
The chamber door burst open and the queenstepped out.Her gaze went directly to her husband, and she suckedin a great breath.She turned to her daughter, and her breath flewout in a rush.Her tears wet Sahar’s cheek as she embraced her.
“You have come home to us,” she cried softly.“Oh, my darling girl.My brave, brash, wonderful, headstrong girl.You have come home to us.”She kissed Sahar’s tear-streaked cheekand stood back, holding her shoulders with both hands.“You arewell?”
“I’m well.”
Her mother looked over Sahar’s head to herhusband, and was reassured by whatever she saw.She ran her handsdown Sahar’s arms and held her wrists.
“Good,” she said.“I am glad.”She sniffed,smiled and then looked over to Asim.“You have a son, my son,” shesaid, grinning as Asim stood there wide-eyed with his mouth hangingopen.“Go, meet your son and thank your wife.”She laughed as heleapt past her into his chambers, and then squeezed Sahar’s wrists.“You, my daughter, can meet your nephew tomorrow.Tonight you mustgo bathe, then eat, and then sleep.”She wrinkled her nose andwhispered, “You smell.”
Safe, clean, warm, and dry, laying in herbig, soft, comfortable bed alone, Sahar was unable to sleep.Sheknew Aleksi had moved into one of the guest rooms in the palace ather parents’ invitation, and for one brief moment she consideredsneaking over to his room and getting into bed with him,.Throwingoff her bedcovers, she stuffed her feet into her slippers andpadded down the hall to the kitchens.She pushed the door open andstopped.Aleksi was sitting at the table he often sat at with Anya,gnawing the meat off a drumstick of cooked fowl.“What are youdoing here?”
“I couldn’t sleep,” he said.“Not without mytigress snuggled up against me, snoring in my ear.”
“I don’t snore.”
“Shall we call it purring then?”He pushedthe plate toward her as she scowled at him and took a seat at thetable.“Hungry?”he asked.
“Ravenous.”
He licked his lips, never taking his eyesfrom hers.“Me too.”
Sahar laughed.She couldn’t help it.“Youare—”
“Handsome, charming, irresistible.”
“An arrogant ass.”
He gave her a cocky grin as he cut off aslice of breast meat.“True,” he said.He took a big bite andsmacked his lips.“Tasty, but then you know how I like a tenderbreast.”
Sahar gave him her best glare even as hertraitorous cheeks flushed hot at the memory of his mouth on herbody.He may be an arrogant, conceited ass, but the man had reasonto be.He was as good in bed as he was on the back of a horse.Which was saying something.He was grinning at her and licking hislips, and she was actually considering climbing on top of him andriding him here in the kitchens when the door opened and Anyawalked in.
“Oh, oh my,” she exclaimed, her hands to hercheeks.“I was told you’d returned together and safely.Thank thegods.I didn’t expect to see you two up before the sun.”
“We didn’t mean to raid your kitchen,” hesaid.“We’re hungry and have become accustomed of late to risingbefore the sun.”
“No need to apologize.”Anya shook her head.“You’re always welcome in the palace kitchens.”She swiped atwelling tears, and then wiped her hands on her work apron.“I’m soglad to see you both alive and well, if not a stone or two lighterby the looks of you.”She sniffed and grinned.“Well, we’ll takecare of that soon enough.”She went to the larder and pulled out asack of ground flour.“What a night, eh?You two and the kingreturned.A new princeling born.It’ll be a day and a night offeasting no doubt.”
Aleksi stood.“We should be getting out ofyour way then.”
“No.”The vehemence of her answer stoppedSahar as she started to stand.“No need,” she said, waving themback down.“You two sit, eat.Can I make you some eggs or porridge?More kitchen maids will be joining me shortly.We have orders topack enough travel provisions for twenty and four riders off on theking’s business at first light, but I can cook you something beforethey show.”She smiled and let out a happy sigh.“Please,” shesaid.“Sit and eat and tell me the real story behind all the talesI’ll be hearing come the morrow.”
“Meet your nephew,” Sahar’s mother said,laying the bundle of blanket and pudgy-cheeked infant in her arms.“Ammar, son of Asim, son of Asad, King of the City by the Sea.”
The newborn gazed up at her with big, round,serious eyes.The corners of Sahar’s mouth tilted up, and she foundherself speaking in that strange, high-pitched way adults spoke tobabies.“Hello, my nephew Ammar,” she cooed.“I am your AuntieSahar, your father’s sister.”She tickled his palm with herfingertip and smiled as he wrapped his fingers around it.“Ohh,such a strong grip you have my little man.”She looked up at herbrother and grinned.“You must take after your Auntie,” she said ina conspiratorial whisper meant for her brother to hear.
