Modern Romance September 2016 Books 5-8. Natalie Anderson

office.

      Not once did he turn around.

      Felicia felt less valuable than even his luggage, which was already being taken up to his suite. And it should not hurt quite so much, yet it did. To go from being his lover to less than nothing was not something she had prepared for. In all their time together he had never made her feel worthless.

      He did now.

      The guards opened the doors as Kedah and Rina approached, and inside Kedah kissed his father’s cheek and shook his brother’s hand.

      Kumu—Mohammed’s wife—was there, and she gave Kedah a small tap to the heart in greeting.

      ‘Now we are all together,’ Rina said, beaming, ‘there is some good news that Mohammed and Kumu have been waiting to share.’

      She clapped her hands and Kedah stood silent as his younger brother stepped forward.

      ‘We have been gifted again,’ Mohammed announced. ‘In November we are expecting a child.’

      ‘That is wonderful news.’ Omar beamed, though at the same time managed to freeze his eldest son with a glare.

      Congratulations were offered, and Kedah gave his own. It would be another boy—of course it would. Mohammed did everything to perfection, and had already produced a potential heir and a spare.

      All the right things were said, though, and Kedah enquired after his young nephews.

      ‘I hear you are looking to build another hotel in Dubai?’ his brother said.

      ‘Another one?’ Omar frowned.

      ‘It is early days,’ Kedah announced. ‘I haven’t yet shown the plans to Hussain.’

      That silenced his father for a moment.

      Hussain and Omar had studied together, and on occasion Hussain had told Kedah about the fine plans his father had once had for his country.

      Those days were long gone now.

      A maid came in and announced that the portrait artist was ready, but Omar was not letting Kedah off that lightly.

      ‘He can wait,’ the King said. ‘Now that he is finally here, I would like to speak with Kedah alone.’

      ‘I don’t mind staying,’ Mohammed offered.

      ‘That shan’t be necessary,’ Kedah said, and waited until he and his father were alone.

      Omar cut straight to the chase.

      ‘The elders are pushing for the royal lineage to move forward,’ Omar said. ‘Ours is a country that is divided, and there is unrest. Some want things to stay as they did under the rule of my father, and Mohammed is one of them—which is why the elders support him.’

      ‘Your opinion is the one that matters,’ Kedah pointed out.

      ‘How can I support you when you are barely here?’

      ‘You know why I stay away,’ Kedah said. ‘The people here need more infrastructure, healthcare, jobs—the list is endless. We have a country that could thrive, a tourism industry that could help people support their families. Instead they are poor while we continue to live in splendour. No, I cannot feast night after night in a palace when children go to bed hungry.’

      ‘It is not so bad...’ the King started, but then he saw Kedah’s furious glare and hesitated.

      It had been a long time since Kedah had lost his temper on this subject and Omar did not want a repeat.

      ‘Kedah...’ He trod more carefully. ‘There have long been calls for the Accession Council to meet,’ Omar told him. ‘But it is becoming more pressing now.’

      ‘Then give me the power I seek. Give me permission to make changes to our land and I shall return. You know that I would make a better Crown Prince and ultimately King than Mohammed.’

      ‘How do I know that when you are never here? Prove your devotion...’

      ‘I don’t need to prove it—my country has my heart.’

      ‘Choose your bride, come home and settle down. That would satisfy the elders for now, and perhaps delay the calls for the Accession Council to meet...’

      ‘I don’t need to appease anyone. I know my people—they want me as Crown Prince. If you vote otherwise at the meeting then I shall take it to the people to cast their vote, as is my right.’

      ‘Have you any idea of the unrest that would cause?’ His father was breathing rapidly. ‘Kedah, why can’t you just choose a bride and toe the line...?’

      ‘What happened to you?’ Kedah asked. ‘Hussain told me that when you studied together you had plans and dreams for our land... What happened to them?’

      ‘The old King did not want change.’

      ‘But you are King now. So why do you bow down to the elders?’

      ‘They are wise.’

      ‘Of course they are—but they are also staid. You are King. Your word is law and yet you choose not to use it.’

      ‘It would be easier—’

      ‘Easier?’ Kedah interrupted. ‘Since when did a king choose the easy option? Whatever hold the elders have on you, share it with me, and then together we can fight. But I shall not return to Zazinia just to sit idle and wait for you to pass.’

      Kedah would not be pushed around by anyone. He knew his father was doing his best to protect his mother’s reputation—he was quite sure that was why the King held back—but if only his father would voice the problem, together they could face the trouble.

      Just so long as Kedah was indeed Omar’s son.

      There was a knock at the door and he knew there was only one person who would disturb an official meeting between the King and one of the Princes.

      The door opened and the Queen stepped in, smiling widely.

      ‘Rina,’ the King scolded lightly, ‘I am busy speaking with Kedah.’

      ‘Well, the poor artist is waiting. He’s so old that I am scared he will die if we keep him much longer.’

      Omar laughed, and even Kedah smiled.

      ‘Come, Kedah,’ Rina said. ‘I will walk with you.’

      They walked through the palace and his mother stopped at a large floral arrangement and chose a bloom, which she placed in her hair, and then she selected a few more.

      ‘It is so good to have both my sons home. Stay a while longer, Kedah.’

      She was oblivious to the tension between him and Mohammed, and the terrible rumours had been kept from her. Kedah did not know how much longer they could remain so.

      ‘I cannot stay. I have been away for a few weeks, and Felicia...’

      He halted. Since when did he take into consideration the fact that his staff had not been home for a while?

      And while Rina was oblivious to many things she was alert to others.

      ‘Careful, Kedah.’

      ‘Careful?’ He frowned and stopped walking.

      He almost wanted to confront her—to say that he was old enough now to understand an affair—but it was imperative, if he was to fight his brother, to know first that he was the King’s son. But then he looked into her smiling chocolate-brown eyes that were flecked with gold like his and he couldn’t do it.

      There was a fragility to Rina—an air of impulsiveness and a little river of vulnerability that ran through her that sometimes darkened that winning smile.

      If he confronted her now, Kedah would watch her fold and crumple. If he questioned her about what had happened all those years ago their relationship