When Kat woke up the next morning Jasmine was the first person she saw, and she wondered for a moment if she’d imagined Zafir being there during the night. She was too scared to ask.
Kat ate breakfast, and then took a shower and dressed. Jasmine helped her to put on her prosthetic leg—the girl was totally unfazed now by the whole thing.
She’d deliberately chosen from her own clothes, knowing that she’d be leaving all the other gorgeous garments behind. They belonged to a Kat who had lived a stolen dream for a short time.
After packing most of her things she looked up flights from Jahor to America, and saw that there was one late that night. On impulse she booked a seat, even though her flight home was meant to have been on Zafir’s private plane.
She stood up then, determined to go and find Zafir and tell him she was leaving and not to let him persuade her otherwise.
Kat made her way slowly to where Zafir’s office was located, absorbing the understated finery of the palace for the last time—its ancient murals and hidden inner courtyards covered in mosaics, and the peacocks strutting around loose and free, as if they owned the place.
When she got to the office she was surprised not to see Rahul outside, in his usual spot, but his cell phone sat on the table so presumably he wasn’t far away. Then Kat heard raised voices, and one familiar one sent icicles down her spine.
Zafir’s mother.
Instinctively Kat wanted to turn away from that strident voice, but something kept her rooted to the spot, near the half-open door to Zafir’s office.
‘What are you going to do about Salim? Your brother is out of control, and meanwhile the country he is meant to be ruling—my homeland—is falling into chaos.’
Kat recognised the tension in Zafir’s voice as he replied.
‘I am not my brother’s keeper, Mother, and maybe you should have thought of this a long time ago, when you proved how little we all really meant to you when Sara died. But if it’s any consolation I’m hiring someone who is an expert in diplomatic relations to help oversee Salim’s accession to the throne in Tabat.’
His mother sniffed and said ungraciously, ‘That’s something, at least.’
Kat’s heart clenched for Zafir and his siblings, and then his mother changed tack.
‘And what is she still doing here? Wasn’t she meant to be gone this morning?’
Kat’s heart stopped.
There seemed to be a year of silence before Zafir said coldly, ‘I presume you’re referring to Kat Winters?’
His mother made a rude sound. ‘If you’re thinking of making her your Queen again, then you’ve learnt nothing about being a King, Zafir. She is the most singularly unsuitable woman to be Queen of this country. There’s her scandalous past to think of—not to mention the fact that she made a complete fool of herself last night and ruined the event!’
Kat somehow managed to take in some oxygen at that point. She whirled around and walked away as fast as she could—before she could hear Zafir assure his mother that of course he wouldn’t be making Kat his Queen. She tried not to feel hurt at what Zafir’s mother had said, but it was hard when it echoed her own deepest insecurities.
She didn’t see Rahul until it was too late and they collided. Kat said sorry and kept going, terrified that he’d see how upset she was.
When she got back to her rooms she was glad to find them empty, and was relieved she’d gone ahead and booked that plane ticket. She continued packing, telling herself she’d go to the airport early. She would wait there.
‘What are you doing?’
She whirled around at the deep and familiar voice, holding some trousers up to her chest. Zafir was inside her room, the door closed behind him. He was clean-shaven now, making Kat suspect again that she’d dreamt his presence during the night. He was the King! And she was now his inconvenient ex-mistress. Of course he hadn’t been there.
She turned around again and forced her voice to sound cool. Unconcerned. ‘I’m packing. I’ve booked a commercial flight home tonight, Zafir, there’s no need for me to prolong my stay.’
He came over and took her arm, turning her to face him. ‘You said you’d stay another day.’
She pulled free and let the trousers fall to the floor, stepping back. ‘I’m fine. I don’t need to stay—and you have stuff to do.’ She cringed inwardly at stuff.
‘I want to talk to you.’
Something illicit fluttered in Kat’s belly. ‘What is there to talk about? I think we’ve said everything that needs to be said.’
‘Rahul told me he bumped into you outside my office just now... You obviously came to talk to me. Why did you leave?’
Kat glanced away. ‘You were busy.’