Prologue
Shakira, Queen of Jazira, adjusted the cushions at the small of her back and eased back onto the chair, her hands cupping her pregnant stomach. She gave an exasperated sigh and looked at each of the three original kings of Havilah—Amir, Zavian and Roshan, her husband.
It had been a long meeting now that there were six members in the group, rather than three. And it was the newer two members who were causing problems.
“It’s getting worse,” said Shakira, watching Elaheh, Queen of Tawazun, walk out of the room with a haughty swish of the traditional robes she always wore. “It cannot go on like this.”
The cause of Elaheh’s abrupt departure—Xander, the newly appointed King of Sharq Havilah—appeared not in the least perturbed. He stood out of earshot on the terrace, hands thrust into his pockets, his habitual frown framing his handsome face.
Roshan also looked concerned as he finished his coffee and pushed away the empty cup. “They need to learn to work together.”
“I agree with Shakira,” said Zavian. “This can’t be allowed to continue. Their enmity could undermine everything we are working towards, the peace we’ve worked so hard to create.”
“They can’t seem to stand being in the same room together!” said Amir. “They’re impossible.”
“They need to learn to work together,” repeated Roshan thoughtfully, his joined fists tapping against his lips as he surveyed his brother, chatting to one of the blushing maids. “My brother is not accustomed to being conciliatory.”
“And nor is Elaheh,” murmured Shakira.
Zavian thumped the table lightly. “Then they should work together on the Havilah-Tawazun infrastructure project. Just the two of them. It is a subject dear to both their hearts—”
“If they have hearts,” muttered Amir.
“And so they will have to learn to work together in order for the project to succeed.” Zavian turned to Roshan.
“What do you think, Roshan? Will your brother be able to work with Elaheh?”
Roshan bit his lip and Shakira could see he was conflicted. He loved his brother but was concerned at Xander’s controlling nature and apparent inability to compromise. He also felt guilty for having abdicated in order to marry her, leaving Xander king of the country he so dearly loved. “He’ll have to. I’ll talk to him.”
Shakira squeezed Roshan’s hand and shot him a warm, supportive smile. “And I’ll talk to Elaheh,” she said. She turned to Zavian and Amir. “Leave it with us, we’ll make them see theyhaveto work together, for all our sakes.”
Zavian and Amir exchanged relieved glances.
“Thank you,” said Amir. “There’s no alternative. Theymustwork together or else everything is compromised.” He sighed. “They’re both fine people…separately. It’s when they’re together there’s a problem.” He shrugged.
“Trouble is, they’re opposites,” added Zavian.
As the three men went to join Xander, Shakira remained seated, her hand on her swollen belly. She heard Queen Elaheh’s helicopter take off. Her heart sank.
The meeting had been a near disaster. Whenever Xander had spoken, Elaheh had visibly bristled and had given a cutting reply which Xander had ignored. It was like watching some kind of reality TV show—with all the danger and sparkiness and none of the humor. It chilled her to the core. She’d witnessed enough conflict and dissension in her life to know what harm it could do. She just hoped that Zavian’s plan would work, despite the fact he’d got the heart of the problem wrong.
“Trouble is,” murmured Shakira to herself, “Xander and Elaheh aren’t opposites—they’re too much alike.”
Chapter 1
One week later…
“That woman is becomingmoreimpossible, if anything!” Xander scowled back at the group he and his brother, Roshan, had left behind in the hall of the desert hunting lodge in which the kings of Havilah always met. “Can’t we do something about her?”
Roshan sat down and put his feet on the coffee table. He hooked his arms across the back of the chair, looking for all the world like the king of the country he was no longer king of.
“What do you suggest?” he asked facetiously. “Have her deposed and exiled from her own country? Come on, Xander. Wehaveto work with her. She’s too important.”
Xander couldn’t take his eyes off the petite woman who still held court over Amir, Zavian and Shakira. “Andshe knows it,andshe’s taking full advantage of it.”
Roshan followed Xander’s gaze. “Shakira gets on well with her. She says she’s really smart.” He shrugged. “I don’t believe she’s being deliberately provocative. She’s simply a woman who knows what she wants.”
“And no doubt she wants a husband. I pity the poor manshemarries.”