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They all slept in Altair’s room, with Vanna and Kyria sharing the bed while extra mattresses were laid out on the floor for her sons to sleep in. She watched her children sleep one by one, and when all was silent, her eyes closed, and in the haven of darkness she heard the faintest whisper—-

Huhm jamil.

She knew she could very well just be imagining her husband telling her good night, but she didn’t care.

I love this family. I love our life. I love you.

Tears fell down her face, but they tasted as salty as they were sweet.

Until we meet again, my love.

But for now, she still had these three to look after.

Seven years ago

Two years had passed since Hadwin’s death. Pain still lingered, but it was more a dull, bittersweet ache than a festering wound. The memories didn’t hurt as much, and sometimes, there were moments – secret, private moments – when Vanna could still feel his arms around her. Strong and gentle, intangible but powerful...it was these moments that gave her the strength to wake up each day, smile for her children, and do what she must.

Documents clutched in her hand, she left her family’s private wing in the palace and asked one of the guards of Kyria’s whereabouts. Where that girl was,heshould always be, and when she made it to the palace’s library, she indeed found the two.

As this part of the palace was restricted to members of the Al-Atassi family and their most special guests, few people were aware that the royal library had been one of the inspirations for the Beast’s library in the animated classic. Towering shelves that reached all the way to the hundred-foot ceiling covered every wall, and above was a domed glass ceiling to reveal the azure skies of Ramil.

There was also the famous wheeled ladder from the film, only the one in Ramil’s palace was made entirely of gold rather than plain wood, and there were three of them, with the shelves divided into levels of more manageable heights. And also like the film, this particular ladder bore the weight of a lovely – albeit younger – bookish brunette. She was holding on to the ladder with one hand as she perused a stack of books, and thirty feet below her was a man as grouchy and princely as the film’s beast.

“Lueta.” Damn it.“If you don’t come down this instant, you’ll end up giving me a heart attack.”

“Stop shouting,” Kyria pleaded. “You know how you make me nervous when you shout so—-”

“Aira.” Fuck.“Don’t say you’re nervous when you’re up there because now I’m nervous as hell, too.”

It took almost a minute, but the thirteen-year-old finally made it back to the ground, and as soon as she stepped off the ladder, her slim body disappeared into a crushing embrace.

“From now on,” Malik muttered, “you’re forbidden from climbing that thing.”

“But Malik—-”

The young sheikh pulled away, cursing under his breath, but the sound still echoed in the library. “You could’ve fallen to your death,” he gritted out.

“Please?”

She watched Kyria peer up at her younger son with dark eyes full of pleading, and Vanna mentally shook her head.

Malik’s jaw clenched.

That look was—-

“Fine then,” Malik said finally. “Let’s compromise.”

That look waspowerful, her younger son was a softie, and she almost let slip an inelegant snort.

“No climbing ladders when I’m not around. Do you understand?”

“What about if I have a guard—-”

A look of utter affront crossed the young sheikh’s face. “And have some man look up your robe while you’re at it?”

“Malik!” Kyria appeared dismayed. “I’m sure they wouldn’t—-”

“Of course they would,” Malik countered in a steely tone. “You may think you are still a child, but other people will see you as a young woman. The most traditional members of Ramilian culture still believe that twelve is a proper age for marriage, and youknowthat.”