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The girl bowed her head in apology, properly chastened.“Maehdina.”And when she heard Malik sigh, she looked up and touched his arm. “Please don’t be mad anymore, Malik.”

“I’m not.” His tone was gruff. “I can never be with you.”

The two started walking, the sheikh taking the books from her hands as the young girl enthusiastically launched into a story about her day in school. When they made it back to their desk, the two sat next to each other, their dark heads bent close as they went through Kyria’s choice of reading materials. The two then started to squabble, just like the way a younger sister would when defending her taste to an older brother, and Vanna found herself smiling. Oh, if only they were full-blooded siblings-—

It’s not like you to take the easy way out, my love.

The voice in her head was familiar.

Imaginary.

But even so, Vanna’s teeth sank into her lower lip to keep it from trembling.

In front of her, Malik’s head suddenly jerked up, and if she were in a fanciful mood, she could’ve sworn he had his own moment, too, with Hadwin commanding him to comfort Vanna. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath, so that by the time her younger son turned to her, her smile was real.

I know, husband. I shall not fail you.

By now Kyria had also discovered her presence, and her two children came to her. Kyria kissed her on the cheek with a shy but warm smile. Malik did the same, but the look he directed at her was faintly curious.

“This is the library, Mother.”

She frowned. “And?”

“I thought you should know,” her younger son drawled solemnly, “in case you’ve forgotten what books look like.”

“You aggravating wretch!” She grabbed the first thing she could reach – a cardboard box from the library’s check-in counter – and threw it straight at his face. Unfortunately, Malik was an Al-Atassi, and all men in the family were gifted with the quickest of reflexes.

He caught the box handily with a grin, and incensed, Vanna reached up to pull his ear.

Malik winced. “I was only concerned. The last time I saw you pick out a book was when Kyria liked having bedtime stories read—-”

Kyria, gaze darting worriedly between mother and son, said earnestly, “I still enjoy having bedtime stories read to me.”

“That’s unfortunately not the point, my dear—-” She heard her son start to laugh, and her teeth gnashed. She twisted his ear as hard as she could, and Malik’s laughter abruptly died. Shooting him with a warning look to behave, she released his ear and turned to Kyria. “Apologies for that, darling. You know how your dearbrother—-” This time, it was Malik’s face that turned rigid. “—-can be.”

“Umm...” The poor girl looked torn. She clearly thought that all Malik could be was perfect.

Malik’s gaze slid to the documents his mother held, and his gaze narrowed when he caught a glimpse of certain photos. He looked back at his mother, and her uneasy expression confirmed his suspicions. He turned to Kyria. “I need to speak with Mother for a bit. Stay here, and I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

Malik led Vanna to one of the private reading rooms in the library, and as soon as the door closed behind them, she said quickly, “It’s not what you think it is.”

Her younger son didn’t answer right away. “Please have a seat, Mother.”

She reluctantly did as asked, muttering, “I hate it when you act like this.” So utterly calm when they believed she was overstepping her bounds. He and Altair took after their father this way, and it always made her feel dreadfully defensive.

Malik took the chair across her. “May I?”

She handed him the files. “It’s not really what you think—-”

“Is it not?” He flipped through the documents. “Then if I say these are personal files of bridal candidates, you will tell me I’m wrong?”

Vanna didn’t answer.

Her younger son glanced up. “Mother?”

“Oh, fine. It is that.”

“And it’s for me?”