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“Yes.”

“Why?” he asked bluntly. “Shouldn’t it be Altair you’d consult as the first son—-”

“Altair will marry whomever he is duty-bound to marry,” she said shortly. “Your brother is just that type of person. You, however...” She took a deep breath. “I know we’ve never talked about this, but Kyria—-”

“For the love of Allah!”Malik shot his mother a look of seething frustration. “She’s thirteen,” he exploded. “And you, my own mother, are making me sound like a pedophile—-”

“Of course not,” Vanna rejected vehemently. “But can you also say that you have not once thought about it? Can you look me in the eye and tell me that you have not once considered waiting to see how things play out when she’s of the rightful age?”

Malik didn’t say a word, but they both knew that in itself was an answer.

“I know you don’t love or want her that way yet, but human minds have a talent for seeing the ugly and depraved while ignoring everything else that’s sweet and beautiful. These bridal candidates are just that:candidates.I don’t need you to be engaged to them. I just want you to show the world that you’re considering any one of them. Youneedthe world to look at you and all these women so they don’t see Kyria until it’s the right time.”

The silence stretched between them, and Vanna stared at her younger son in helpless despair, knowing that she could only imagine the torment he was feeling. “This is for you and Kyria—-”

Malik’s fist slammed against the desk. “Lueta.Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?” he grated out. “She’s a child!”

Vanna met her son’s gaze unflinchingly. “It’s precisely because she’s still a child that we must do what we can to protect her.”

Malik’s fists clenched. “So what will you have me do then?”

“Find something – someone – to take up your time. Both of you owe it to yourselves to see what the world has to offer.”

“Are you asking me to leave the palace?”

“If you believe that is what’s necessary to ensure you stay within your limits, then yes.”

Malik flinched.

Hating that she had hurt him, she gazed at him with eyes that implored for his understanding. “I’m doing this for you, son – to protect your future, the tomorrows that could be yours. You’ve changed too much, Malik, and sooner or later it will get people to talk. It used to be that your father and I had to practically chain you and bolt the door to prevent you from leaving the house every night. And now – when was the last time you’ve hit a club?”

He let out a choking sound of disbelief. “So you are now ordering me to go clubbing? Is that it?”

“I’m ordering you to act like anormaltwenty-something man,” she cried out. “For both your sakes, I’m ordering you to act like you haven’t yet found your soulmate!”

Malik jerked in his seat, and a cry of horror escaped her.

That word...was forbidden. That word...shouldn’t have been uttered this early. But now that it was, there was nowhere to go, nothing that could undo the devastating truth screaming at them in the silence—-

“I’m sorry,” Vanna whispered.

But it was too late, and neither of them could close their eyes to what they knew.

Most people waited a lifetime to find the one meant for them – and they were the lucky ones. But then there were the others, people who never had to wait, people who had justknown,soulmates who had found their way to each other before destiny could make up its mind about them—-

Just because you knew someone was meant for you didn’t make that person yours.

Malik lowered his head. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow.” He had no choice. He wanted a lifetime of tomorrows that he would always look forward to, and for it to happen, he had to risk forever and let go of today.

Six years ago

The staff cheered wildly as the television cameras swung to the finish line to show the race’s moment of victory. The camera zoomed in, and Malik’s handsome face filled the screen. More screams and applause filled the palace’s viewing room, and as news traveled of the young sheikh’s victory, so did the cheers. The chef and his helpers at the kitchen, the head gardener and his apprentices at the back of the palace, and even the officials in a closed-door meeting at the war room had taken a break to celebrate the young sheikh’s triumph.

Hail Sheikh Malik for bringing honor to the Kingdom of Ramil!

People began embracing each other, men clapping each other’s backs, women jumping for joy, and yet in the midst of this euphoria, a fourteen-year-old girl looked like she was about to cry. Altair was the first to notice this, and he briskly made his way to her. He touched her head, and she looked up at him with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Malik won,” she said brightly. “Isn’t it wonderful?”