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His brother’s voice cut through his thoughts, and Malik shifted on his seat in an uncomfortable attempt to repress his erection.Lueta.If he didn’t find a way to control his sexual fantasies about Kyria anytime soon, he might end up sporting a boner in public.

Dressed in ordinary robes and their gazes covered with dark glasses, the sheikhs were able to slip inside the auditorium and walk among the other guests unnoticed. Their anonymity would not last of course, and they knew it. Already, the young women around them were giggling and elbowing each other, their eyes glued to the rather remarkable portrait the five tall, broad-shouldered men presented. But even so, the Al-Atassi sheikhs were determined to make the most out of their reprieve, however brief.

“Found her,” Malik said under his breath.

The other sheikhs smirked. Of course their youngest would be the one to find her first.

“Do you remember when we used to play hide and seek at the palace,” Khalil said musingly. Kyria had just moved into the palace then, and they had all been making an effort to cheer the seven-year-old girl up.

Tarif, having now acclimated to the god-awful hours of morning, grinned at the memories Khalil’s words evoked. “I know exactly what you’re thinking.” Malik had always been the one to find Kyria first back then, too, and every time he did the young Malik’s chest would puff and he would strut around the palace as if he was the king of the world simply because he alwaysknewwhere to find Kyria.

Malik grimaced when he saw the other sheikhs smirking. “For Allah’s sake, stop that,” he muttered.

But of course his older brothers only ignored him, united as always in their desire to needle him.

“He’d be so proud,” Altair recalled with a chuckle, “and then Kyria would burst into tears, and Malik would be remorseful.”

“He’d promisenotto find her again first,” Tarif continued in an amused tone, “But the next time we’d play, he wouldn’t be able to help it.”

“It was as if he couldn’t bear the thought of any of us finding her first,” Rayyan said with a grin.

Khalil arched a brow at Malik. “When you think of those times now – could it perhaps mean you already knew then, albeit subconsciously, even when she was just seven?”

Malik scowled. “Fuck all of you.”

The other sheikhs laughed as Malik stalked off, leaving them to trail behind at a relaxed pace. When they reached their youngest brother, it was to find Malik already preoccupied with broodingly staring at Kyria, who was currently talking with other girls.

“That girl on Kyria’s right,” Tarif murmured thoughtfully. “Isn’t she the one who won prom queen?”

Malik reluctantly moved his gaze from Kyria, and an expression of distaste fell over the sheikh’s face when he saw the girl Tarif had singled out. “Indeed.”

“She’s beautiful,” Rayyan observed.

Malik’s lip curled. “Passably attractive, but nothing compared to Kyria.”

The other sheikhs coughed.

Malik frowned. “You honestly don’t think that girl is prettier than Ky?”

Theyhonestlydid, just as they knew Malik believed otherwise with equal honesty. Kyria was beautiful to them because she was their sister, but it was also precisely because of this reason that they knew she could never be drop-dead gorgeous by any standards. Her innate elegance made her attractive, her lack of artifice charming, but Kyria would never be the type to turn heads.

But of course Malik didn’t see this.

“You should all have your eyes checked.” Malik’s tone was of complete disgust.

“Err, yes.” Khalil coughed. “We probably should.”

“Let’s continue this conversation later,” Altair said diplomatically. “The ceremony’s about to start, and we’ve yet to say hello.”

As they moved forward, Hannah and the other girls’ chatter began to drift towards them.

Please, come on, can’t that be your graduation gift to us?This was from a slightly chubby girl, her tone pleading.

But they’re really not the type to take photos.This was from Kyria, who sounded uneasy.

Even old photos would do! We just want something of your brothers’.

The other girls chimed in similarly, and when the sheikhs saw Kyria start biting her lip, the men shook their heads in unintended synchrony. All of them knew that when she did that, it meant she was about to give in.