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T ahira paced back and forth in front of the windows overlooking the Tampa Riverwalk, with her arms clasped around her torso.

Dr. Trudy Dunbar’s office had a gorgeous view that unfortunately didn’t alleviate the nervousness rolling around in Tahira’s gut.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the psychologist who was sitting in a chair next to a couch.

This was the moment she’d feared—talking to someone other than Darius about her assault.

Patient/doctor confidentiality made it a little easier—Dunbar could lose her license if she repeated anything they discussed behind closed doors.

Ian and Darius also trusted her, which helped Tahira trust her as well.

She’d been appalled and embarrassed when Darius had told her Ian had figured things out, but then the head of Trident Security had stopped by to let her know her secret was safe with him—he wouldn’t even tell his wife.

Ian had become like a big brother to Tahira, and from their private conversation, she knew he didn’t think any less of her for what had happened.

In fact, she was certain if her rapist was still alive, he would suffer a long, torturous death at the hands of the retired Navy SEAL.

Ian had ensured her that any help she needed to get past the rape, he and Darius would make sure she got it.

After leaving the estate two hours ago, Darius’s teammates and Tahira’s guards had played an intricate game of cat and mouse with the press.

They’d driven all around Tampa, leading a parade of vans with satellite dishes on the roofs, and changed vehicles twice, while Lindsey wore a wig, impersonating the royal princess.

Tahira had donned her own wig—one with short, medium-brown hair, makeup to cover the bruises on her face, and large sunglasses.

Once the coast had been clear, she and Darius had slipped out the back of the house, hurried to the estate’s dock on the bay, and boarded a boat Tristan McCabe had waiting for them.

The man ferried them across the bay where an SUV was parked for them.

With all the subterfuge, the press had no idea Tahira was now talking to her new psychologist, and she was grateful.

“I was raped.” There ... she’d said it, and in doing so, it made it all too real.

Tahira covered her face with her hands for a moment.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she gulped several times, trying to fill her lungs with oxygen.

She blinked back a few tears, then circled around the desk and took a seat on the couch.

“Take a deep breath, Tahira. That’s it. One more.

” Dr. Dunbar’s voice was soothing, filled with empathy and understanding.

Once Tahira’s shoulders relaxed, the doctor continued.

“I can only imagine how you must have felt. Your presence here means that you want to move forward. I’ll be here to help you get through this, and we’ll take it one step at a time.

When you’re ready, please tell me what you remembered. ”

Tahira was glad she felt comfortable enough with the other woman to talk to her.

She couldn’t keep it all inside. She’d been raped, and even if she was afraid of it becoming public knowledge, she wouldn’t downplay what had happened to her with the people trying to help her.

“I—I do not remember as much when I am awake—I was drugged at the time—but when I am asleep, the nightmares come. I see and feel bits and pieces, but my body’s response to them is what I fear. ”

“What do you fear?”

Tahira realized what she’d said could be misinterpreted.

“I mean, I am afraid I might die while reliving what happened. My breathing and heart rate become out of control. I have heard people can die of fright, and it scares me. That and my screams might have someone finding out I was ... I was raped.”

It was still difficult to say out loud. Darius had been trying to convince her there was nothing to be ashamed of, but Tahira felt conflicted.

As a woman who’d been sexually violated, she knew it was not her fault and she shouldn’t feel guilty.

But as a daughter of the king of Timasur, a country where a woman’s lack of virginity on her wedding night was considered by many to be a crime worse than murder, she couldn’t let anyone else learn of her assault.

More than two centuries ago, Timasur had been another country altogether, and Tahira could’ve been stoned to death if her secret had been discovered, even with her royal status.

The two women spent the rest of the hour-long appointment discussing what had happened—what Tahira did remember and what she didn’t but had learned from Darius.

Dr. Dunbar also taught Tahira some relaxation techniques for when she felt a panic attack coming on, assuring her it was very rare to die from fright.

When a soft ding sounded from a small table next to Dr. Dunbar, she took off her reading glasses and looked at Tahira. “I’d like to see you three times a week to start with, if that’s okay with you. As you work your way through this, we’ll drop that down to twice or once a week.”

Tahira nodded. “Yes, that is fine. I—I appreciate what you are doing for me.”

The psychologist smiled at her. “I’m just listening. You’re doing all the work.”

After they scheduled her next few appointments, Tahira exited the office to find Darius sitting in the waiting room, reading something on his smart phone. When he heard her, he jumped to his feet, concern filling his handsome face. “How’d it go?”

“It went well. I like her—she is very nice.”

The tension in his features eased. “Good, I’m glad. Are we all set?”

She smiled and handed him the business card Dunbar had given her. “Yes—these are my next few appointments.”

As he led her to the elevators, Tahira was shocked when he slid his hand down to hers, entwining their fingers.

When she looked up at him, he seemed to be just as startled by what he’d done.

Before he could have any regrets and pull away from her, she squeezed his hand.

“Thank you for bringing me here, Darius. I hope Dr. Dunbar will be able to help me.”

He hit the call button for the elevator with his free hand, then turned and cupped her chin. His penetrating gaze sent a shiver down her spine. “I hope so too, Princess.”

The doors to the car opened, and they stepped inside.

Tahira was disappointed when Darius released her hand to push the button for the lobby.

She immediately missed the warmth and safety she felt whenever he touched her.

She wished she could see his aura, but after a brief flare of red had surrounded him, he’d shut down, causing it to disappear.

How was she supposed to know if what she was starting to feel for him was reciprocated if she couldn’t see his aura?

She was in uncharted territory here. It had never bothered her before when she couldn’t see someone’s colors, but then, again, it had never happened with someone she was attracted to.

Somehow, she had to figure out if what she felt was one-sided or not because she hoped like hell it wasn’t.