every man was abusive. That not every marriage was marked by violence. She knew it, but in her head, it was all she could see.
The word husband brought forward visions of her father venting his rage on her mother, the woman laying on the floor as he continued to hit her. Kick her. And on the wall behind them was their wedding portrait, the bride in white, smiling lovingly at the man who was now trying to wring the life out of her with his hands.
It was a vision that was with her always, this scene of extreme violence and suffering. It was, now and forever her strongest association with the words husband and wife.
“We won’t have to stay married forever.”
“Just until Aden assumes the throne?” she asked, her tone incredulous.
“Yes. Just until then.”
“So only sixteen years of my life spent married to a man that I don’t even like?”
“I’m spending sixteen years in a position that I don’t want, until Aden is ready to rule. I understand that this isn’t your country, that your loyalty isn’t the same as mine. But your loyalty is to Aden, isn’t it? To giving him what your sister wanted him to have?”
Her heart felt as if it was being torn in two. Visions of her future burning before her, turning to ash and floating away on the wind. And she had to let them burn, along with her fear, because the only other option was leaving Aden behind. Visiting when she could, and otherwise going on with her life as though it hadn’t changed forever.
She couldn’t do that. Had come to that conclusion already.
“Does it have to be marriage? I am Tamara’s half sister. I’m Aden’s aunt. It’s entirely possible that I would move into the palace for those reasons alone.”
“For a while, yes. But until he’s a grown man?”
“Well, I don’t consider sixteen a grown man…”
“In Attar it is different,” he said, his tone hard and cold as ice.
If she left, this was Aden’s family. His closest family. There would be no warmth from his uncle.
“It would just be a legal marriage, right?”
He nodded once. “I have no desire for a wife. And it is traditional for the royal couple to have separate quarters.”
“Rashid and Tamara didn’t.”
“They were unusual. Theirs was a love match, and Tamara’s American sensibilities colored the way they did things.”
“Rashid never struck me as being very traditional.”
“He wasn’t. It was one reason he gravitated to Tamara.”
“But we…”
“We will be a traditional Attari couple. It will be no hardship. In fact, it will come as little surprise that you’re the woman I select as my queen. You demonstrated bravery, the desire to protect Aden at all costs. Love is not always a factor in marriages here, particularly not royal marriages. No one will expect it.”
Chloe swallowed hard, the earlier image of her parents branded in her mind. “Can I think about it?”
“Of course.” He looked at her as though he expected thinking about it would only take a few moments of her time.
“Not with you watching me.”
“It is quite clear-cut. The only thing you’re finding difficult is your emotional connection to the idea of marriage. And I have no such emotional idea. About marriage or anything else.”
“I’m sure you don’t. But it’s not just that…” She looked up at him, his eyes boring into hers, gripping her, holding her. Stealing her words.
“You’ll be able to finish your schooling. I spoke to the president of the university about you continuing on in your studies from Attar, and I provided you with this space so that you could work easily.”
Anger came to her rescue, demolishing the fear, demolishing the strange attraction that seemed to pull her to him. “You… you what?”
“There is no need to thank me.”
“I’m not going to thank you! You called the president of the university? And you told him I would be completing my studies from here without even speaking to me?”
“You told me you wanted to stay already.”
“And you told me no.”
“And I changed my mind when I found the solution to the problem.”
Chloe felt as if her head might explode. “But I didn’t agree to anything.”
“Naturally, Chloe, we both know you will say yes. You want to be with Aden and this is the most practical way to go about it. This is the best thing. The best way for me to keep the nation whole, intact until Aden takes the throne.”
“You don’t know that I’ll say yes,” she said.
“Yes, I do. And when I told Dr. Schultz that you were staying here to marry me and become the sheikha of Attar he was naturally very supportive.”
“You told him I was going to marry you?” She put her hands on her face and started pacing. “Oh… I’m going to have a stroke.”
“No, you aren’t.”
Her head snapped back up. “Oh? I’m not? Well, I guess you would know since you seem to know exactly what I’m going to do at all times. Do you have any more brilliant insights into me for me? Oh, all powerful Sheikh, please reveal to me, the poor, little, feebleminded woman, my desires.”
“You are being overdramatic now, Chloe.”
“I am not. I am being exactly as dramatic as the situation demands.”
“What is the difference between you living here in a room in the palace, and you living here in a room in the palace with a title and a marriage certificate? Practically, for you, there will be very little difference.”
“Marriage honestly means nothing to you?”
“It is nothing more than a social construct. Without emotion or obligation to remain faithful, why should it mean anything? I do not want a wife, and you certainly won’t be filling the position. You will be here for Aden, which will be to your benefit. And you will be here for public events, which, I will not lie, will be for mine. But I will require nothing from you in terms of what a man wants from a wife. I don’t need a place in your bed, neither do I wish for you to give me children.”
“Good, because I don’t want that stuff, either.” She ignored the little kick that went through her body at the mention of being in bed together. Ignored it so well it was almost as if it hadn’t happened. Because it didn’t mean anything. Nothing at all. “I can’t believe you. You arrogant, controlling…”
“Decisive,” he finished. “I am
