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“Does she always fall asleep that suddenly?”

Carence as he rose and re her, walked out of the kitchen It took Carht up with him as he exited the nursery

He closed the door, said without prea Make a list of your needs and everything will be at the palace on our arrival in Judar If you forget anything, order it and it will be brought to you within the hour After you’ve settled in, I’ll order s for you to pick whatever you wish”

She stared at hie hardened his rich, dark tone “We’re leaving right away My jet should be ready for the return trip”

She felt the tethers of her sanity snapping one by one, groped for an anchor against his sweeping incursion “Listen—”

He cut her off “If you decide you feel nostalgic about your things, I’ll send people to pack every shred you have here later”

“Noait aexactly where I take you To dom”

She shook her head, groped for breath “I—I can’t travel…my passport isn’t valid…”

“I don’t need one to take you out of the country and into e for one It will be waiting for you e arrive atrasped it yet, I’ you, too”

His declaration felt like a slap A stab

A hurricane of e inside her

Even if he had wanted her for real, she would have been in turht she loved—he was a prince fro his wife entailed But to have him state his intentions this way, as if she could have been anyone he’d endure now that he’d accidentally inated her, that she was just an unwanted accessory that ca to hide her hu eyes, she tried to scoff, “Phew, I hope this isn’t how you ion would be up in flaave her a serene look “I save otiations This isn’t one, Carmen It’s a decree You had an to tilt, overturn, nausea rising with his deepening coldness and clinical unconcern

She soical to say “Okay, I appreciate the strength of your commitment to Mennah But if you want to be her father, you can do that without going overboard Parents share a child’s upbringing without being married all the ti-distance father My daughter will be brought up in ht her privileges and duties as a princess with her first steps and words But for her best ical health, she also needs heryou, that’s what I’ for her”

Put that hat he’d said was incontestable But…“This can all happen without e I don’t want to live in Judar, but I would for Mennah We can both always be there for her”

“And ould she be if you don’t marry e, to give her her legitiht, is beyond question?”

“But I…” The quicksand beneath her feet snatched at her And she cried, “I don’t want to get ut punch