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He didn’t want to hear it Not anymore

With each moment near her, he believed more and more that it hadn’t been as sinister as he’d believed on her side, that she hadn’t realized the scope of the dae she’d been sent to do That reater good by toppling him froht her at her lowest ebb, and she’d made an out-of-character decision But once she’d succumbed to their affinity, to the pleasure they’d shared, seen him for what he was and Tareq’s lies for what they were, she’d forgotten her ed the rules, and she’d panicked, feared retribution from all sides, feared for Mennah for real, had fled, hidden…

Orfor ways out for her because he was falling under her spell again

And he was Instead of the cold loathing he’d believed would be his only reaction to her, he wasin her coh of her wit, her outspokenness and contentiousness and defiance, all so in contrast with the vulnerability she strove to hide Then ca within ain It was all he could do now not to drag her to the floor and just have her Just take her again And again

He would have her Would take her Just not now

He’d wait For their wedding night

As for the truth, whatever it was, there was nothing to be gained by ripping open festering wounds It wasn’t as if he needed to have this resolved It was all pointless now that he’d won Now that the throne of Judar was safe fro into Tareq’s hands Now that she’d fallen into his For as long as he deemed to hold her there

And now he could turn to her taunt

She dared imply he and her ex had unearned wealth and power in colobal enterprises he’d built frodom’s wealth? After she’d seen for herself a six-week saer?

No She’d meant it as the worst insult she could think of

But even if she’d qualified it as retaliation, he’dFor the chance to atone For the end of torment For the pleasure he knew, just knew, beyond doubt, only he had ever brought her, could ever bring her

His equilibriuained, his ed her, “So you take exception toabout you beyond what your actions led me to believe?”