The Secret of the Sheikh's Betrothed by Felicitas Ivey

Author:Felicitas Ivey [Ivey, Felicitas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63533-962-8
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2017-11-15T05:00:00+00:00

“I THOUGHT I heard the laughter of a man,” Bahiyya snapped when she swept into the room. She was dressed simply in a kaftan, having spent most of the evening with Hashim, instructing him on how she wanted the bridal negotiations to go.

Ikraam was relieved Saumer had retreated to his room. He hoped Bahiyya didn’t insist on searching the rooms, just to make sure there was no one hiding here. He had managed to get his veil off before Bahiyya had turned the corner. Ikraam swore his guilt was written all over his face, and his sister would know what had happened. He and Sabah were both silent as Bahiyya crossed the enormous room, her slippers slapping ominously on the floor, a counterpoint to the jingling of her jewelry.

“Ikraam is here,” Sabah pointed out innocently when her mother was close enough to speak to.

Ikraam glanced over at his niece. Maybe not so innocent, given the hard look in her eyes as she stared a challenge at Bahiyya.

Bahiyya glared back at her daughter. “I don’t know—”

“Mother, I’m not the idiot you want me to be simply because I’m your daughter and not your son,” Sabah said coolly. “I’ve known Ikraam’s my uncle and not my aunt for many years. Don’t bother denying it.”

“Yet you’ve said nothing,” Bahiyya snapped.

“What is there to say?” Sabah shot back. “You hate him so much simply because he’s a man. You hate me because I’m not one.”

“I don’t hate you,” Bahiyya protested, even as her words sounded hollow and false. Ikraam hated being a witness, but this matter had been bubbling for years. Now was just the time it came to a boil.

“You would actually have to think about her to hate her,” Ikraam said, jumping in to deflect Bahiyya’s anger from Sabah.

“This is between my daughter and myself,” Bahiyya growled.

“You bore me. Zaynab and Ikraam raised me,” Sabah shouted. “You had as little to do with me as you could. Until her death, I thought Zaynab was my mother. You paid attention to me long enough to marry me off to that monster! You’ll shed no tears when he kills me.”

“This is all your fault,” Bahiyya shouted. She stalked over to Ikraam and slapped him across the face.

“That your daughter is more intelligent and observant than your sons?” Ikraam asked, his cheek stinging. He hadn’t bothered to block the blow because it wasn’t worth it. “That my mother bore a son for her husband and your mother never was able to?”

“Wedding or not, I’m ready to take a crop to you,” Bahiyya hissed.

“I’ll run to the amir as soon as you raise your hand to him again,” Sabah threatened. “Neither one of us have anything to lose. You made this mess on your own, Mother.”

“And don’t think I won’t do the same for her, sister,” Ikraam growled.

Bahiyya raised her hand to strike him again, and he grabbed her wrist. She stared at him in astonishment. Ikraam hadn’t protested his punishment from her in years.

“I’m not taking your abuse anymore.

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