Altair - Marian Tee Page 0,6

she was expecting him to believe that the princess willingly chose to spend her time at the chapel?

"It's only for half an hour or so each day," Yara said stiffly. "She enjoys praying. I see nothing wrong with that."

Altair's expression turned impassive. Prior to this assignment, Yara had been one of the more cynical and cold-blooded individuals to work under his supervision. So for her to not think this was a mere act...

"She's obviously won you over."

Yara met the sheikh's gaze head on. "She is nothing like what most people would normally expect a princess to be, alshaykh." Yara received a mere grunt in answer, but she simply shrugged this off. "You will know this for yourself sooner or later."

"We shall see." The sheikh's tone was bland. "Were you the one who told her about the betrothal?"

"Nem." Yes.

"And she did not object to it?"

Yara nearly made a face at the question. While it wouldn't be entirely accurate to describe the princess as either aloof or secretive, she had come to notice how the girl appeared more relaxed and inclined to even display a rare smile or two every time the sheikh's name was mentioned.

To say that the princess was keenly interested in the sheikh would be a vast understatement, but since she was also under no obligation to reveal anything that was not a threat to national security—-

"No objection," Yara said finally, "but she did mention she hoped to speak with you first before it was made official."

While Altair had a feeling Yara was keeping something from him, his guts also told him it wasn't the kind of secret that would constitute a betrayal. But since it was also fairly obvious his cousin now saw herself as a lioness and the princess her defenseless cub...

Yara fought to keep her face expressionless as the sheikh informed her of his intention to speak with the princess...alone. She had a feeling he considered her fondness for the princess a weakness, but she also knew no amount of explaining would convince him otherwise.

It was just as she told him earlier. He would know the truth for himself sooner or later, but in the meantime...

The sheikh was an honorable man, Yara reminded herself. The princess would not be harmed, no matter what. Right?

THE DOORS SHUT CLOSED silently behind Altair as he entered the chapel, which he found empty save for the princess. She was on her knees in prayer, a dainty figure dressed in a plain black abaya and an equally plain hijab that hid her hair from view.

The sheikh moved to the side of the chapel to have a better look at the princess' profile, and this time he saw that her eyes were closed while her heart-shaped lips were moving in murmured tandem to the wooden rosary beads running between her fingers.

Unquestionably lovely, Altair noted dispassionately, and if circumstances had been different, Altair was certain the Emir Sheikh would have been pleased to make this girl his wife. But such was how fate often operated, with Khalil unexpectedly falling in love with his American queen, and the princess' destiny now in Altair's hands.

Time glided past, and Altair wondered if the princess could indeed be as comfortable as she appeared. While Altair's sire was a renowned hero, all signs pointed to her father likely being exposed as a traitor. But if this were so, why then did Altair always have a hard time finding the right words to say when praying...while the princess appeared perfectly at ease in God's presence?

The sheikh thought back to the first time they met. Her father, Sheikh Mahmud, had been presenting her to the king with much fanfare, and he remembered how looking at her had simply left him...cold. He remembered looking at her and thinking how the princess was very much like a doll with how beautiful her face was...and how vacuous her eyes were.

She had left no lasting impression on him at that time, but now...

Altair's jaw clenched.

She felt different this time, and he couldn't understand why that was.

Nothing about her appearance seemed to have changed, and yet something about her...was different. Even with her so quiet and still, there was just something about her...

Yara was startled to see the sheikh stride out of the chapel...alone.

"Alshaykh?" Sheikh? Yara's voice was stiff. "Why is the princess not with you?"

"Because she's still praying," Altair answered sardonically, "and I thought it better not to disturb her."

Yara still couldn't help feeling a little suspicious. Just that? Really?

The sheikh arched a brow,