Page 31 of Sheikh's Quarantine Triplet Baby Daughters

"Get... the word out?"

A steely look came over Samyar's face.

"Yes. This is unfortunate, but I had planned at some point to release the information that we were together, assuming you were on board with it. I want to tell the world about us. I want to tell my country about us, and about the children that will someday be the royal heirs."

Diane's head swam. Why in the world had she never thought that their babies, her babies, would be in line for the throne? Why had she never considered how very much her life was going to change?

"That's all...I didn't even think about that."

Samyar smiled, bringing her under his arm.

"I have. I have since I learned you were pregnant. I knew – I suppose I have known for a long time now – that I want you with me. However you want to be with me. I want to be open with the world about you and how lucky I am. I want you to—"

Diane reached up and cupped her hand over Samyar's mouth.

"No," she said. "I don't want to talk about... that right now. If it happens, it cannot be part of a public relations talk."

The truth was that she ached to marry Samyar. She wanted to be his wife. She wanted to be a part of his life and to have him be a part of hers, and she wanted it to be perfectly unquestionably real. That was a pretty tall order in a time when nothing felt quite real.

"All right," Samyar said, taking her hand down and kissing it. "But I knew that we couldn't be quiet about each other for so very long. In a way, the palace is an oasis right now. We have the ability to think about what's coming and what we're going to do."

"What do I need to do?" she asked, squaring her shoulders. "Sorry about the fit, but I'm just—"

"Nurturing three small children right now. I imagine you have a lot on your plate." Samyar's smile was nothing but sunshine.

"I promise," he continued, "that you will have to do as little as possible. This is Camille's area of expertise, and she'll be monitoring and advising, but I want you to do as little as possible. The most important thing for me right now is to keep you safe and to keep you happy."

"That's a lovely thought."

"Sometimes, it's my only thought," Samyar said with a laugh. "I promise. This is only a little thing. In a few days, hell, possibly in a few hours, everyone is going to forget this and move on to the next thing that infuriates them in the news cycle. Things like this have hit the papers before, and they pass. It'll be all right."

"It will pass," Diane said experimentally, and then she nodded. She hoped it would.

---