Page 21 of Good As Hell

I stand. I can feel my parents’ stunned expression on me at this breach of protocol. But they don’t see or choose not to acknowledge Lyric trying to calm my frightened son.

“You will cease or this event will be canceled. You are upsetting my son,” I snap to the room at large, noting all the bad actors. One would think they’re dogs being thrown raw meat.

The rooms quiets. I take my seat.

“Ahem,” the moderator inquires with look my father’s way and begins after he receives a nod, “We shall begin with the questions. You may ask one question and have a follow up.”

“Yes?” he motions to the crowd and a woman stands.

“Your Highness, when did you find out about the child?” She gives Lyric a look of speculative disdain.

“What mattes is the kingdom has been blessed with another heir.” I smile at her.

“Are we sure he is, in fact, your heir? Has there been a DNA test to confirm?” Her followed up is expected, still I can feel Lyric bristling beside me.

“It’s confirmed.” I don’t give more details than necessary, having done this for the better part of my life. Give them nothing to run with. Nothing to pin you down with. If I confirm a test was given, they will demand to see it. Plastering the results for the world to see. I will not make a spectacle of my child for their amusement. He already has enough to bear as my heir.

The reporter sits and there is a flurry of more questions, each more targeted and accusatory towards Lyric. Glancing over, I do a quick check, noticing Ayaan has fallen asleep and Lyric’s soft humming has ceased. Her eyes remain locked on his sleeping face as though concentrating on him will block out all she is facing.

“Your Highness, how do you know this is not some elaborate trap to make the Empress a Queen?” The inquiry is so disrespectful, my head snaps around to the man who’d dare to insult the mother of my child.

“You will apologize immediately.” My tone is low. I, more than anyone, know this was not a trap. If she shied away from telling me because this is what she feared, then this ignoramus justified her actions with his heinous words.

Jhori Bin Saladin has released a statement saying that you have caused great dishonor to his house, so you could legitimize your son at the expense of his daughter. He demands that you set aside the concubine and honor the contract. He is calling the council and other governing provinces to demand the wedding take place and that you set aside the child and his mother. What is your response, Your Highness.”

I rise from my chair then. Turning, I take Ayaan, tucking him into my neck, holding him close with one arm. Taking Lyric’s hand, I help her rise to stand beside me. My parents rise andcome to stand. We are united as a family before the press and all who have assembled. Then I announce to the press core and the world at large.

“Rest assured, there will be a wedding and I will not set aside my child, Prince Ayaan Ben Hassan Al Rasheed. He is my heir and successor. His brothers and sisters will be my also heirs and successors. I will marry his mother, Lyric to ensure this.”

The small gasp beside me is the only thing that resonates in the chaos that follows.

Chapter Seven

I THINK HE WANTS TO MARRY ME

LYRIC

“Iknow the fuck you didn’t just tell everybody in the whole wide world that we are getting married.” I seethe at the fucking tyrant I not only gave myself to but had a baby with. Till this day I don’t know what fucking delusion I was operating under, thinking he’d just let us go, let us live in anonymity and leave us in peace while he went on with his perfect bride handpicked for him. Regret eats at me like flesh-eating bacteria, as I stare at this man, waiting for him to explain himself.

“I did because we are,” Responding simply, he looks down at me with stoicism bleeding from him in bland waves. Like he can’t even be bothered to give me a clear answer. We stand pretty much in the same place as before when I asked if we could speak. That would have been the perfect time to let me know his plans. Hell to ask me to marry him. Not that I’d say yes after he’s kidnapped us.

He acts as if he owns the world which in some respects he does in this kingdom. He’s next in line to the throne.Rumors are his father is more than ready to step aside which is why the marriage to Khadijah was so important. Yet, he stands here like disrupting all our lives in nothing but a minor inconvenience to him. Fuck the rest of us. Now, he’s looking at me dispassionately. Like I’m the one causing the fuss.

This after his parents railed at him for disrupting their plans and the world order with this bizarre announcement.

“There must bea DNA test immediately before anyone on the council can stop the precedings.” His mother said shooting me sympathetic glance as if to apologize for the test having to be done.

“Of course that is the only way.” The king nodded in agreement a little to fast for my taste as if I’ve been going around trolling for Black men with green eyes, so I can passed my baby off as the heir to his kingdom. Throwing them all a vicious look, I stormed away from their little family affair not caring when they slipped into Arabic to continue their argument.

Leaving them to it, I went in to sit with Ayaan reading to him. He was so tired from all the activity of the day but it was too late for a nap and too early for him to go to bed. He was already an early riser — something he did not get from me. And since her stopped nursing thanks to the tour starting his sleep schedule no longer matched mine.

Still there was nothing for it. I read to him. Replacing what few words I could with Arabic, noting that I needed to get a tutor or I wouldn’t even be able to communicate with my son after a while.

Soon my little man was drifting off. His long lashes casting shadows over his soft cheeks making my heart hitch at the sight.

He is beyond beautiful. The splitting image of is father with a little me sprinkled in, like his fuller lips and a slightly darker skin tone.

“Lyric,” Looking up, I see the queen standing just inside the door-way.

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