Page 54 of The Reluctant Queen
She sobbed.
twenty
Ehmet goes to the beach.
The following day wasthe picnic on the beach, planned by his mother, of course. At the start of the week, Ehmet had been giddy for the damn outing, thinking of how he could separate Saka or Hevva—or whoever he’d been considering her at that point—away from the rest of the group.
His plan had involved requesting an innocent walk as the luncheon was drawing to a close. They would stroll by the water’s edge where the sand was firmer. Then, Lady Hevva and he would head to the cliff that jutted out into the ocean, where the outcropping created a natural wall that marked the western edge of the palace’s private beach. Beyond the cliffside, there was a boulder-filled grotto that he called King’s Cove. Tucked between undulating slabs of vertical stone, the half cave, half open-air sanctuary offered solitude amongst the crashing waves and squalling seabirds. No one would have disturbed them there.
Unfortunately, that was no longer the plan.
Ehmet had awoken in a cold sweat that morning, odd considering the heat of the newborn day already pummeling him through open windows. A hollow sense of dread settled in, beginning in his stomach before sucking the life out through his limbs with alacrity.
Everything had gone to absolute and utter shit. And, his fucking mother was in his bedroom.
Is this even legal? I’m the bloody king!
She scurried across the room. “Come, come, get up.”
“What the fates are you doing here, Mum?” Ehmet croaked, voice thick with sleep.
“Up, up!”
The king raged into his pillows like a hormonal boy while the dowager ripped open curtains.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you these past few days—up, up, up! You have a palace teeming with eligible young women who would love nothing more than to be your queen. Our week is drawing to a close. Let’s go, getup!”She yanked on his arm with two of her own. The dowager queen hadn’t the strength to pull Ehmet from bed like she did when he was a child, so he gave in and pushed himself to sit.
The king spent the next ten minutes trying to get out of it, but his mother insisted he attend the beach picnic and outing with his guests. She knew as well as he did that they werehisguests, not Nekash’s. Though, the prince’s birthday offered a suitable cover for the true purpose of the house party.
He’dtried,he really had.
Ehmet grumbled to himself about pushy, intrusive mothers as he plodded barefoot across the cool sand. Following the shade along the edge of the cliffs, he wandered east. The king wasn’t in the mood to look at the western cliffs and the naive fantasies he’d dreamt up earlier in the week...before everything unraveled.
Ehmet had done it without his mother’s help. He found a worthy candidate for the role of Queen of Selwas, someone he considered a friend and rather enjoyed spending time with—not to mention her captivating looks. What more could he have asked for?
Oh, maybe for her to say, “Yes?” Maybe for the longstanding laws of my kingdom not to make our marriage an impossibility?Maybe for last nighttonothave happened?He kicked at the sand, scattering a wave of grains and small shells. Then the miserable king began to make his way back toward the party.
Plans had changed, but he was still desperate to speak with Lady Hevva,if she’d even fucking let him catch her eye. He’d spent over an hour making attempts before the stabbing pain of injustice, or whatever was tearing at his insides, became so much that it forced him to take a walk. But he was back, ready to try again.
As the picnic came to a close, some guests still sat in the shade of the canopies, and some began to wander off in pairs or small groups. Others explored the length of the beach in quiet conversation. A few raced to the water’s edge and splashed in, unbothered by the prospect of their fine garments being spoiled by salt.
Lady Hevva sat in the sunlight, beside an empty canopy, alone. And, because he was paranoid now, Ehmet forced his eyes away from her to locate Lady Tahereh. She was there, by the water’s edge with her mother, Lady Nathari.
Swinging his gaze back to Hevva, Ehmet hastened in her direction. Her slender arms were outstretched behind her, palms flat upon the sand. Pale blue skirts rippled around her legs, ending where her bare toes peeked out beneath the hem. Back arched and face turned toward the sky, Hevva soaked up the warm rays of the late summer sun. He wondered wryly if she somehow harnessed that energy, to power her ethereal glow that persisted long after dark.
Drawing near, he spied blue ribbons woven through her long silver plait. It flowed like a shimmering waterfall to splash upon the hot sand, a puddle of moonlight. She wiggled her toes, probably in time with some tune in her head.
“Lady Hevva,” he began.
Eyes snapping open, she pierced him with a stormy glare. The sand opened up around Ehmet, swallowing him up to his knees. Before he could squeal, it tightened, and he fell flat on his arse.
Stunned, he stared back at her for a moment before booming with laughter.
The earth clenched around his calves.
He raised his palms in defeat and gasped between laughs, “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”
She released the pressure.
