Page 72 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

“I have never asked you for anything before. I know there’s nothing you want to give me, and I know you’ll probably hate me even more after this, but please. Don’t make me stay away from Kai. That’s the only thing I’ll ever ask for.” I clutched my hands to my chest, clasping them together. “Please. He means so much to me. I—”

I’m falling in love him.

Those words felt dangerous to admit out loud. Like Kareem might use them as a weapon against me.

“I can’t be without him. Please. I’m begging you. I don’t need anything else.”

Kareem might have flinched, or I might have imagined it, but a stillness fell between us. He didn’t move or speak and neither did I as I silently pleaded him not to be so cruel.

Then just like that, he turned away, showing me his back as he ran a hand over his hair. “Shehryar or Katiya should be in the corridor for you.” There was a hoarseness to his voice that I couldn’t read. “Go to your room and change.”

I took a step towards him. “But—”

“Someone will bring breakfast to you.” His words were final.

That was it. The conversation was over. He wasn’t going to give me an answer, he was just going to dismiss me as always. But this time something broke inside me with a painful crack.

Hope.

The last of my hope that the brother who had always given me the bigger half of the chocolate bar he’d snuck from the kitchen was still somewhere inside this man.

He wasn’t. I didn’t have a brother anymore. Maybe I never had.

My body went limp, broken and lifeless. I was giving up. I was done banging my head against a wall with no breakthrough. There was no point trying to talk to this stranger anymore.

Somehow, I managed to make my way to the door. “I apologise, Your Majesty, for causing you trouble,” I said, almost making myself shiver with how empty I sounded. “It won’t happen again.”

I closed the door behind me and turned away. Shehryar’s massive body appeared before me with Mama Katiya hovering next to him. Both of their expressions were filled with concern.

I lasted three seconds before I collapsed against him on a broken cry.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kai

Did you reach your room okay?

Kai

I’m sorry I should have come with you

Esmeralda

Hey sorry I just saw your mssg

Esmeralda

I did and its okay xx

Esmeralda

Did your family say anything?

Kai

Not really

Kai

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