Chapter 145

• ‘Come to bed, Xavian…’ She had never once pleaded, never begged, but she was scared now—scared of what she didn’t know. She had spent a sleepless night, walked the palace corridors listening to cars driving away and raised voices. Baja had shooed her back to bed, but still she had not slept. Walking out to the balcony to get some air, she had seen Xavian pacing the beach, his royal robes wet and sandy, billowing behind him, his kafeya gone. Even from a distance she could sense his anger, his pain, and she wanted to share it. ‘What is wrong?’
• ‘I don’t want to talk.’
• ‘Then don’t talk,’ Layla compromised. ‘But come inside—come to bed…’