Chapter 149

• ‘WE SEARCHED for years…’
• They were in the Calistan palace. Layla sat shivering, sipping camomile tea to calm her shredded nerves, but it did nothing—her knees still bobbed up and down. Stefania had wrapped a cloak around her shoulders, and the room was warm, but she could not stop shivering. She knew deep inside just how devastating this was for so many people, yet her mind was not quite ready to fathom the enormity of it in one swoop. Gently Zakari and Stefania helped her join up the dots, but Xavian—or rather Zafir—sat in stony silence. He was still in his jodhpurs, his clothes filthy from a day’s riding, sawdust in his hair, and all Layla wanted to do was cross the room and sit with him, to hold his hand as Zakari gave her the painful details. But there was an invisible shield around him, a detachment, a barrier that guarded him, and Layla knew all she could do was listen, and try to push aside the devastating personal loss. Her mind, even in such desperate times, had to think first of her kingdom.
• Zakari went on. ‘My father spared no expense. Though logic said he must be dead, still there was hope he was alive somewhere—there were detectives, the underworld was infiltrated, and there were even rumours he had been adopted. Every kingdom was searched…’ Zakari’s lips were taut in bitter rage. ‘My father even spoke with the King of Qusay—he offered his full assistance…’