Page 32 of The Stallion & The Tigress
“King Asad.”Aleksi dipped his head indeference and sheathed his blade.
The king indicated the open door to Aleksi’scramped quarters.“May I?”
Aleksi stood aside to let the king enter.Hescooped up Kiska from the cot as the king took in the small buttidy room, and pulled out the stool to sit on.Aleksi sat back downon the cot with the disgruntled Kiska on his lap and waited for theking to speak.
“I have come about my daughter,” the kingsaid.
Aleksi’s tongue went instantly dry in hismouth.
“I have come to ask you to watch over herduring the race.”
Aleksi swallowed and nodded.“Of course,” hesaid.“I give you my word, King Asad, no harm will come to her thatI can prevent.”
“Thank you, Aleksandr.I knew I could dependon you for this.”
“You did?Why?”
A keen, piercing gaze held his.“You havemade your dislike of the Wolf clear,” he stated plainly, “and yourinterest in my daughter even more so.”
“In truth, I despise the lying, connivingworm of a prince,” Aleksi told him.“I proposed marriage to yourdaughter.She turned me down.”
“Yes.”The corners of the king’s mouthtwitched up.“I know.”
Aleksi cocked his head, unaware that hisproposal was common knowledge.
“Sahar told her mother, who told me.”
“Does the princess know you are asking me todo this?”
“No,” the king answered, confirming Aleksi’ssuspicion.“I would prefer she never find out, for my sake as wellas yours.I love my daughter, and I have great pride and assurancein her ability to ride in this race, to win it even, if it remainsa race fairly run.”
“But you do not trust the Wolf to keep itfair?”
The king shook his head.“I was willing togive him the chance to prove himself otherwise, but my history withhis family and the prince’s own actions have shown him to be hisparents’ son in all ways.I do not trust him, plain and simple, andespecially not where it concerns my daughter.”
“Especially not after tonight,” Aleksisaid.
“What happened tonight?”
“Princess Sahar punched the Wolf in the faceafter it was proven he injured my kitten.”Aleksi pointed to thesleeping, splinted Kiska.“In front of Munir, Ratter, andmyself.”
The king chuckled.“That sounds like mydaughter.”
“After it happened, Ratter said the Wolf’sfather tried to rape and kill the queen, and that you stopped himand beat him to a bloody pulp.”
“I would have killed the pollution of a man,”the king said with a still seething rage, “if not for Oona.It wasshe who stopped me, for fear of starting a war between thetribes.”
“The Wolf truly is like his father then,”Aleksi said.“He gave us all a thinly veiled threat, saying thatwars had started over lesser insults to a prince such as hisexalted self.”
The king growled low.“You can be sure theWolf will never let such an insult go unanswered.”He fixed aserious gaze on Aleksi.“If I could prevent my daughter fromcompeting in this last race, I would, but I cannot, not withoutcrushing her fiery spirit.”He gave Aleksi a wry grin.“Then shewould no longer be Sahar.”
“No,” Aleksi agreed.“She would be a cagedtigress, and I for one would never wish that for her.”
The king cocked his head and the briefest ofsmiles crossed his face.“So, you will do it?”You will watch overSahar during the race?”
“I will.”For as long as she needs me.
“Good.I am glad.Munir will be watching outfor her as well, but if I am right, you and your golden stallionwill be more likely to keep up with her and Lasair than Munir.If,in keeping Sahar safe, you are caused to lose the race, I willcompensate you the winning purse of one hundred gold pieces.”
