Urden, God of Desire by Anastasia Rabiyah Read Free Book Online

man, plump and thick all over. He had a black goatee, and his hair curled in long ringlets past his shoulders. “Good morning, Sima.” He patted his belly. “I’m heading to the bakery if you want anything.”
    “Frosted rolls again?” She slid the final plastic doc in place. When he nodded, she clucked her tongue at him. “You’re going to turn into a frosted roll if you don’t watch out.”
    He winked. “That’s the idea. Who can resist a frosted roll?” He took a step into the office to inspect her desk. “You look a bit thin. Would you like a roll or not?”
    “Of course I would.”
    “I knew it.” He patted her shoulder and lumbered out, humming under his breath.
    Someone else lingered in the hall, perusing the rack of tourist notices. Sima leaned sideways and caught a glimpse of Habiri black robes. She stood and called out, “Can I help you?”
    The robed patron turned and tugged the covering from his face—a face Sima knew well—stark and mischievous, with blond locks straying over his forehead. “You should have changed your name,” he said. He walked with a cane now, an aftereffect of their being in the wrong place at the wrong time when her father bombed his palace.
    Chills swept through her. Old fear lingered and a hatred she doubted she’d ever overcome. “Oemir Leuj. I must say, you’re looking well. Much better than the last time I saw you.”
    His lips tightened as he approached. The cane clunked. “You look more beautiful than I remember.” He extended a hand, and it hung between them for a time.
    “Thank you,” she muttered. It was a strange meeting. He’d kidnapped her, tried to seduce her, and in the end they’d all nearly died after he managed to fake her death. It was an attempt to keep her father from looking for her—and it had worked. Finally, she clasped his fingers, releasing them sooner than what would be considered polite. “So, can I help you?”
    He cleared his throat and shook his head. “I just wanted to see you again, to really thank you for not leaving me behind to die. You didn’t have to. Especially after everything I did to ruin your life.” His green eyes glittered with something she’d never seen there. Tears. “So, thank you. Thank you for giving me a second chance. I—I didn’t deserve it.”
    This was not the overconfident ass of a man she knew before. He’d somehow been humbled, and Sima knew it was all Sister Lensi’s doing. She backed against the wall, unsure of what to say. Then the one question that plagued her since she discovered she was dead sprang forth. “Who was the woman you killed in my place?”
    He cleared his throat, some semblance of pain causing his eyes to crinkle and his cheek to tense. “Jahid. A servant, a ward from Hicklan. I, um, put in an order for someone who resembled you.”
    She thrummed her fingers against the wall, lowering her gaze. It disgusted her to think what the poor woman must have gone through only to meet her end at gunpoint. “I am indebted to her memory then. If not for her unwilling sacrifice, I wouldn’t have this freedom.” Uncomfortable, she cleared her throat and inched closer to the office entry. “If you’ll excuse me. I have work to do.”
    “Sima, wait.” His fingers curled around her upper arm, halting her retreat.
    A flash of heat spread through her as old memories of his naked body against hers betrayed her good sense. She held her breath.
    “Are you happy?” he hobbled closer, his gaze intent. She hated to look into his eyes. He should not be here. Sister Lensi had warned all the refugees to stay hidden. In fact, they should not be together at all, given the circumstances.
    “Y—yes. I am. Alga is a beautiful place to live. I’m married now.” She shrugged off his hold.
    “To the Unangi.” He nodded. “He seems to be a good man. Lensi said he works hard.”
    The bells on the door jingled. Footsteps padded in the outer room. Leuj pursed his lips and repositioned the scarf to