Wild Desert Princess by Debbie Deering Read Free Book Online

clasped her mother’s hand and ignored her father. “Honey, are you feeling all right?” Amanda bent forward and brushed a kiss over her daughter’s pale cheek.  Malek tried to brush Chia’s auburn hair off her forehead and flinched when she moved away.
    “Chiandra,” Jahan chided softly, his eyes narrowing at the coldness she gave her father.
    She glared defiantly at him, her heart pounding as her blood pressure soared.
    Amanda immediately saw the Jahan was about to fall back into his old habits and flew to the door calling Dr. Kahn back.  He raced back up the stairs, his eyes flying to Jahan’s set angry face and the agitation on Chia’s. “Out!” he bellowed, sending everyone except Amanda from the room.
    He quickly checked Chia, alarmed at her respiration and her blood pressure.  He quickly dialed for an ambulance, fearing for her health. “What happened?”
    Amanda stood, wringing her hands, her own fear for her only child chilling her to the bone.  “She turned away from her father and Jahan started his domineering bullying again, she can’t handle the stress, doctor.”
    “No, and she won’t be put through it again. I’m going to place her in a private ward and I will monitor her visitors.  If seeing her father and Jahan upset her, then they will just have to stay away.” Dr. Kahn was furious with Jahan, he’d made it plain what kind of care Chia had to have in order to recover.  Her pregnancy was precarious at best with the other traumas she had suffered recently.
    “Thank you doctor,” Amanda sat down at Chia’s side terrified at her raspy breathing.  She watched the doctor sedate her daughter again and hoped the drugs would help calm her and not harm the baby.
    “Stay with her Amanda while I step outside and inform your husband a nd Jahan what I’m going to do. Jahan won’t be happy, but at this point, his happiness is not my concern.”
    “What about the wedding?” Amanda couldn’t see how it was going to be possible for Chia to participate until she was better.
    “If he wishes to wed her, they can have a ceremony by proxy. I will not have him jeopardize her health to satisfy political protocol.” The doctor moved out of the room and motioned for Malek and Jahan to move down to the other end of the landing.
    “How is she?” Malek asked, his dark face creased with worry. 
    “When can I go back in?” Jahan impatiently demanded.
    “You can’t, not now!” He held up his hand at Jahan’s protest. “No, now you listen to me.  I warned you what would happen if Chia became upset, and yet you tried to force your will on her again.”
    “She was rude to her father,” Jahan firmly stated.
    “Jahan, it is not important right now,” Malek told him, more worried for Chia than his bruised heart.
    “It is not permissible,” Jahan grimly insisted.
    “I really don’t care what you consider permissible,” Dr. Kahn told Jahan coldly. “If you care more about your control over her and her actions then you do for the welfare of her and your unborn child, then I’m not sure if you should be allowed to marry her.”
    “She will be mine!” he growled and stepped toward the room.
    Malek stepped in front of him, blocking his way. “Wait,” he silently commanded.
    Jahan halted, surprised at the command.
    “Listen to what the doctor has to say, Jahan.” Malek admonished softly wishing he’d been a little slower to tie Chia to him.
    “I’m putting her in the hospital in a private room.  I will monitor her visitors, and neither of you can visit her for a while.”
    “What about the wedding?” Jahan was so focused on claiming her, you didn’t see the disappointed look shared by Dr. Khan and Malek. 
    “If you insist, you can wed her by proxy.  Aren’t you even concerned about her health?  Aren’t you even concerned that she could lose your child?” Dr. Khan glared at the younger man.
    “Lose the baby?” Shock froze Jahan as he stared at the doctor in disbelief. “I