Wild Desert Princess by Debbie Deering Read Free Book Online Page A

didn’t realize she was so ill.”
    “You’re so focused on what you want, on your plans, you’ve not consulted Chiandra at all.  Listen well, my prince.” Dr. Kahn spat with derision. “Chiandra must have rest to recover, if she’s upset in any way she may lose the baby.  Her blood pressure is through the roof.”
    “God, I didn’t realize,” he choked.
    Malek clasped him on the back, looking at Jahan and seeing his own actions against Amanda.  He’d done everything wrong the past couple of months.  Now his daughter couldn’t stand the sight of him and his wife was so angry she ignored his presence. “Do what you must, Dr. Khan.  Take care of my baby.”
    Dr. Khan nodded and showed the ambulance attendants to Chia’s room.  Soon they had her strapped to the gurney and were carrying her down the steps and IV in her arm.  Amanda followed, her worried gaze flicking over Malek before sliding away.  She rode in the ambulance not leaving Chia’s side.
    “Can we at least come to the hospital?” Jahan asked quietly, his face haggard with pain.  Chia had looked so fragile as they carried her away.  He hadn’t realized there was a chance he might lose her or his child.
    “If you wish.  Just don’t expect to be able to see her right away.” Seeing the devastation on Jahan’s face, Dr. Kahn relented a bit. “She’ll need some things.  Mara will know what to pack.  Take care of your business and a little later bring her bag.  By then I should have her stabilized and can be able to tell you more about her condition.”
    “Take care of her, Doc.” Jahan pleaded, following the doctor slowly down the winding staircase.
    Malek pulled him into his steady and poured him a shot of bourbon. “Drink.”
    Jahan numbly tossed the fiery liquid down his throat. “I didn’t realize her condition was so serious.”
    “Nor did I, Jahan.  We’re so used to her amazing strength, it never occurred to either of us how fragile she could become.”
    “I would never harm her.  She means more to me than my own life.”
    “Then you must stop ordering her about.  She’s no longer the child who worshiped the ground you walked on,” Malek offered wryly.
    “Please, she never felt that way,” Jahan protested in disbelief.
    “Mm hmm.  Until the summer of her twelfth birthday she thought you walked on water.  Her mother and I grew thoroughly sick of hearing Jahan this and Jahan that.  For some reason she never mentioned your name after that summer.”
    Jahan shifted restlessly in the chair.  He didn’t plan on enlightening Malek for the reason his daughter had changed. “Her hormones probably,” he offered not meeting Malek’s shrewd gaze.
    “Perhaps . If you wish you may take care of your business while I have Mara pack something for Chia.  Do you think you can be ready in an hour?”
    “That will be sufficient.  I have nothing that can’t wait until the end of next week when we begin our negotiations.”
    “Then I will leave you to your thoughts.”
    Jahan sat for a few moments, his regret for wasted time deep.  He had thought Chia was experimenting with her new sexual awareness.  He hadn’t dreamed she’d actually cared for him other than as a friend.  Not that he would have acted on his desire for her.  God, she’d only been twelve but he might have kept her affection and in time convinced her to love him. And then by the time she was old enough they could have been married.
    Sighing, he pulled out his cell phone and call ed David.  In minutes he was immersed in plans, his mind rushed to complete the last minute details of the upcoming negotiations.  David had protested his decision to wed by proxy.  Jahan was an important ruler, his wedding should have been a gala, political event.
    Jahan ruthlessly cut him off.  “My fiancé is in the hospital at this very moment, David.  She can have no stress to hinder her recovery.”
    “What will you do when the child is born a month early,”