“And have him burst in here again? I’d rather have privacy than give him lessons in manners.”
He had finished dressing and bent to brush her lips with his own. “I could break his head,” he whispered. “This isn’t the way I wanted it to-”
“End?” she finished as he stopped. “Nothing has ended. What are you thinking? We couldn’t stay here like this forever.” She kissed him long and hard. “Don’t settle anything of importance until I join you, no matter how impatient Vaden becomes.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” He smiled and gently touched the hollow of her cheek. “I, too, tremble at the thought of your wrath.”
“As well you should.” She pushed him away and tossed the blanket aside. “Now go and keep Vaden from attacking Nasim before I manage to make my toilet.”
He was gone almost before she finished the sentence. In spite of his words, she could see his eagerness. Sensuality and coupling were all very well, but Nasim was shimmering on the horizon and Kadar could never resist a challenge.
Nasim.
Fear clenched the muscles of her stomach. This was what she had wanted: a final confrontation and Nasim punished for his sins. It was what she still wanted. Right was right.
But, dear God, what of Kadar? She had been so fanatically determined to accomplish her goal that she had barely allowed herself to think of anything else. She had needed his help and told herself she would involve him as little as possible.
But no one could stop Kadar from involving himself if he decided that was what he wanted to do. She should have known that better than anyone else. No argument would sway him. He would just go his own way.
And he could die as Haroun had died, as her baby had died.
She would not allow it. After all they had been through to reach this point, she would not lose him now.
She drew a deep breath to ease the tightness of her chest. She must not panic. Kadar mustn’t see either her terror or any reluctance regarding his participation. That child-woman who had helplessly pounded her fists against his resolve was gone and must never return. She must think and plan and find a way to make sure that Kadar survived.
“It’s time you joined us.” Vaden’s smile was as brilliant as sunlight, but his tone was edged. “Very clever of you to send Kadar to pacify my impatience and then tell him not to speak until you arrived.” He glanced at Kadar. “I told him he was too new a groom to be so hagridden.”
“It’s been far less than an hour. Since you roused me out of my bed, it should have taken longer.” Selene moved forward and sat down beside Layla. “And better that Kadar have to deal with you than me. He has more patience with such rudeness.”
“Ah, yes, patience is one of my prime virtues,” Kadar murmured. “That and my passionate love for simplicity.”
Rascal. She felt the heat flush her cheeks but refused to look at him. “I’m here now, Vaden.” She glanced at Tarik and Layla and deliberately addressed her apology to them. “I regret keeping you waiting.”
Tarik nodded. “As you know, I’m in no rush for any of this to come into being. I’d just as soon have Nasim grow impatient, pack up, and set sail.”
“He won’t grow impatient,” Kadar said.
“And I would have known if he’d moved his camp,” Vaden said. “I’ve not gone to all this trouble to have him slip the net.”
“What trouble?” Selene asked.
“My men are gathered, armed, and camped south of the city.”
“That seems a great deal of trouble for them, not for you.”
Vaden grimaced. “I hope Ware had greater fortune with his choice of wife, Kadar. Though I thought I saw the same signs of willfulness.”
Kadar smiled at Selene. “I’ve grown used to it. I wouldn’t have her any other way.”
“But that’s because you’re obviously besotted. Is your mind clear enough to put it to such mundane things as a battle plan?”
Kadar’s gaze shifted back to Vaden. “We use the grail. I meet with Nasim first and tell him I’ve managed to steal the grail from Tarik. It’s the task he sent me to do, and it won’t seem unreasonable to him. Since he no longer has Selene as a hostage, I’ll tell him I’m in a position to demand a price for the grail. I’ll set up an exchange point to receive payment and give him the grail at a location where he won’t be entirely surrounded by his men. I’ll argue it would be too easy for him to take the grail and dispose of me as he sees fit. He’ll still demand a small protective force and twenty of his men are worth fifty of yours.”
Vaden shook his head.
“Believe me, it’s true. Nasim’s followers are fanatics who would die for him. Would your men die for you?”
“I hope not. I’d rather they live and wreak havoc among my enemies. You mean me to attack his force on the way to the meeting place?”
“That won’t be possible. You won’t see the assassins until they want to be seen and he’ll probably select the site and then send a message to me after they’ve arrived. He’ll expect me to reconnoiter the area and make certain everything is safe for me, but I’ll be watched. You can’t come too close.”
“It’s difficult to attack from a distance,” Vaden said dryly.
“You can’t attack until I accomplish what I have to do.”
“And what is that?”
“Kill Nasim.”
Selene had known it was coming, but she still tensed.
Vaden raised his brow. “And what of his guards you say are willing to die for him? What are they going to be doing?”
“I’ll have to find a way to get him alone. After I’ve killed him, I’ll signal you to attack.”
“I realize Nasim is a most unpleasant fellow, but why can’t we attack and you kill Nasim after we’ve secured the camp?”
“He could slip away. He’s not a warrior with a warrior’s code. I trained under him. I know him. He’d think nothing of leaving his men to die in an attack, if it meant his survival.”
“And what will be the signal?”
Kadar shrugged. “I won’t know until an opportunity presents itself.”
“It’s not as safe a plan as I’d like.”
“Nothing is safe with Nasim.” Kadar looked at Tarik. “You know Nasim. Can you think of a better plan?”
Tarik shook his head. “What of the grail?”
“It can’t be just a lure. I’ll have to take it with me and actually show it to him. Otherwise I’ll be dead two minutes after I reach the camp.”
“And what if Nasim slips away?” Layla asked. “You know he’ll take the grail.”
“You’ll have to trust me to make sure he doesn’t slip away.”
“And what of me?” Selene asked. “This plan is all you and Vaden. I’m the one who set all of this in motion. Am I to sit and wait and do nothing?”
“The whole reason for the meeting relies on the fact that you’re not a hostage and out of Nasim’s reach.”
“Then think of another plan.”
Kadar shook his head.
She turned to Layla and Tarik. “It’s too dangerous.”
“I agree,” Layla said. “Both for Kadar and the grail.”
“Then give me another plan that has a chance of working as well,” Kadar said.
Silence.
“Don’t do this,” Selene whispered.
He smiled. “It’s not as dangerous as it sounds. There are always opportunities occurring when one least expects them. That’s what life is all about.”
“I won’t let-” It was no use. He had made his decision, and there was nothing she could do to persuade him to abandon it.
She wanted to
