Chapter 5

Amira was taken back to the palace and put in one of the kings chambers with guards placed outside the door. She was taken away from the rest of the other women Dala, Cara and the rest and she wondered how they'll be faring.

She remembered her father,

"Oh papa, I'll avenge your death, I promise" she cried

   She cried till she slept off.

The chill wind coming in through the balcony door woke Amira.

She shivered, then quickly tucked her cold bare feet under her robe. As she lay there tucked in a ball for warmth, the door opened and Amira looked up. Amir stood there holding a large tray of food, then kicked the door shut with his heel and put the tray down on the table.

"Come and eat, Amira," Amir said, pulling the two  chairs over to the table.

"Has Zulu been buried ?" Amira questioned, saying the word with the sadness and pain she felt.

"Yea, he has and his parents have you to thank for that."

" we need to talk" Amir said

She looked at him disappointedly . Not like she expected anything better from him.

"About what?"

"You and your new life here and what will be expected of you. It Is time we settle things."

Oh, Lord! She sensed another battle was at hand, and in truth, she was not up to it. Would she always have to lock wills with this man?

She had yet to have a day of peace since the day her father died, and she did so yearn for one.

Amira sighed and joined Amir at the little table. He had brought two large bowls filled with the normal daily breakfast, a bowl of oatmeal.

Amir  watched her silently as he ate, noting the high color on her cheeks. It did not take much to ignite her temper. Just the mention of her new status was enough. He had never known a woman with so much misplaced pride and arrogance. That she belonged to him was something he had yet to decide he appreciated.

He remembered how she looked when he came late in the night and found her curled in a small ball on the bed. Her face had been so childlike, her beauty so unreal. But then he recalled how she looked when he had seen her for the first time, all spit and fire, wildly defiant. Even then he had to admire her beauty, the fiery sparks reflected in her silver eyes, the high color of her face caused by her fury.

"You'll be my wife" Amir said

The bowl Amira was holding fell to the ground as she opened her mouth in shock.

Amir watched her as countenance changed

ed from shocked to anger.

"Never, I'll never be your wife, not while I still breathe air" Amira

Said

"Then maybe we will give you life by water, because my decision is final and no one dares to question it" Amir thundered and then left the room.

Fortunately for her, Amir left the door slightly open when he left in anger, and then she seized the opportunity, Amira tip toed quietly down the hall, she kept looking in all directions to avoid running into any of the guards.

She had reached the left end of the hall when she hit someone,

"Shit" and then the guard raised an alarm and she sprinted into the garden, she wasn't looking when she was pulled down by the shrubs and the guards caught up with her. She was taken to the kings throne room

"My lord, she tried to escape again" one of the guard said

Amira struggled till Amir asked them to leave her.

"Young woman, you'll stay here and do my biddings, whether you like it or not" Amir said

"My name is Amira , daughter to the greatest king of the seven seas, I'll bow to no swine." Amira stated

"And I am King Amir, the greatest king of the earth and you will obey my every order." He roared

Amira was forced into the kings chambers in chains for fear that she'll over power the maids, stripped of her clothes, she was given a warm bath and placed on the bed in waiting for King Amir.

King Amir was informed that she was waiting in his chambers and that gladdened his heart.

Finally, he was going to have a taste of this woman who has given him sleepless nights. That was the best way to tame her.

A woman who had shown bravery in so many ways, her confidence stirred a private part of him.

She'll lay with him and he was going to have her whether she liked it or not. She was his prisoner and will obey his command.

He ordered his chief  guard not to disturb his chambers,

"all issues should wait until I am ready to attend to them." King Amir ordered

"Yes my lord" his Chief guard Ejaz replied.

He strolled to his chambers with a huge grin on his face and merry in his heart . He was about to conquer this feisty beauty.

"Yet another Conquest" he thought.

He got to his chambers and  her state was welcoming, her robes barely covered her, and she was bounded to the bed with chains to prevent  her from leaving, straddling her hips with his knees. She tried to sit up with all her force, but she couldn't , she tried to pull her hands from the chains , but did not succeed.

"Can it be you do not find me attractive , wench?" he teased her as he removed his belt and threw it aside. She struggled  back on her elbows and stared up at him haughtily.

"Why should I find you attractive ? You are not the only man around here, Amir."

The coldness that came instantly to his eyes shocked her.

"You will not dally with any man save me."

Now anger flared in Amira's and black smoke gathered in her eyes. "And what of your friends? I was told you allow them to bed any female slave you own!"

He grinned at that. "Do you at last agree I own you, Amira?"

"Nay, but your loathsome friends think you do!" she retorted hotly.

"Well, you need have no fear on that score, mistress. They will not bother you."

"You will tell them to leave me be, then?" she asked in surprise.

"Aye."

"Why will you do this?" she questioned skeptically. "Certainly not for me."

"Tis enough that I do not choose to share you yet," he admitted in a careless tone.

Amira's eyes darkened even more. "Yet—yet! You are contemptible! When you tire of me, you will just throw me to the wolves, eh?

Well, let me tell you something. You have given me your warning not to dally. Now I give you mine. If I find a man I desire, I will have him, be he slave or freeman. You will not stop me!"

"I will have you whipped, mistress," he said coldly.

"Then do it now, damn you, Amir!" she stormed.

"I will not be threatened!"

"You would like that, eh?" He took her wrists and spread her arms out on the bed, leaning down close to her. "You have a clever way of distracting me from my purpose, Amira."

"That was not my intent!" she cried in frustration, squirming beneath him.

"Then be still."

Amira's felt tears well in her eyes as he released one hand to raise her robe, then moved to lower his trousers. She felt like a whore. She felt dirty, but he wouldn't understand.

"I hate you, Amir!" she hissed, trying desperately to stop her tears of weakness.

He said nothing as he nudged her knees open, then fell between them. But when he finally looked down at her face again and saw the tears, he froze.

"Why do you cry?" he asked in a surprisingly soft voice.

"Did I hurt you?"

"Nay, I can stand what pain you inflict."

"Then why are you crying?"

"I never cry!" she snapped childishly.

"You deny the tears that fall from your eyes, Amira?" He shook his head.

"Is it because I am intent on making love to you?"

"You do not make love, Amir. You force yourself on an unwilling victim. Would you let me make love to you?"

"I—nay, I would not."

He bent down and kissed the tears that fell on her temples.

"Then why do you mention it?" he asked softly.

"You would not understand."

"Ah, but I do," he said, and held her face between his hands, then kissed her softly. "You would rather I made love to you gently than force you." He lowered his lips to her neck.

"But more than that, you would rather I not have you at all." He kissed her lips again, passionately this time, and her arms circled his neck without her knowing it.