Read Online The Sheik and the Runaway Princess by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online

pregnant and then had abandoned both her and her child. In the past thirty-one years he had never acknowledged her or his son. Kardal had been a teenager before he’d even known the identity of his father. But knowing the truth had only made his situation worse. He’d longed to meet the man, yet had stayed away. King Givon’s behavior had made it clear he had no interest in his bastard son.
    Kardal stopped in the middle of the stone corridor. There was no point in visiting these memories again. Nothing had changed. So he forced himself to push down his rage. Over the years, he’d grown to be an expert at ignoring the past.
    He continued down the hall, barely noticing the paintings, statues and tapestries that decorated this part of the castle. He pushed through a pair of wooden doors and entered into the “business” side of the castle.
    Within the walls of a fourteenth-century addition existed a modern office complex and security center. A raised tile floor concealed miles of cable, electrical wires and fiber optics. Computers clicked, faxes beeped and telephones rang. He thought about Sabrina in the old living quarters and smiled. What would she throw at him if she knew the truth about this part of the castle? Perhaps if she was very good, one day he would show it to her and find out.
    He nodded at his male assistant and stepped into his office. A large L-shaped desk sat in the center. At the far end of the room, French doors opened onto a courtyard.
    He ignored the view, the blinking message light and the papers left for him. Instead he crossed to his desk and reached for the phone. He dialed the operator and asked to be connected to the king of Bahania. Even a disinterested father would want to know that his only daughter had survived her time in the desert.
    “Kardal,” a familiar voice said as King Hassan picked up the line. “Is she with you?”
    “Yes. We found Princess Sabra yesterday. She’d lost her horse and her camel in a sandstorm.”
    Hassan sighed. “She took off without saying anything, which is just like her. I’m pleased she is safe.”
    Kardal tapped his desk. “She seems to be unaware of our betrothal.”
    “Yes, yes, that’s true. When I started to explain that I’d arranged a match for her, she screamed at me and bolted from the room before I could give her any details.” There was a slight pause. “She’s flighty, like her mother. A woman without great depth or intelligence. I fear for the minds of her children. I don’t suppose, now that you’ve met her, that you wish to continue the engagement.”
    Kardal had heard that the king of Bahania didn’t pay much attention to his daughter, but he wouldn’t have thought the man would insult her so freely. While Sabrina wasn’t what he would have chosen for a wife, he’d seen no sign of her being slow-witted. Quite the opposite.
    He might have toyed with the idea of ending the engagement, but Hassan’s bald assumption that Kardal would dislike his daughter bothered him.
    “I have not made any final decision,” Kardal said at last.
    “Take all the time you need. It’s not as if we’re eager to have her back at the palace.”
    They discussed a minor matter of security, then Kardal ended the call. Sabrina had hinted that things were not as she would like them at the palace, but he’d had no idea how her father thought of her. Not that Hassan’s attitude should make any difference. Still, it might explain a few things.
    “You’re looking thoughtful. Are we going to war?”
    Kardal glanced up at the tall, blond man standing in the entrance to his office. Rafe Stryker, former U.S. Air Force officer and now head of the city’s security, moved forward and took the seat across from Kardal’s.
    “No such luck,” he told his friend. “Although King Hassan is very enthused about the combined air force.”
    “Enthusiasm doesn’t pay the bills,” Rafe reminded him.
    “No, but the king does. Do not worry that there won’t be