Four.
Violin music hummed over the murmur of a thousand conversations as the ballroom filled to capacity with Priia"s invited guests. Sweat p.r.i.c.kled inside AJ"s stiff collar. He wore a starched black tunic and matching pants, a funerary version of Rahiian party attire. The sleek getup would look downright hip on the streets of Beverley Hills, but the traditional garb made him itch as if he"d stepped into someone else"s skin.
"Arun!" He startled at the sound of his given name-no one ever used it-and glanced up to see a white-haired man approaching. AJ immediately recognized his father"s oldest friend. Despite his stiffened gait and wrinkled visage, the old man"s eyes twinkled as brightly as ever as he gripped AJ in a fierce embrace. "It"s so good to see you back home again. Your return brings both tears and smiles to all our eyes."
AJ swallowed. "It"s good to be back." The lie scorched his tongue and he took a quick swig of punch. "How are you these days, sir?"
"Sir? Sir!" The tanned face creased into a million lines. "What way is that for our new king to address one of his subjects. You should call me Niuu like all these other overdressed fools."
Our new king.
AJ fought the urge to come right out and say "I"m not staying," but he didn"t want to ruin his mom"s party. "I"ll try. Old habits are hard to break. I feel a bit like a kid again, surrounded by all my parents" old friends."
"You are a kid, my boy, at least compared to me, and that"s what Rahiri needs. Fresh energy to take us into the future. You will keep making films, won"t you? My wife and I do enjoy the Dragon Chaser Dragon Chaser series." series."
"Films, yes, I imagine so." It was the ruling Rahiri part he didn"t intend on. "I"m surprised people here watch my films."
"We"re so proud of you, Arun, making a name for yourself and for our island in Hollywood."
AJ fought a smile. He certainly didn"t think of himself as representing Rahiri with his work. Maybe that is how people here saw it, though. He"d never given the matter much thought.
The old man grasped his upper arm. "Do keep funding the schools, won"t you? They"re our future. So much young talent on this island. And our healthcare system is second to none. Your father put all that in place, and it will take a strong guiding hand to keep the rudder steady as you lead us into the future." The gnarled fingers tightened around his biceps. "You"re strong, all right. Built like one of the ancient ones! Quite unlike your brother, Vanu." The man"s expression grew clouded. "We"re all sorry for his loss, of course, but ready to move into the future under your capable leaders.h.i.+p."
"I appreciate your faith in me." AJ searched his brain for things to say that didn"t disappoint but didn"t actually commit him to anything. Or make his growing guilt any more agonizing.
"Naturally I have faith in you. You"re your father"s son. He raised you to be a man and take responsibility for those in need." He clapped his other hand on AJ"s bicep, holding him in a kind of armlock. "We need you, Arun, and we"re proud to have you as our new king."
AJ opened his mouth but no words came out. He glanced over the old man"s shoulder and caught sight of Lani on the other side of the room. Standing dead still amidst the swirling crowds, she looked pale and lost. "Please excuse me."
He hurried through the crowd, managing nods and waves to faces he hadn"t seen in years. Lani didn"t even see him approach. Her eyes were fixed high on a carved column, her expression vacant, as if trying to forget where she was.
"Lani, you okay?"
She jumped and blinked. "Of course." Her wide eyes gave her a startled expression.
"You look like a three-toed sloth who"s accidentally fallen out of her tree onto a multilane highway."
"Funny, since that exactly how I feel." A tiny smile tugged at the edges of her lovely mouth-then disappeared.
"Too many people wanting something from you? I know how that is." What did Lani want? If he asked, he knew she"d give him the party line from his mom rather than a straight answer. She"d say she wanted to marry him, whether she did or not. And why would she? They"d barely met and weren"t at all suited to each other. He was a hard-partying film director and she was a quiet village girl-albeit a royal one. "You don"t look well."
"I"m fine." The words flew from her lips and she lifted her shoulders, like she was trying to convince herself as well as him. "Just a little tired. I haven"t been sleeping well lately."
Probably still grieving for Vanu. Again he felt that unfamiliar p.r.i.c.k of jealousy. Which was ridiculous. How could he begrudge his brother anything now that he was dead? This whole crazy situation was messing with his mind.
"Maybe you should go somewhere and sit down." He offered his arm, bracing himself against the powerful effect she had on him.
She didn"t move. Her dark lashes lowered, then she looked up at him with those haunting golden eyes. "I"m fine, really. I"ll make more of an effort from now on. Your mom needs me to. And we"ll be stuck sitting down for hours once the speeches start."
"The speeches. That"s one part of Rahiian culture I really haven"t missed. Has anyone broken a new record for longest speech ever?"
"I think it"s still at five hours." She smiled. "At least it"s very relaxing for the listeners. And you know you"ll have to make a speech."
He grimaced. He would, too. What on earth would he say? Usually he was good at speaking off the cuff, but the stakes were a little higher here than at an investors" meeting. "You"re lucky being a girl, so you"re off the hook. If I do become king I"m going to change that right away so all the ladies get to make speeches, too."
Lani"s eyes widened, but they sparkled with humor. "Your mom would love that. She"d go on all night."
"Wouldn"t she?" He laughed. They both knew he was joking about becoming king. Wasn"t he?
Lani watched AJ melt back into the well-dressed throng amidst smiles and exclamations. He stood almost a full head above most people in the room, and moved like a king among them with his broad shoulders and easy, confident manner. Everyone in the region was happy to see him back. Pleased that the Rahiian succession would be a smooth and effortless affair following time-honored methods.
People kept a respectful distance from her. As a widow in mourning, she was not expected to eat and dance and chatter along with the guests.
But they all expected her to marry AJ. They just had no idea he didn"t want to.
She wasn"t sure whether to feel relieved or alarmed. He seemed to have every intention of going back to L.A. He"d said nothing to suggest otherwise and he hadn"t asked her opinion, either. If he had, of course she"d have said she wanted to marry him. What else could she say?
Her fingers had stung with antic.i.p.ation just now when he reached out to give her his arm. All the tiny hairs on her arm had stood on end, craving his touch. Now she wondered if she"d done the wrong thing in refusing.
The whole situation was so confusing and disturbing. She was expected to entice him to marry her-immediately-but she didn"t want to trap him into a lifetime deception she"d be forced to maintain.
And she didn"t want to be married to a man-another man-who didn"t love her.
"Sweetheart, come sit down next to me. They"re starting the speeches." Priia glowed with good cheer, as she always did at her festive gatherings. She bloomed and shone with the energy of other people. Naturally gregarious and effortlessly charming, she was born to be a queen. Lani envied her tireless energy and outgoing personality.
She led Lani to a cus.h.i.+oned chair at the high table. "Sit down." She patted the cus.h.i.+ons. "And have some coconut stars. You need to keep your strength up."
"Thanks, you"re too good to me." Lani took one of the coconut treats, then wondered what to do with it. Her stomach, hidden beneath the thick sash of her gold-embroidered dress, certainly wasn"t in any condition to handle food.
"Nonsense, dear. You"re the light of my old age." She leaned in, conspiratorial, eyes s.h.i.+ning. "And soon you"ll bring a new bright light to life among us."
Lani blanched and tried not to glance around. What if someone overheard and guessed what she meant?
A dignified-looking elderly man wrapped in the distinctive clothing of a nearby island walked out into the center of the floor, where the speeches took place. At first Lani sat stiffly in her seat, wondering if her fate would be p.r.o.nounced or speculated upon. Instead he launched into a semi-poetic history of the region, laden with myth and superst.i.tion, and she soon let her mind drift.
Another speaker followed, then another, chanting as much as speaking, celebrating the community of the islands and the long-held peace that united them in this beautiful place. Lulled by the warm atmosphere, Lani relaxed into her cus.h.i.+ons and even managed to nibble on her coconut star.
She sat up abruptly when the master of ceremonies called AJ-or rather Arun Jahir-to the floor. She glanced over at him, and watched him rise, face expressionless, and walk out into the center of the room. His crisp black garb emphasized the strength and dignity of his movements. Head held high and back straight, he moved like a monarch, even if he didn"t want to be one.
A little flash of pride surprised Lani. She liked AJ and sympathized with the awkward situation he was in. She still didn"t really understand why he"d kissed her-twice-but under the circ.u.mstances it was excusable, even if her initial response wasn"t. He obviously wanted to do the right thing, but like her, he wasn"t sure what that was, and he wisely knew that the wrong choice would have lasting, painful consequences.
Lani s.h.i.+fted in her chair, remembering the tiny consequence she carried inside her. Her fear and anxiety about the situation she found herself in now warred with stray sparks of excitement and eager antic.i.p.ation of her baby"s arrival. How could she not look forward to holding that tiny, warm body and feeling the grip of a plump hand on her finger?
AJ studied the crowd in silence for a few moments. When he began to speak, his voice was deeper than she remembered. Like the others, he spoke of the long history of the royal line, the legend of how their people had first arrived on long boats from a far-off land, how they"d fought and made peace.
Lani watched, heart pounding. How did AJ manage to sound so perfectly like one of the wise men of the region? You"d never guess he"d been gone for more than a decade. He seemed to carry the cadence and rhythm of the ancient stories in his blood-his royal blood-and why wouldn"t he, descended as he was from a long line of kings?
The fierce nut of pride inside her grew and she found herself pressing hot palms together in her lap. Any woman should be proud to have a man like AJ as her husband, even if he wasn"t royal. She could feel a hum of excitement, almost like a wave of heat, rising in the room. Everyone could feel it. She glanced around and saw eyes glowing, cheeks brightening, as AJ carried them all on a tide of emotion. His words echoed like drumbeats around the room, their meaning less important than the man who spoke them and the spell he wove with his powerful voice.
He paused, looked up at the high-beamed ceiling, then started to walk. At first Lani thought he was simply returning to his seat. Disappointment that his performance was over warred with relief that no permanent commitments had been made or broken.
But then he stopped. He turned to his mother-seated only about two feet from Lani-and bowed deeply. Feeling something about to happen, Lani stiffened.
"I am proud-" AJ"s voice boomed through the packed ballroom "-to take up the staff of tradition, and a.s.sume the role of king as my father and brother have done before me."
Lani gasped. Everything dimmed a bit and she grasped the arm of her chair to keep a grip on reality.
"And I am pleased to take Lani Rahia as my wife, according to royal custom." His eyes fixed on hers as the last breath fled her lungs. Unable to govern her features into anything but terror-stricken panic, she sat frozen as every eye in the room turned to her.
The faces blurred and she found herself gasping for breath. She felt Priia"s soft hand on her arm. "I"m so happy, my daughter." Priia"s tear-filled voice penetrated her foggy consciousness. "What a great day this is for Rahiri and for all of us."
Lani tried to say something, but her mouth wouldn"t move. How could AJ do this without even consulting her?
Because he was the king, and she was no one. A royal widow, rather like a recently vacated crown, free for the taking and pa.s.sing on.
Anger p.r.i.c.kled through her, battling with the fear. The New Jersey upbringing and the freedoms she"d learned to take for granted challenged the quiet acceptance she"d tried so hard to school in herself.
And AJ had no idea she was pregnant. She felt angry that he hadn"t even asked her opinion about the marriage. How would he feel if he knew she carried his brother"s child?
If she went along with Priia"s plan, he"d never find out. He might suspect something, might wonder at the "premature" baby in such perfect health. He might notice features or traits that fitted his brother better than himself-but he"d never know for sure.
This was one small but deadly advantage women had always had over men. They didn"t really know if they were the father of a child. Only the woman held that secret.
"Lani, are you okay?" Priia"s voice penetrated the thick fog of her thoughts. "Have some water." She felt a gla.s.s pressed to her lips, and she struggled to swallow the cool fluid.
"I...I think so" was all she could manage. She brushed a droplet from her lips, glad that at least she"d managed not to cry. Alarm snapped through her as she saw AJ, climbing the stairs on the dais, moving toward her.
"Stand up, dear," whispered her mother-in-law. She rose shakily to her feet, patting her dress and hoping its creases didn"t show any hint of a belly. Every eye in the room felt like a laser searchlight ready to reveal all her fears and misgivings-or were they hopes and dreams?
Majestic in his carriage and bearing, AJ stood in front of her and took her hand. Her fingers trembled in his and heat flushed over her. "Will you take me as your husband?"
Their eyes met-locked onto each other-as he asked the question. It wasn"t traditional to ask. He"d done that out of consideration for her.
Or had he? Since she could hardly say no, here amidst the gathered throng of royal admirers.
"I will." Her voice sounded so quiet, so meek, even in the deadly hush of the ballroom. She wondered if AJ would smile, but he didn"t. His face, like hers, seemed frozen into a kind of n.o.ble mask. Two people acting out roles history had determined for them, and in which emotion and personal opinion played no role.
A cheer rose from the crowd, echoing off the high ceiling and bouncing around the room. Gla.s.ses lifted and people began to stamp their feet on the floor, a customary display of enthusiasm.
"Both of you, walk around the room." Priia"s urgent whisper penetrated her consciousness.
AJ"s arm slipped inside Lani"s and drew her down the three stairs to the ballroom floor. The skin of her arm felt hot and feverish against the dark fabric of his jacket. She tried to keep her steps steady, and school her face into an expression of quiet happiness.
AJ"s arm felt rigid, tense. He marched with slow dignity, not his usual relaxed gait. No doubt becoming king would turn him into a different person-it already was. Would he become a hard, cold man like Vanu once the wedding vows were sealed?
Cold terror crept through her, tightening her muscles. The stamping feet and calling voices created a blanket of sound that seemed to suck the air from the room and leave her gasping. So much expectation, so many hopes and dreams, and the nation"s future hidden in the darkness of her own belly. The pressure weighed on her like a thundercloud and she felt her head becoming light. "I think I"m going to faint," she managed, head tilted toward AJ"s powerful jaw.
Her rasped whisper was lost in the roar of the crowd. AJ marched on, oblivious, his face set in a grim smile. Perhaps he"d forgotten she was even there?
The faces started to swirl together, a hot mix of colors with flashes of blackness. Her ankles wobbled and the floor seemed to tilt. She dug her nails into his arm, looking for purchase, and he glanced down.
"I-I don"t feel well," she stammered, blinking.
Alarm filled his eyes. "We"ll go outside for some air. There"s a door over here." He led her past some tables of excited guests, to a side door. Before he left, he turned and bowed. "Please stay and enjoy yourselves."
Seeing that he and Lani were about to leave the room together, the crowd went wild. Perhaps they a.s.sumed some kind of romantic action was about to take place. A wave of nausea rose in Lani"s throat at the thought that she"d soon be all alone with AJ.
Her future husband.
Outside the door, the cool night air hit her face like a welcome slap. She sucked in a breath and pulled her arm from AJ"s, then wondered if she was even allowed to do that.
The lamplight cast AJ"s face into shadow, and for a second he looked menacing, unreadable. She didn"t know this man but was expected to spend her life with him and sleep in his bed, whether she wanted to or not.
Panic flashed through her and spurred her feet into action. The corridor blurred as she found herself running headlong toward the garden. She didn"t know why she was running, only that she had to move-to act on the fierce instinct to flee that reverberated through her whole body.
"Lani, where are you going?" AJ"s voice rang after her, and sped her steps. She heard his heels on the stone, marching at first, then jogging along behind her.
Where am I going? The question echoed around her mind as she ran, sandals slapping on the smooth tiles. The question echoed around her mind as she ran, sandals slapping on the smooth tiles.
There"s nowhere to go. The corridor led down to the manicured part of the garden, with a fishpond and perches for the wild birds that ornamented the trees. But its fringes descended into the thick, dense jungle that cloaked the island in its tight embrace. There was no escape. The corridor led down to the manicured part of the garden, with a fishpond and perches for the wild birds that ornamented the trees. But its fringes descended into the thick, dense jungle that cloaked the island in its tight embrace. There was no escape.
The stone tiles gave way to gra.s.s, cool and damp in the evening dew. She ran a few steps, then felt a strong arm catch her around the waist, almost knocking the breath from her lungs. The baby! If he knew about it he"d never have grabbed her there. But he couldn"t know.
She wriggled, instinctively trying to free herself, but his grip was too strong. He wrapped his other arm around her, holding her from behind. "Lani, stop running. We need to talk." Her nerve endings snapped with the desire to run on, but she knew it was hopeless. "I know you"re scared but we"re in this together."
His deep voice reverberated in her ear, oddly soothing. But she didn"t want to say anything. What else could she say but I"m pregnant. I"m pregnant. Yet she"d sworn to keep the baby a secret. Yet she"d sworn to keep the baby a secret.
"I didn"t intend to spring the whole thing on you. It took me by surprise as well." He turned her in his arms until she stood facing him, no longer pressed against him, but with a couple of inches of warm air between them.
She tried to ignore the strange sensations in her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and belly, the odd pulses of desire that only worsened the strange situation. "I thought you were going back to L.A."
That"s what she"d hoped for, though she hadn"t dared admit it to herself until just now-when the possibility was gone.
He frowned, features angular in the cool moonlight. "I did, too." He drew in a long breath. "But tonight, surrounded by all those people, the air thick with our island"s past and heavy with its future, I knew my place is here. I couldn"t s.h.i.+rk my responsibility and still live with myself."
Lani nodded. Again that little kernel of pride throbbed inside her. AJ truly was a man of honor. "Rahiri is lucky to have you," she managed. The words sounded hollow, empty. Shame he wasn"t so lucky to have her, a woman who intended to keep a huge thing secret from him for the rest of her life. If she told him, though, he wouldn"t be king. She"d break Priia"s already suffering heart and put the entire burden of the monarchy"s future on herself and her unborn baby. And she"d still be expected to marry again.
AJ"s frown deepened. "I"ll do my best to be a good husband to you."
He softened his grasp on her arms. He"d been literally holding her in place-preventing her from running off again-and perhaps he realized the grip was at odds with his soothing words.
Lani wobbled slightly on her feet. "I"ll do my best to be a good wife." Her words hung in the still night air, the lie echoing off tree trunks and winding itself around them like a vine.
How could she be a good wife if she deceived him about the paternity of the child he"d raise?