Chapter 22: To rule a heart

To forget that Zehra was destined to marry a man who scared her beyond words, to forget how cruel and manipulating him and how utterly miserable her future looked at him, she heaved a sigh. She knew she would never escape from this nightmare.

"I shouldn't keep you from your meal," Argus said. "Come, I'll escort you back."

Argus interrupted her thoughts as she nodded with a small forced smile, trying to forget the million grey things that flooded her mind.

"Can we go this way? I haven't had a tour of the place," Zehra admitted, her heart yearning for her own home.

Argus nodded with grins as he led her there, explaining everything to her.

"What is that?" Zerha asked, pointing to a flowing fountain, mocking him a little.

"And that is a fountain," Argus answered, his tone quite serious.

"How utterly magic! Of course, my poor eyes have never seen a fountain before," she said, and his cheek flushed as she laughed.

"Ohhh."

"I'm not retarted as you take me for," she added playfully.

"F