Maya had barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, the memory of Zayed’s touch lingered—his hand on her chin, his words in her ear, the weight of his unspoken promise. She tossed and turned, her mind a storm of confusion and desire. She couldn’t deny the pull between them, no matter how hard she tried. But she also couldn’t ignore the dark undertones of his control, the obsession in his eyes, the way he claimed her as though she were the most prized possession in his world.

The next morning, she awoke to a soft knock on the door.

“Maya,” a quiet voice called, “The Sheikh requests your presence in the royal gardens.”

She froze, unsure of what to expect. A part of her wanted to refuse, to retreat into the safety of her room, but she knew Zayed wouldn’t allow it. She was his, whether she liked it or not, and this palace was his kingdom. No matter how many times she tried to remind herself that she had no intention of submitting, the reality was that there was no escape from his world.

When she entered the gardens, she was met with the sight of Zayed standing near the edge of a small fountain, his dark gaze fixed on the flowing water. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and roses, and the sun bathed everything in a warm, golden light, but Maya couldn’t escape the sense of dread that crept up her spine.

Zayed turned as she approached, his expression unreadable. “Maya,” he said, his voice smooth, commanding. “You look beautiful today.”

Maya didn’t reply. She stood there, unsure of what he wanted from her this time, her heart pounding in her chest. The space between them felt charged with something more than just tension. It was suffocating.

He stepped toward her, his eyes scanning her face, as though he were searching for something. “You haven’t spoken much since last night.”

Maya crossed her arms over her chest, her posture defensive. “I don’t have much to say.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. It wasn’t a friendly smile. It was the kind of smile that sent a shiver down her spine. “You’re still angry. I can feel it. But you will learn to accept what is between us, Maya. We have no choice.”

“I don’t want this,” she said, her voice steady, though her heart beat faster with every word she spoke.

Zayed’s eyes darkened, and he took a step closer, his presence overwhelming her. “You don’t have to want it, Maya. But you will have it. And soon, you will see that this is the only life that can keep you safe.”

She swallowed hard, the knot in her stomach tightening. Safe? From what? From him? From the world?

His hand brushed the side of her face, his touch so gentle, it felt almost like a contradiction to the coldness in his gaze. “I protect what is mine. You are mine. And you will not be harmed while I am here.”

Maya flinched, pulling away instinctively, but Zayed’s hand caught her wrist before she could take a step back.

“You will not run,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Not now, not ever.”

Her pulse spiked, but she held his gaze, refusing to let him see how rattled she truly was. “You can’t control me.”

Zayed’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, Maya wondered if she had pushed him too far. But then his expression softened, just slightly, and he let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh.

“I don’t want to control you, Maya. I want you to understand. This is our reality now. You are my queen. You will stand beside me, and together we will rule this kingdom.”

The words hung in the air between them. She didn’t want to be his queen. She didn’t want to belong to him. But the longer she stood in his presence, the more she realized that whether she wanted to or not, she was already wrapped in his world. Every moment she spent with him, every breath, every glance—she was being pulled deeper into the dark web he had spun around her.

“And what does that mean, exactly?” Maya asked, her voice quiet but firm. “Being your queen?”

Zayed’s lips twitched upward, though the smile never quite reached his eyes. “It means that you will stand at my side, respected by all. It means that no one will ever dare speak to you the way they do to other women. And it means that you will never be touched by anyone but me.”

The possessiveness in his words sent a rush of adrenaline through her veins. She had heard the rumors about the Sheikh—how cold he was, how ruthless he could be. But standing here in front of him, Maya realized that there was something far more dangerous beneath that cold exterior. A fire, an obsession, something so deep and consuming that it would burn everything in its path.

She stepped back, her mind racing. “I don’t want to be your prisoner.”

Zayed’s gaze hardened, but there was a flicker of something—something dark and possessive—that made her stomach flip. “You’re not a prisoner, Maya,” he said softly, his voice more intense than ever. “You’re my wife. And that means I will protect you. I will keep you safe from everyone, even from yourself.”

Maya’s breath caught. Even from yourself—the words echoed in her mind as she took a step back, trying to gather her thoughts. She couldn’t escape him. Not now. Not ever.

And as the realization sank in, she couldn’t ignore the part of her that feared she might never want to.