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things in his country have changed.  They’re more settled and he can take care of a family now.”
    Isla had a very bad feeling about this.  She was looking into her coffee cup, her mind working hard to figure out who had been selected.  What country had been in turmoil and was now doing better? 
    The answer came to her quickly and she pushed back her chair as she stood up abruptly , uncaring that it fell back onto the floor as she glared at her brother, shaking her head in denial.  “No !  You can’t do that Rashid!  Not him!”
    Rashid stood up as well, holding out his hands in an attempt to calm his sister down.  “Isla, I don’t know who you’re talking about, but the man I’ve selected is honorable.  He’ll treat you well and he’s proven that he can rule a country wisely and protect you.”
    The word ‘honorable’ made her relax just slightly and she tilted her head , curious, but still warily suspicious . “So you’re not talking about Hussan El Hamin ?”
    Rashid blinked and nodded his head. “Well, yes actually…” but he couldn’t continue.
    Isla jumped back and shook her head violently.  “No!  Rashid, you promised I could have a say in this matter !  Anyone but that man!  He’s a monster!  He’s tortured his people and they’re all suffering under his rule.  You don’t know what it’s like in that country.  People are hungry and struggling!”
    Rashid’s eyes narrowed and he put his hands on his hips.  He’d never heard her talk about anyone so harshly before and was astounded that her diplomacy was gone when she’d been raised to know better.  “And how would you know all this?  You’ve never even been to his country.”
    Isla knew she was trapped.  But in this case, she didn’t care.  Her whole future was at stake here. “I have seen it. First hand and his people are starving!  The medical care over there is minimal at best and non-existent in some places.  There’s an entire generation of children who can’t read, the streets are filled with potholes and everyone is terrified of their ruler.  You can’t give me to him!  I’m begging you to reconsider!”
    Rashid shook his head, firm in his decision.  He knew that what she was saying was true in some places, but they were the exceptions instead of the rule.  He was friends with Hussan and knew that Silaria was much better off now under his rule.  Hussan was benevolent and powerful, but with a tight grip on what happened within the borders until he could eliminate the remaining factions that were causing his people distress.  To hear his sister malign a man Rashid respected so deeply was just not right.  “It’s done, Isla.”
    Isla couldn’t believe that her brother was being so firm about something like this.  Didn’t he understand that marriage was more than just political?  It was personal!  “No!  This can’t be happening!  He’s ugly and gross and…. hairy! ”
    “You will stop immediately!” Rashid commanded with a raised voice.
    Isla stopped but she glared at him, horrified that he would sell her like this.  “I’ll never forgive you for doing this!” she said and spun on her heel, wanting to vacate the room and his presence before she broke down in tears. 
    But instead of running away, she ran into a brick wall.  A hard, immovable force that stopped her in her tracks.   She gasped and looked up at the man who was stopping her, his hands holding her arms as he watched her carefully with dark, fathomless eyes that showed no emotion .  Not even a flinch of pain when she ran into the shoulder she’d just stitched up for him about a week ago even though it must still be tender.  There was no way a wound that deep could have healed so quickly.
    “What are you doing here!” she turned and looked at Rashid, wondering if this man had told her brother what she did during the nighttime hours . 
    Spinning back around, she snarled at the man who was holding her arms, wrenching