The Sheikh - Protector of her heart - completed

Chapter Eleven

Dressed in the softest peach chiffon over satin with white flower embroider edges she went to greet her mother. Zafir tied up and would join them as soon as he could. She stood by the heliport waiting for the helicopter to lower down holding the most precious cargo of all, apart from her husband, her mother Helen Williams.

She smiled as a tall elegant woman exited the helicopter ducked down and raced across to her to hug each other tightly. Abdul followed with her hand luggage, the only one they trusted to collect her mother from Australia and bring her to them. She was of course forbidden to go. In a loving way. Zafir just can't bear to be parted from her as she hated been parted from him. If he couldn't go, which he couldn't at that time, so they sent the next best thing. Abdul.

"Good to have you home Abdul," she greeted warmly as he joined mother and daughter who were different as chalk and cheese. Fire and ice. Blond and redhead, yet were close as any parent and child could be. "Here let me," she removed the hand luggage. "I think my husband wants to see you, he has missed you dearly, however, don't tell him I said so, because he will deny it all." They shared a smile then he went one way while Katrina showed her mother to her rooms for her stay. Where tea and pastries were waiting for their arrival.

"Do you normally travel that way?" Helen asked amazed.

"Only since I have met Zafir," Katrina laughed. "These are your room while you are here, certain parts of the Palace are restricted to us, even me, men quarters but that is on the other side, more like guard quarters. They do like their privacy. Zafir will be joining us later when he is free, tied down with palace business." She sank down into one of the sofa's in the main living area mainly to make her mother feel at home, knowing how overwhelming it all can be at first to pour out some tea into cups and handed one across as her mother joined her. "I know you must be tired and will let you rest after we eat and drink."

"I'm not tired at all. I couldn't believe it was you when I first saw you standing there in all your glamour. No more jeans and trakkies for you I see."

"Well this is cooler," she noted, " secondly Zafir wouldn't stand for it," she laughed with delight. "To be truthful I love these kaftans and Abaya.  Zafir has been so generous. I have a walk in wardrobe full of them of the finest silk and the range of colour and all that delicate workmanship is amazing." Helen reached for her hand that bared his mother's wedding and engagement rings.

"So it is all true you are married to this man I have never met. Are you happy Kat?"

"I am truly happy mum. He is the most amazing man I have ever known. He has protected me from the first day we met and hasn't stopped since. Everything he has done was to protect me, even from myself sometimes."

"Yes, you have always been head strong if not stubborn."

"Me?" she asked in all innocence.

"Yes, you," a deep voice growled in his throat. Katrina rose to her feet, eyes glowing and went to her husband to hug him then lead him over her arm around his waist to introduce him to her mother.

"Mum this is His highness Emir Zafir Salim Kasib Al- Mukhtar ruler of Kastar and my husband. Zafir my mother Helen Williams." Helen rose to her feet in all her elegance she had portrayed all her life and held out her hand.

"So you're the man who had stolen my daughter's heart, I do hope you are worthy of her trust and love?"

He took hold of her hand to bring to his lips and kissed in greeting. "So do I Ms Williams."

"Mum," Katrina complained turning to Zafir to place her other hand on his chest. "I'm so sorry my love."

He laughed waving it away guiding her back to sit down at her mother's side joining her other side where she poured coffee from a different server to hand to Zafir. "It is her right to question me over such things. I only have your daughter's best interest in my heart, Ms Williams."