Santi's Downfall

Chapter 38: The Oasis

Faith is an oasis in the heart that will never be reached by the caravan of thinking.

Khalil Gibran

Haven Pierce's POV

"It was wicked of you to mislead me that the person you are talking about who's a powerful man in this nation is a mere politician. I didn't expect that you are friends with His Majesty himself!" I reprimanded him as we traveled to the rest house in the desert that was loaned by the king to us for a night."

"Are you surprised?" The devil beside me asked, seemingly pleased that I was caught off guard when he introduced his royal friends to me.

"A king and a mafia boss? How did that happen?" I was still wondering about their unlikely friendship. I find it hard to believe that a man like him could be friends with royalty.

He smirked in my direction, as we sat at the back of the SUV traveling to the rural part of the country. "As I have said before, I met them two years ago in the Orsini Vineyard when he was still courting his now-wife like a poor puppy. You have to see his face then a soon-to-be crowned king following a model to her gig around the world like a plain assistant."

"He must love her."

"Yes. He sees," Santi reflected. "Until now he still easily gets jealous when he thinks I am talking to his wife fondly."

I shook my head in wonderment. "It was generous of him to allow us to stay in the private oasis he owns in the desert. I heard that he made that built for him and his family when they want to unplug."

A smug smile broke on his handsome face. "What can I say? I am his dear friend, after all."

"You're pretty boastful do you know that?" I said with a laugh. "But I admire King Khalil. He seems got it all. He's kind, he's handsome, he is a great leader to this country, and above all, he looks as if he knows how to balance everything from taking care of his young family and running a country."

"Hey, I think you are praising him too much." He protested, his dark eyes staring at me with a troubled expression.

My lips twitched with a smile that I was trying so hard to hide. "Why? Don't tell me you are jealous of him?"

"That's not exactly what you want to hear from the woman you are trying to court. She was praising another man right in front of your face. How do you think I should feel?" He grumbled under his breath like a child.

"Oh, please..." I said, though my heart pulsated since he openly admitted his jealousy. "There's no reason to be jealous of His Majesty."

"Really? Why is that?" He demanded, his eyes were now fixed on me with unholy light in their depth. He gazed at me like a beast trying to corner his prey.

I gave a short laugh, even to my ears the laugh sounded off. I also looked away from his intense eyes because they made me feel suddenly nervous and all. "Because there is no reason that's why."

"Ah, I see," his voice sounded utterly disappointed but when I dared to spare him a glance my breath was caught in my throat when I saw how his eyes gleamed with questionable light. I shivered not with fear but something else entirely when I focused my gaze on the endless desert sands in the car's window.

I can still his reflection through my window. "You know it's rude to stare at someone that long. You will make them uncomfortable with your stares."

"Am I making you uncomfortable with my stares, mia amore?" He queried sanguinely, I could detect the rich laughter in his voice.