“The truth. They are my adopted daughters and are to be treated as such.”

“Bowing and scraping?”

He studied her. “You’re an interesting combination of rabbit and desert cat. Fearful and fearless.”

She liked the sound of that. “I’m working to be all fearless. I still have a ways to go.”

He reached out and before she realized what he intended, he touched a strand of her hair. “There is fire in your blood.”

“Because I’m a redhead? I think that’s just an old wives’ tale.” She’d always wanted to be a cool blonde, or a sexy brunette. Well, maybe not sexy. That wasn’t her style.

“I know many old wives who are wise,” he murmured, then released her. “You will be responsible for the girls when they are not in school.”

She nodded, wishing they were still talking about her being brave and that he was still touching her hair. Which was strange. Prince As’ad was nothing more to her than her employer. A very handsome, powerful employer who could trace his lineage back a few thousand years. She didn’t even know who her father was.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

She told him the truth.

“And your mother?”

Kayleen regretted the change in topic. “I, um, don’t really remember her. She left me with my grandmother when I was a baby. She took care of me for a few years, then left me at an orphanage.” She gave a little shrug as if the rejection hadn’t mattered. “She was older and I was a handful.”

In the darkness it was difficult to read As’ad’s expression. She reminded herself there was no reason to be ashamed of her past-she hadn’t been able to control it. Yet she felt as if she were being judged and found wanting.

“Is that the reason you defended the girls so fiercely?” he asked. “Your own past?”

“Maybe.”

He nodded slowly. “They live here now. As do you. You are all to consider the palace your home.”