You are probably unaware of this...
But my first glimpse of you was not at the royal palace, with you standing tall and proud while my father came bearing gifts, one of which included...me.
My father was of the old ways. He believed he was doing me a favor. I would be the envy of many, he told me, for I was to be bride of your cousin, the king.
Your cousin, who already had a queen.
But I digress.
As I said earlier, that day was not the first time I met you.
Our story, alshaykh, started much, much earlier than that...
But my first glimpse of you was not at the royal palace, with you standing tall and proud while my father came bearing gifts, one of which included...me.
My father was of the old ways. He believed he was doing me a favor. I would be the envy of many, he told me, for I was to be bride of your cousin, the king.
Your cousin, who already had a queen.
But I digress.
As I said earlier, that day was not the first time I met you.
Our story, alshaykh, started much, much earlier than that...
“Cards on the table," he said softly. "Deal?"
Safiya nodded.
"You know of the charges your father is facing?
"Nem."
"Do you believe him capable of treason?"
"I believe he will do everything he can to make me queen."
"Fair enough," Altair conceded. "And you? You truly do not wish to be queen?
"Only if you wish to be king."
"I don't."
"Then I don't."
"I matter that much to you?"
"Nem."
"Because I'm your hero."
"Nem.”
“Why?"
"Because you always do the right thing," Safiya said simply.
"I am not a fucking saint—-"
"I know, alshaykh. You are no saint."
Altair stiffened.
"Because saints die..."
Her voice trailed off, but he heard the rest of her words all the same.
Saints died, and the princess did not want him to die.
The princess, who was a traitor's daughter, wanted him—-
A man she thought was her hero, but also...
A man who had been lying to her and was still lying to her—-
She did not want him to die, and it was just one of the thousand things about her that did not make sense.
Nothing about her ever made sense, but for now—-
"May I kiss you, Safiya?"
He saw her eyes start to shine at hearing him say her name, and when she finally spoke, it was that voice again.
"Yes, please."
It was the kind of voice that loved without saying the words.
Safiya nodded.
"You know of the charges your father is facing?
"Nem."
"Do you believe him capable of treason?"
"I believe he will do everything he can to make me queen."
"Fair enough," Altair conceded. "And you? You truly do not wish to be queen?
"Only if you wish to be king."
"I don't."
"Then I don't."
"I matter that much to you?"
"Nem."
"Because I'm your hero."
"Nem.”
“Why?"
"Because you always do the right thing," Safiya said simply.
"I am not a fucking saint—-"
"I know, alshaykh. You are no saint."
Altair stiffened.
"Because saints die..."
Her voice trailed off, but he heard the rest of her words all the same.
Saints died, and the princess did not want him to die.
The princess, who was a traitor's daughter, wanted him—-
A man she thought was her hero, but also...
A man who had been lying to her and was still lying to her—-
She did not want him to die, and it was just one of the thousand things about her that did not make sense.
Nothing about her ever made sense, but for now—-
"May I kiss you, Safiya?"
He saw her eyes start to shine at hearing him say her name, and when she finally spoke, it was that voice again.
"Yes, please."
It was the kind of voice that loved without saying the words.
This is the fifth and final book from the Desert Sheikh Romance series. You'll love Altair and Safiya’s story and it's sweet how in love they are. What started as a marriage of convenience turned into a real love. This book is well written with some twists to keep you guessing. The characters are amazing and likable. This is my favorite of the series and a great finale. I read a free book via Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
- Amazon 5-star review
Note: Also available in iBooks, Kobo, Nook, and Google Play
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