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His hand froze midith the pesto Then he placed it on the island, pulled her to hi me is only half the battle won”

She squinted up at hio win the other half Your fa between us? The et stuffed in their fineries and co Those I’ll let attend If they behave” His hands cupped her face For the first ti me out of this, Rashid My fareatchful, as if he was gauging how to handle her sudden volatility “If it were up to me, I would have vowed myself to you in absolute seclusion But you are a princess”

“Oh, no You’re not princessingresistance out of her a nerve at a time “I know you want it not to matter, but it does Tradition is i But this won’t only be about us It will be about our children” The concept of children, his and hers, liquefied so inside her “I want there to be peace and acceptance surrounding our union fros a bit more complicated is that I’m not a prince”

“You’re worth a thousand of every prince who ever lived!”

Pride and pleasure glittered in his eyes, softened his lips “Your approval and allegiance et theirs, too Your family includes soht side to start with I don’t want them to bother you with their disapproval or atteer”

“And how are you supposed to do that?”

“As per tradition, your fah trials, as outrageous as they can e only once I pass all their tests and meet all their requirements”

“Shades of Antarah ibn Shaddad when Ablah’s father asked for a thousand red caer, but I draw the line at hurtling back in time to the eleventh century to do it”

“That’s what tradition is—age-old practices”

“I have nothing against those when they’re about innocuous stuff like food or design or celebrations But I’ress and ht as well throay ey Hoould I be different froled with her elders for her, before carrying her away as one of his possessions, a bit above his goat, but certainly beneath his horse and sword?”

“In my case, it would be private jets andwith a rib nudge His eyes softened as he gathered herto save headaches”

“You really intend to submit to such aridiculous practice?”

“I will, ya habibati Like I orship you with th, I will sub to honor you before your faths I would go to, to have the privilege of your choice, the power of your love”