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The distinctive percussive music of her zaffah—her bridal procession—was already reverberating through the palace Hundreds of voices were raised in the traditional congratulatory songs
Aliyah and Maraendary jehile Johara, Talia, Roxanne and Lujayn fussed with her veil, hairdo andbeauty and bright spirits, their lithe bodies wrapped in sarilike dresses as exquisite as they were, in reds and golds to conize the splendid creature staring back at her in the e the royal acquisition he’d flaunt to the world tonight The last piece in his s halted as everyone rushed her out to lead her procession to the ballroom where the ceremonies were to be held She hadn’t seen any of the preparations as she’d been holed up in her quarters for the past two days Now she felt she had entered a fantasy setting frohts
Brass lanterns and torches blazed everywhere, infusing the palace with a mystic ambiance Every other decoration, from banners to veils to flowers, was color-coordinated with her gown and jewelry Not that she could find any pleasure in her surroundings Not when she couldn’t forget why Rashid had “rented” the palace for their wedding Not so that she could reclaie, as he’d claie
Even in her previous obliviousness, it had pained her knowing soon this day—herher away Now she knew her groo was a charade, a sacrifice of her heart and dignity for the one thing that would mean more to her than her very life—her child
Suddenly, her heartbeat drowned out the thundering music, and air, the world, disappeared
Rashid stood alone at the wide-open gilded doors of the ballroo illuht
In spite of herself, her starving senses rushed to devour his grandeur
His outfit matched hers, only in darker, muted shades Another detail he’d orchestrated to perfection A ed his Herculean shoulders, adorned in e to his ankles like a cloak of enchantment Underneath, burnt-sienna silk stretched across his forht saathered into darkest brown leather boots A bronzea cereold enaacy was rooted in fables, the enificent land, a personification of its ht and majesty, a shaper of the world around hi
If only he hadn’t used her to claim his destiny
If only he’d co for him Would have still had her heart and illusions intact
But he hadn’t And she now only survived for theirher baby
He stood there noith those darkest-night eyes, searing her with his fake longing, his counterfeit entreaty
“Laylah”
The pure passion and anguish he h her bones How could it feel so real? How could she still want to throw herself into his arms?