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Then those are her, she bolted He let her stride ahead down the royal-red carpet that cut through the ballrooradations of red and gold chiffon veils undulated froe of uessed He was beside her once more as she climbed a dozen crimson satin-covered steps to where they’d preside over the proceedings

Thein the old sofa, with scrolls spread before hiuards

They would be al shohood, the witnesses of the otten them to consent to this, let alone to plead his case with her, when they’d beenbeyond his powers of manipulation She’d refused her uncle’s and cousins’ offers to be her wakeel, her proxy She wouldn’t let theotten herself into this, and she’d shoulder the sticky parts to the end alone

As soon as they reached the platfor down beside the aze swept the ballroom, where a hundred tables were set in the luxury level only someone of Rashid’s means could attain Around them sat a thousand of those who moved and shook the world That was the kind of power Rashid wielded already He probably wouldn’t wieldnearer behind the et this over with already?”

After failing to capture her gaze, Rashid exhaled, directed the ive ut wrenched Her hand in his for the duration of the ritual was bad enough But it was that habibati that scraped her nerves raw Who was he still acting for?

She gave him a hand as stiff and cold as a corpse’s, and tried not to flinch as that big, calloused hand that had taught her what passion and pleasure meant enfolded it She kept her eyes fixed as he opposed their thumbs and the ma’zoon covered their hands in a pristine white handkerchief and placed his on top, then as she droned back the e vows the man recited

After Rashid had, too, the ma’zoon addressed hi, Sheikh Rashid”

The so-called “price of the bride,” or as revisionists called it, the “bride’s worth” That was paid in two install the contract, and the reed-upon”—or in reality a severance paye

“My ave it to her

She took the scarlet velvet box, opened it

A siainst darkest red satin Another rendering of his house’s emblem Very precise and delicate but by no means worth much in terms of cash value

“It was my ic “It was my earliest ift to her He was only eighteen when he bought it with his first pay I slipped into her rooht she died I kicked and screarab soed me out of her room It was this brooch It is all I have left of her It is the one possession I care about Just as you are the one person, the one thing, I care about in this life”

“Youbastard”

The entled “Call albi, don’t make it final Leave the door ajar Please, Laylah, take this”