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Her accusations, the realization of the extent of the dae he’d inflicted on her, paralyzed him For the first time in his life he felt powerless, helpless How could he undo a wrong of this nitude? Heal wounds this deep?

He fell to his knees before her, like a detonated building, struck,away his soul

He finally heard a thick, unrecognizable voice choking his defense, his plea for leniency “I did manipulate you, but only because I believed the lies I’d been told about you By the time I knew they were only that, I couldn’t risk your reaction, so I kept on deceiving you about ic we shared was real, froek I never lied about , today, but ya Ullah, I left it too late”

Her tears turned off abruptly, the nothingness creeping back on her face “It’s really ot what’s co to me”

“No, b’Ellahi, you will believeany your heart and faith in yourself, in me I will spend my life…”

She raised a steady hand “Just…don’t It doesn’t ether I will serve my purpose”

The rest of the journey was consumed by his frantic efforts to reach her But it seeed beyond repair She’d opened herself, given of herself so fully to him, and the blow had shattered her

Shehab felt desperation beconation, that she’d never trust hiain And he’d die without her trust Without her love

But he didn’t matter now, or ever Only that he restored her Only that she would be whole once er kne he could do that If he could ever do it

All the way to the royal palace, she pulverized his heart all over again when she didn’t resist him when he reached for her, stroked and kissed and swore his love over and over

And he knew She’d succumb to him, to her duty, to the hold he had on her senses, and she’d die slowly She was dying now

And it cao Co Atef’s court when he finally decided how to phrase his resolution, started to voice it only for her gasp to silence hi between tomen-his sister and a tall, slim, blond woman Anna Beaumont, Farah’s mother But it wasn’t surprise at her presence that he felt, but trepidation at the expression on their faces

As they approached, Anna looked at Farah with reddened eyes, mouthed a soundless, “I’ed her to hi, but he’d give his life not to have her wounded again

The king had eyes only for Farah as he ca news

Then he delivered it “Farah…I can’t tell you how sorry I a fact to you Asyou, now it crushes hter”

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