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The ht the aht of her, which solidified her feeling that she was actually as beautiful as she thought

“Zayed will be taking his place in fifteen minutes”

“Soet her bouquet,” Tahirah said

Zelda looked in theconfident, she felt uncertain; was she being so?

Tahirah’s cohter echoed in Zelda’s ? In the past, Zelda had convinced herself that she hadn’t put much stock in her parents’ approval, and yet she had nearly ended up dead fro to run away

You aren’t running away anyure out what to do with yourself afterwards

The bouquet was just as stunning as the dress and veil: creanize, with tiny purple and red flowers old ribbon

She took one last look in the mirror, shook her head at herself, and then it was time for her to leave the room, to take her place and wait for her cue to enter the cereh-heeled shoes, but after so er had the certainty that she was going to fall on her face

She followed Hadya and Tahirah out to the staging point, and heard the soulful ress up the aisle Her heart pounded in her chest and silently, Zelda mouthed the words to her part of the ceremony

The music died down, and Zelda took a quick breath, as deep as she could in the tight-waisted dress, closing her eyes for just ato move forward She reached the doors that separated her froain, a different song with flutes and guitar and other instruments that Zelda didn’t even know the names of

She stepped through the doors as they opened, and the attendees all stood to watch her entrance Zelda pushed her shoulders back and looked up the aisle through the thickly e to find Zayed In the distance, he stepped forward, and for aat each other

Zelda’s heart beat faster in her chest in a way that had nothing to do with fear; the Sheikh looked gorgeous in his brilliant white suit, his hair co at his lapel as he watched her

FOURTEEN

Zelda shook off her shock and started down the aisle, stepping carefully The ranced flowers rose to her nose with every step; Zelda heard the approving uests in the crowd and saw looks of wonder and intrigue on all of the faces She , and reminded herself to breathe as she approached the altar where Zayed waited

She came to a stop at the end of the aisle and Zayed closed the distance between the in unison, they faced each other, their sides to the group of Zayed’s friends, associates and distant family, and Zayed reached for the he her face, and just as carefully laid it back against her hair and shoulders, taking her hand and turning her to face the congregation

The officiant stepped between thelish and Murindhi, that the cere her hand in his, Zayed led Zelda the final few steps to the altar, while the officiant took up his position just in front of them