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‘Marry you?’ she echoed, genuinely shocked

Wry ae in his black eyes ‘You think that I would contee?’ he de,’ he added arrogantly, ‘that you wish to beon more than most women do, and you must be certain in your heart that your destiny is beside me’

Sienna licked her lips She thought of the eagle which hung around her neck—powerful and fearless—the syue that was foreign to her A place so very different fro which was important to her

Hashim

Was she fearless enough in her love to grasp it tightly and never let it go? To make her vows to him and mean them? Never to leave his side? To promise to be true, no matter what life threw in their path? But wasn’t that what all es were supposed to mean?

‘Oh, yes,’ she whispered ‘Yes, yes, and a million times yes’ There was an odd kind of lump in her throat ‘But will your people accept me?’

‘If they want me as their Ruler, then they will have to’

‘Do you want to take that chance?’

‘I can’t not,’ he said simply But he knew that he could never rule—nor would be fit to rule—if he allowed his people to prevent hi his heart’s desire Because any reatest mysteries could never be a complete man

‘But…’ Sienna bit her lip, not wanting to destroy the beautifulthat she must not hide behind her fears, ht put paid to all her future happiness

‘But what, my beautiful Sienna?’ he prompted softly as he saw the hurt and the pain in her eyes

‘The photos’ It cah ‘What if your people see that calendar—how on earth would they ever accept me then?’

‘They shall not see it,’ he breathed ‘Not now and not ever’

He sounded so certain that she stared up at him in bewilderment ‘How can you be so sure?’