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‘Edge, Ithank’

He stifled the words before she could speak them He didn’t want her thanks He wantedthis—his hands in her hair, hisit over her shoulders, herheat swaht to embrace or escape this

She was right, whatever else existed or didn’t exist in this world, he couldn’t deny this In mere days it had become a certainty and that scared the hell out of hi away

‘It’s late Tio, Sam’

‘But’

‘Now Before I change my mind’

About saying yes and about letting you leave this tent before I ask you to stay

For once she obeyed hi into the dark like the last tendril of smoke from a campfire He followed until she was safe inside and then stood for a long ti whether all those years of exile and isolation had finally pushed him over some precipice of insanity

Chapter Five

Gabriel gaped into the pit ‘There is nothing there but darkness, Leila’

‘I am there I told you the day will come when you must choose to trust me, Gabriel That is today’

—Treasures of Siwa,

Desert Boy Book Five

‘With this ring I thee ith my body I thee worship’

Edge’s deep voice had been as flat as ain her old ring on her finger

She had no idea where he found it or when The three days since her proposal were a confusing blur Both Poppy and Janet had surprised her by being delighted at Edge’s laconically delivered news of their betrothal, utterly unconcerned that their nepheas about to ht years

Once in Cairo, Edge disappeared, returning with the news that a e to England on a ship which had sailed from Alexandria that very day

He didn’t look at Saeneral help hiland she steeled herself for the inevitable Here was a perfect excuse for Edge to withdraw froh to come to his senses Perhaps so would she

But then he’d thoroughly stunned her Apparently he’d done e She’d listened in shock as he’d informed her that the sa was still in Cairo andto perforypt

If she chose

If

She’d searched his face for soe He’d put the pieces on the board—the move was hers