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Normally, having to rub elbows with such figures would have worried her to death, but Harper had more pressing thoughts in mind.Thatwould happen follow the reception, and when it was time to go, Harper was a quivering mass of nerves. Although her white sleeping robe covered her from head to toe, she still felt terribly exposed.

Some of her anxiety must have communicated itself to the sheikh as the moment she reached his side, pale-faced and trembling, the sheikh asked right away, “Are you certain of this?”

No. Of course not. How can one be certain of this?

But instead, she lifted her chin and forced herself to smile brightly. “A promise is a promise is a promise.”

His lips twitched. “Your love for redundancy is delightful as ever,qalifa,but...” He paused. “That doesn’t answer my question.” He took her hand, and his brows pleated. “Your hand is cold.”

“That’s n-normal.”

“Not when you live in a desert.”

Oh. Right.

“There is still time to change your mind,” the sheikh began.

Harper shook her head vehemently. “No. I promised, okay? And there’s no point to us marrying if we don’t do this so—-” She took a deep breath before saying in a rush,“Can we please just get it over with before I lose my guts and change my mind?”

There was a moment of silence – and then the sheikh tightened his grip on her hand, saying simply, “Thank you.”

They walked in silence from there, the sheikh leading her down a maze of hallways, and her heart swayed harder and harder with every step they took.

Oh my God, it was really happening.

She had never thought to ask wherethatwould happen and so Harper was stunned to realize that their destination turned out to be a vast chamber in the palace’s secret cellar, with its walls consisting of viewing screens in which people outside could peer into the room but not the other way around.

Pausing before the doors, Khalil turned to Harper and his jaw clenched at how much paler she looked now. “I’m sorry you have to do this.” And as soon as the words were out, he realized that he didn’t like it. Anything that could make his normally brave Harper look frightened, he didn’t fucking like at all.

To hell with the consequences,the sheikh thought grimly.

“I’m sorry for going this far with you,qalifa.”

She quickly shook her head. “It’s not like you have a choice.”

“But I do. And that’s why I’m choosing to forego this.” He took her hand, his grip tightening as he said harshly, “There are far better ways to establish your legitimacy as my queen. So we’re leaving—-” He turned away, intending to take her with him, but instead Harper stayed put, her hand tugging on his and forcing him to look back.

“Harper?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I gave you my word, and I intend to keep it.”

He shook his head. “There is no need—-”

“I mean it. I want to do this.” And she really did, more than ever. If they didn’t complete the wedding ritual as the law asked of them, Harper knew it could jeopardize his claim on the throne. And yet he had still chosen to turn his back on the ritual.

For her.

“Harper.” A muscle was ticking on the sheikh’s jaw. “Do you truly understand what you’re asking?”

“Not really, but—-” A rare, tentative smile touched Harper’s lips. “I trust you.” And a moment later, he saw her close her eyes just before leaning against him, suiting action to words, trusting him implicitly, and the sheikh sucked in his breath.

How in Allah’s name had he deserved a woman such as her?

His arms wrapping around her, he kissed her hard before muttering against her lips, “I will take care of you, wife.”

And then he was carrying her inside the chamber.

Harper didn’t open her eyes as she felt him lay her on the bed. A rustling sound followed, the sheikh pulling the covers above them, and just as the world became a shade darker, she felt his fingers grazing against her body, untying the stringed straps of her dressing gown. She squeezed her eyes more tightly as the silk slid down her body. In a blink of an eye, she was naked, and after a few moments, so was the sheikh.