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Chapter Nineteen

As he reached the borderlands, Munir reined in his exhausted camel. Drawing out his scimitar and jumping down from the saddle in one lithe movement, he strode toward the largest of the tents, intent on murder if necessary. But he stopped short as the heavy curtain that formed the doorway was thrown back and Silvia stepped out, wearing a man's tunic and cloak, but no headdress.

His heart leapt. Munir ran toward her, sweeping her up in his arms. "Are you hurt?"

"Munir, I must tell you—"

"Are you unharmed?"

She didn't recognize his expression. Anxiety? Fear? No, something else. He looked stunned. Silvia's heart began to beat too fast for her to breathe. She had to warn him…but the words fled. "Munir." She touched his face. Dusty, hot from the sun. "I'm perfectly fine. I promise."

"I thought… I thought…"

She touched a finger to his mouth. "Munir, please don't be angry. I had to do something to prevent war. It was not Dabir's fault. He could not stop me—no one could have stopped me—so if you must be angry…"

"I'm not angry with anyone, save my Council."

"Oh." The way he was looking at her made her nervous. He had never gazed upon her like that before. As if… As if… "The gold mine," Silvia said distractedly. "I should explain what's been agreed to so you can formally endorse it. They were only willing to accept me as your envoy if I promised that you would come personally. Dabir told me the Council had summoned you so I hoped—knew you would come. I need to explain, before the head tribesman…"

"No." For once, Munir had no interest in either his people or his kingdom. "No, whatever it is can wait. I have something of far more import to tell you."

For a terrifying moment, the urgent note in his voice made Silvia fear the worst. He was done with her. As he strode away from the Bedouin settlement to the relative privacy of a rocky outcrop, pulling her along behind him, Silvia wondered if she could bear losing him.

She felt nauseous, but gathering up the remnants of her courage, she prepared to fight one last time for her future. For their future. "Munir, let me explain…"

His smile stopped the words in her throat. "There is no need. I understand," he said, pulling her to him, pressing her into his body as if he would make her part of him. "You did it for Djaradh. Our kingdom."

"Our kingdom," she repeated in wonderment.

"Ours," Munir said firmly. "Unlike my Council, you were willing to risk your life to protect it. Our kingdom. I am so proud of you, Silvia. But you must promise me never to risk your life like that again. I could not bear it."

"Oh."

Munir laughed softly. "It is not like you to be lost for words. Don't you want to know why I could not bear it?"

She could not speak, could manage only a tiny nod.

Munir took her hands in his. "The clouds have finally been lifted from my eyes. I have discovered that there is something—someone—even more important to me than Djaradh. I love you, Silvia."