The Sheikh's Collection. Оливия Гейтс
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way, she wasn’t needed, and Khalil could let her go.
A thought that mere days ago would have brought relief and even joy, not this sick plunging in her stomach. She didn’t want to leave Khalil, and she didn’t want to face her country and Council alone. How would she explain what had happened? She supposed she’d go with what Khalil had originally suggested: ‘a necessary detainment’. Perhaps she would tell the Council she’d changed her mind about the marriage when she realised Aziz’s claim to the throne wasn’t legitimate.
She spared a second’s thought then for the man she’d intended to marry, a moment’s regret. He’d been kind to her. Looking back, she saw how his easy charm had hidden a deeper part of himself, something dark, perhaps painful. What had his experience of Khalil’s banishment, his sudden arrival at the palace, felt like? How had it affected him? She supposed she would never know.
Just as she would never truly know Khalil. She’d had glimpses of a man who was both tender and strong, who had the ruthless determination to kidnap a monarch but the gentleness to cradle her and wipe away her tears. A man she knew she now cared about, whom she might never see again after today.
Sighing, Elena swung her legs onto the floor and combed her hands through her tangled hair, wondering where everyone was and just what this day would bring.
When she was as presentable as she could make herself, she stepped outside the tent, blinking in the bright sunlight. People bustled around the camp, busy with various tasks and chores; she could not see Khalil.
A woman from the night before approached her with a smile and gestured for her to come forward. Elena followed her, stopping suddenly as she caught sight of Khalil talking with a group of men. The woman followed Elena’s transfixed gaze and giggled, saying something Elena didn’t understand, but she had an uncomfortable feeling she’d got the gist of.
This was confirmed a few moments later when Khalil broke apart from the men to join her by a fire where she’d been eating some bread and tahini for breakfast.
‘Good morning.’
She nodded back her own greeting, her mouth full of bread and her cheeks starting to heat. It was ridiculous, to have this kind of reaction to him, but it was also undeniable. All she could picture was the look of both tenderness and hunger on his face right before he’d kissed her. All she could remember was how wonderful it had felt—and how much more she had wanted.
Still did.
‘You slept well?’
She swallowed her mouthful of bread and nodded once more. ‘Yes, I was exhausted.’
‘Understandable.’
His expression was unreadable, his tawny eyes veiled, and Elena had a terrible feeling he was going to leave it at that. Something that had become almost easy between them now felt stilted and awkward. Which was, she acknowledged, perhaps as it should be, and yet...
She felt the loss.
‘What happens now?’ she asked, more just to keep the conversation going than any real desire to know, although she should want to know, considering this was her future. Her life. She forced herself to say the words that had been throbbing through her since she’d woken that morning. ‘The six weeks are up.’
‘I know.’
She gazed up at him, tried to read his expression, but he looked utterly impassive. ‘Are you going to let me go?’
‘I promised I would.’
She nodded jerkily, feeling bereft and unable to keep herself from it.
‘We should stay here for another night, if you are amenable. There is a wedding in the tribe and a big celebration is planned this evening.’ He hesitated, and it almost looked as if he were blushing. ‘We are the guests of honour.’
‘We are? I could understand why you might be, but—’
‘The members of the tribe are under the impression that we are newly married,’ he interjected in a low voice. ‘I have not corrected it.’
‘What?’ Elena bolted upright, gaping at him before she could think to close her mouth. So that was why the woman had looked at Khalil and giggled. ‘But why are they under that impression?’ she asked, her voice coming out in something close to a squeak. ‘And why haven’t you corrected it?’
‘They are under it because it is the only reason they know of why a man and woman would be travelling alone together. If the storm hadn’t arisen, we would have entered the camp with my men—’
‘But couldn’t you have explained about the storm?’
‘That would not have been a good enough reason. The desert tribes are traditional. I didn’t explain because to do so would have brought disapproval and shame upon both of us.’ His mouth and eyes both hardened. ‘Something I should have considered more carefully. I acted foolishly in asking you to accompany me.’
Elena blinked, trying to hide the hurt his recrimination made her feel. He regretted her company, along with that kiss. She drew a breath, forced herself to think about the practicalities. ‘And what happens when they discover we’re not married?’
‘Ideally, they won’t. At least, not while we’re here.’
‘Eventually, though...’
‘Eventually, yes. But by that time I will be installed as Sheikh and I will be able to make any apologies or explanations that are necessary. To do so right now would invite even more instability.’ He sighed, shifting his weight restlessly. ‘I admit, I don’t like lying, not even by silence—but this is a critical time, not just for myself, but for Kadar. The less unrest there is, the better.’
‘So I am meant to pretend to be your wife?’ Elena asked, her voice a hushed and disbelieving whisper.
Khalil’s gaze seemed to burn into hers. ‘Only for one day and night. Will that be so hard, Elena?’
She felt her body flood with warmth, her face flush. No, it wouldn’t be hard at all—that was the problem. She looked away, willing her blush to recede. ‘I don’t like lying,’ she muttered.
‘Nor do I. But there is no choice. Although I would have hoped that such a pretence would not be quite so abhorrent to you.’ His eyes glowed with both knowledge and memory, reminding her of their kiss. It felt as if he were taunting her that he knew she wanted him, that such a fantasy would not be unpleasant at all but far, far too desirable.
Elena broke their locked gaze first, looking away from all the knowledge in Khalil’s eyes. ‘And after tonight?’ she asked when she trusted her voice to sound as level as his had been. ‘Then you’ll let me go?’
‘Yes. I’ll take you to Siyad myself. Now that Aziz will be forced to call a referendum, there is no need for me to remain in the desert.’
She swallowed, her mind spinning with all this new information. ‘What will happen to Aziz?’
Khalil shrugged. ‘He will return to Europe, I imagine. He has a house in Paris. He can live the playboy life he so enjoys.’
‘That’s not fair,’ Elena protested. ‘He might be a playboy, but he has his own business, and he’s done a lot of good—’
Khalil flung up a hand. ‘Please. Do not defend Aziz to me.’ She fell silent and he gazed at her, his mouth thinning. ‘Are you so disappointed,’ he asked after a moment, ‘not to marry Aziz?’
‘Only because of what it means for my country. My rule.’
‘You are a strong woman, Elena. I think you could stand up to your Council without a husband propping you up.’
She let out a short laugh, not knowing whether to feel offended or flattered. ‘Thank you for that vote of confidence, I suppose.’
‘I didn’t mean it as a criticism. You’ve shown me with your