Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
And the sheikh slid to his knees.
A painful gasp escaped her. “Khalil, no—-”
He stared up at her. “You’re my other half, Harper.”
Her hands flew to her mouth.
“Not the throne. Not the kingdom. But you. Just you.”
But this time, the sheikh’s tone was dull, and pain strangled her throat at the sound of it. He wasn’t supposed to be this hurt. He was supposed to be able to move on because he had the kingdom, and wasn’t that the most precious thing to him?
“So I’ll say it again.”
His own voice shook, and a shuddering sob wrecked her body at the sound of it.
“And this time – this time, your answer will be different.”
But in his eyes, she could see only emptiness, could see that the sheikh no longer believed in what he was saying—-
“I love you.”
Words that were whispered as if it was the only thing the sheikh could live for, words spoken with such pain that it vanquished all her fears and made her legs give out.
Oh God.
He had meant it.
This man loved her more than his throne, his kingdom—-
More than everything—-
And Harper threw her arms around him. I love you. She cupped his face and wept harder at the sight of his own tear-stained eyes. I love you. She pressed her lips to his own. I love you.
Epilogue
One moment later
News channels all over the world were celebrating. For the first time in history, they were televising something that was watched more than the World Cup, Super Bowl, and Oscars’ Red Carpet combined.
“And its global reach is just unbelievable,” a CNN reporter exclaimed. “The 2008 Summer Olympics is nothing compared to the numbers we’re seeing. It seems like the whole world truly believes the results of this election can prove whether two cultures can exist peacefully.”
“It doesn’t hurt at all that the people who have flown in to show their support for Emir Sheikh Khalil Al-Atassi are very familiar faces to the public,” an E! program host remarked.
“You can say that again,” the show’s correspondent agreed fervently.
“Can you give us a rundown on who’s showed up so far?”
“Sure can do.”
“There’s the newly formed Greek Coalition, made up by Stavros Manolis, Kyrillos Gazis, Damen Leventis, Ioniko Vlahos, Acheron Simonides, and Mykolas Sallis. I heard from very good authority that this extremely powerful group of businessmen has stated they’d be withdrawing their support for the Ramilian government if the council votes for the Emir Sheikh’s abdication.”
“What about Contini?”
“Queen Wilhemina has sent none other than her most trusted envoy himself.”
A split screen followed, showing photos of a ridiculously attractive couple, both of them tall, blond, and blue-eyed, and their names – Willem de Konigh and his fiancée Serenity Raleigh – flashing below it.
The female program host sighed. “Those two look too good to be true.”
“A whole other contingency of de Konighs is also here, and luckily for Ramil’s single population, many of them remain eligible.”
“Who else is there?”
“We caught a glimpse of The Pussketeers.”
“Any word on their stand?”
“Firmly on the Emir Sheikh’s side. For those who don’t know, all of Constantijin Kastein’s news companies have published articles sharing the accomplishments of the Emir Sheikh, and he paid for all of it out of pocket. These news editions have been freely distributed in all the hotels owned by Staffan Aehrenthal and the ducal properties of Rathe Wellesley.”
“Impressive!”
“That’s not all of it. Staffan’s wife, Sapphire, was also accompanied by the whole March clan. Her father Senator March, her mother – the Beaufort heiress – and of course, Steel and Silver March.”
“That is one serious show of support for the Emir Sheikh.”
“Understatement of the year,” the correspondent said with a chuckle. “And let’s not forget the other Beasts.”
“Did they all come?”
“Everyone and their plus ones are accounted for. Even Russia sends its love. The Russian Beast came with his whole family in tow – Fyodor, Misha, Vassi, Seri Devereux, and of course Sergei’s wife and infant daughter.”
“All things considering, I don’t see how the Emir Sheikh can possibly lose.”
Harper snorted at the TV host’s statement, muttering, “The only reason she can say that is because she doesn’t know how many idiots make up the council.”
Silence.
And the queen belatedly remembered she wasn’t actually alone but in the throne room, where all of her husband’s supporters had gathered to watch the televised results of the election.
Oh shit.
But this, too, slipped past her lips, and laughter rang out in the throne room.
Harper pretended not to notice her court tutor glaring at her. She was so dead.
From the other throne, the sheikh bent close, saying solemnly, “I will plead your case to your court tutor if you wish.”
“No, thanks.” Knowing him, he would just dig a bigger grave for her.
The sheikh took hold of her hand and frowned at how cold it was to touch. “You are afraid of the results?”