renewed brightness in the tent.
‘I thought you turned the lights down?’ Her voice was a husky slur.
Rahim reached out and turned the glare back down. ‘I had to turn it back up for a moment?’
She stared back at him. ‘Had to?’
He smiled. ‘A short evidence of the marriage’s consummation.’
Allegra felt her face flame as she recalled that part of the traditional ceremony. ‘Oh, God! Our silhouettes against the tent?’
He nodded, laughing at her horror.
‘How many people will be watching?’
He shrugged. ‘No one will confirm it but at least one or two of the elders will be on the mountain to witness our joining. Maybe more.’
As if on cue, another boom sounded, this time much closer to the tent. ‘What does that mean?’
‘Our union has been approved.’
Minutes later, Rahim was still chuckling at her embarrassment. Rising, he filled a platter with the food that had been laid on a low table in the sitting area. After feeding her dates, sun-ripened tomatoes and stuffed vine leaves, he disposed of the dishes, came back to bed and pulled her into his arms.
Settling deeper into the bliss that flowed from her soul, Allegra combed her fingers through his hair, more content than she’d ever been in her life.
‘Your beautiful eyes have lost focus. What’s on your mind, habibi?’ he enquired after a few minutes of peaceful silence.
‘I’ve never believed in fate and destiny. But after everything that’s happened to us...’ Her voice drifted off, her fear that she would reveal too much and drive him away a living thing inside her.
‘And you believe it now?’
‘My grandfather believed in hard work and ambition...or so I thought until recently.’
Rahim leaned back and stared down at her. ‘What are you saying?’
She cupped his jaw, revelling in the rough maleness of his skin. ‘Today, it occurred to me that everything I’ve done has led me here. It may sound absurd, but I can’t help but think I’m right where I need to be.’
Leaning down, he kissed her long and deep. Then he caught her closer to him, his strong arms wrapping her tight...tighter, until their hearts echoed one another’s, then beat as one.
‘It’s not absurd, ya galbi. Not absurd at all.’
At dawn, Allegra rose to use the bathroom. Smiling at Rahim’s disgruntled protest to her leaving the bed, she entered the luxurious bathroom and crossed to the stall. She wasn’t certain what made her look down.
The blood on her thighs didn’t make sense at first. She was carrying the child of her heart. Fate itself had handed her this precious gift.
But then she remembered that until today she’d never truly believed in fate. Fate had only ever taken from her, not given. It’d taken her parents. It was stealing her grandfather right from under her helpless nose.
And now it was about to take her very soul.
‘Rahim!’
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