The older man lifted a brow. Thomas flushed. “We’ve changed too much. What we once had has faded.”
The man chuckled, shaking his head. He sighed and was about to explain why they didn’t suit when the elder pointed to the ceiling. “No rain.”
Thomas listened for a moment and realized he was right. He jumped to his feet. “Can we go now?”
Omar nodded.
He raced out of the building to find Fadir and other men already preparing to head back to the caves. Thomas joined them. Fadir said, “They will be fine.”
Thomas wanted to believe that and nodded. As they reached the cave, he was surprised to see that most of the water had subsided. If someone hadn’t been in the tunnels, they would never have guessed how fast the water moved or how high it reached. They entered the cave system. While there was water on the ground, it now reached only as high as his ankles. He glanced at the tunnel to see that it had been fully filled. Water dripped from everywhere.
He reminded himself that the ledge he had left Lisbeth and the others on was much higher than the top of the tunnel. They moved closer to the cavern with all the corridors, and Fadir stopped. He smiled and motioned to listen. Voices, including Lisbeth’s, echoed down the tunnel. Thomas rushed past the guide, rushing towards the sound. He stumbled to a stop as he saw Lisbeth, Badr, Rafe, and Benson walking towards them.
Rafe spotted him first and grinned. “I’m so happy to see that cocky smile of yours.”
He laughed, and then his eyes connected with Lisbeth’s. A strong emotion crackled between them. She was unharmed. Thomas stopped himself from falling to his knees and thanking anyone who would listen. Perhaps he was truly like the Majnun, the madman, because he wanted to wrap her in his arms andnever let her go. A primal need coursed through him to claim Lisbeth—to tell the world she was his.
When Lisbeth, Rafe, Benson, and Badr finally reached him, he hugged Rafe. “You scared the hell out of me.”
He laughed and whispered, “Relax, she is fine.”
Thomas didn’t argue with him but simply nodded. Rafe moved aside, and Lisbeth stood in front of him. They studied one another. She seemed suddenly nervous and blurted out, “We have the tablets.”
Not thinking about the others around them, Thomas pulled her to him, kissing the top of her head. “I was so worried. No more cave exploring with you for a while.”
She looked up at him, her eyes watering. “You were worried? We watched as you were swept away. Don’t you ever do something that crazy again, Thomas.”
He smiled at her. “It wasn’t on purpose.”
“Let’s go, you two. The villagers have promised that a feast awaits us.”
Chapter Nine
Lisbeth listened tothe music surrounding her. The village was euphoric that the tablets had been discovered, but more importantly, that everyone had survived the flooding. She studied a man playing a stringed instrument. It had been so many years since she’d heard the distinct sound of the rebab that was often coupled with the poetic singing of the region.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the song, and was startled when Rafe joined her. Lisbeth jumped, and he grinned. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
A chuckle escaped her. “It has been a long time since I’ve heard this type of music. I wish my understanding of the words was better.”
“It is a song about the madman who loved Layla.”
“That forbidden love story seems to be a popular one,” Lisbeth said, excited that she remembered something.
Rafe nodded. “It is one of the most beloved Arabic tales.”
They quietly listened to the song. Even without understanding the words, she grasped that they were intended to evoke longing and regret. She glanced at Rafe and smirked. “It sounds like a very sad tale.”
“The madman grew up with Layla and loved her his whole life, but she ended up with another. Afterward, he wandered the region creating poetry about his lost love.”
Lisbeth nodded. “I remember now.”
Sadness filled her. It was one of the stories Thomas had enjoyed when they first moved to this area. She gulped because he’d always told her they were like the story, but happier. Rafe wandered away, summoned by one of the village elders. Lisbeth let her mind drift to memories from the past.
*
Lisbeth leaned forwardand kissed Thomas as they sat outside under the stars. Recently, they’d revealed to each other their true feelings.
Being out in the world had emboldened Thomas to declare he loved her, and Lisbeth couldn’t be happier. He’d professed that he always had. The words had made her feel guilty because she’d not realized her feelings for him until recently.
