“I had to know…” His mouth was full of rocks, his brain sluggish.
“Know what?”
Holy woof, he felt like a twelve-year-old again. “If…we are okay.”
Her eyebrows lifted and her lips parted. “You?—”
“Silly fool,” he huffed. “Yeah, I know.”
She again rustled his hair, but this time, it felt more intimate. Tender. Her hand trailed down the side of his face, lingered on the bruise, and she winced. “I was going to say you had nothing to worry about.”
Somehow, she was in his arms. And Owen crushed her there. Held her tight. “I had to know because I don’t know what will happen in Jeddah. I needed the anchor of knowing you…we…” Holy crud, he just couldn’t say it. Wasn’t even sure what he wanted to say.
Leighton lifted her head and tracked her gaze over his face. “We are, Owen. We are. I can’t explain it—we have known each other a very short time, but it has felt like my whole life.”
His heart surged into his throat. “Then I can face what’s coming. I promise you, no matter what—trust that I’m going to get you out of there.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“I’ve been begging God to help me figure this out, and…I have a plan. Though I doubt you’re going to like it.”
She faltered for a second, but then gave a slow nod. “I don’t have to like it as long as it works. And I won’t lie—God hasn’t exactly given me a stress-free life.”
“Eh,” Owen said with a rueful grunt. “Stress-free is boring and teaches us to trust ourselves. It’s in the deep darkness that we grow the most. God repeatedly told the Israelites He was giving them the Promised Land, but He didn’t just drop it in their laps. They had to fight for it—violently, bloodily.” Grim-faced, he held her gaze so she comprehended his resolute determination. “That’s what I’m willing to do to get you out of their grip.”
She stared at him for a long second, her eyes shining beneath that promise. “Thank you.” Then she scrunched that pert nose. “But…maybe without the bloodshed.”
“I’ll shed every drop I have if it means you’re free.”
She had no idea if this would work. As the balloon descended toward the landing area on the south side of the camp, Leighton saw the royals moving en masse toward it. Stomach tight, she told herself not to look to the eastern rise they’d just come up over and mentally rehearsed what Owen had told her to say. While the sun had set long ago, she did not need light to see the scowl digging into Maaz’s face as the basket lowered to the ground.
The pilot tossed off a rope to another worker who anchored them, slowly drawing them to settle on the ground. Quickly, he flung open the small gate for her.
Refusing to meet the prince’s gaze, she held on to one side and moved to step over the small lip when a hand slid into view. Her heart skidded into her throat as she met Rayan’s gaze and forced herself to take the proffered help.
Remember, nothing’s wrong. Just out for a ride. “Thank you.” As she stepped out, she felt him close in and held her breath.
“Very foolish, Nouri,” he whispered at her. “Very foolish. You have angered Maaz.”
Old, long-ingrained habits were hard to break. She looked away—and found herself facing Maaz. God, have mercy!
“What were you doing?” the crown prince barked.
Look surprised. “I…riding in the balloon?” Manufacturing a confused expression, she glanced around. “What…? I thought we were allowed. After everything, I only wanted to clear my head. Seeing the savanna was?—”
“Where is he?” Ghalib demanded, his henchmen closing in. “Where’s Mr. Apollo?”
“I have no idea,” she said, very grateful his escape from the basket as they drifted over a rise meant she truly did not know. “Is he missing?”
“You weren’t with him?” Maaz asked, his expression dark. “Someone said they saw you two go up together.”
Her heart gave a start at that. Who had seen them? Rather than lie, she indicated back to the balloon basket. “If he did, where is he?”
Ghalib stomped to the pilot, who was prepping the balloon and securing the canopy. “Was this woman alone for the ride?”
Dark eyes found hers. He was young, his expression searching, scared.
Too well she understood that feeling when having the royals breathing down her neck. Please, God…protect us.
