Empire of Dreams

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We'd traveled separately back to the palace, him on his horse and me in my litter with the other royal women. It had been a long time since we'd been back. He should be in his room now. I stared at the screens dividing our chambers—

As if he'd read my mind, they slid open.

"You're dismissed," Ayesha and Haleema bowed their heads and walked out. A chill ran from the nape of my neck to the soles of my feet.

'Your husband is your only ally in this situation Laila. Talk to him. Trust him'

Sanaa's words came back to me and I took a deep breath.

I'd told him. Told him what I'd done to protect him—to protect us—but I'd left him with so many questions. With so many doubts. Would he be angry? He'd listened to me without comment, without any judgment. Would it be the same now?

"Laila," his voice was low and unassuming. Unmistakable.

I met his gaze and everything around me melted away. There was no fear, no worry. No judgment. Only him.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Thank you for trusting me."

"You should have told me about his intentions, Laila. Had I been better informed I would have never left you alone," He pulled me into his chest, a hand tangling through my hair. The beat of his heart rang loud and true against my cheek.

"You didn't. He's had this idea in his head. I've been trying to dissuade him, Baba's talked to him but he just doesn't understand," I exhaled fast only to inhale deep. To breathe in his scent.

"You're helping us. He'll realize that he can't have you. That you're mine," His face solemn, Ali bent toward me, tipping my nose upward with his. "Your information and understanding helped the negotiations. You're very wise, my beautiful wife. Perhaps you should be the General. And leave me to languish in your chamber, until you have need of me."

"Perhaps I should," I said and kissed his jaw."Why is the Caliph sending us to Morroco Ali?" He sighed, long and low, pulling away. "Is he sending us there because of the Byzantine influence or is there something more?"

"I don't know. Baba hasn't clarified," I sighed, Ali would not run from his obligations. That much had been quite evident to me, as I'd seen time and time again. "It's an imperial order."

"How long would it take us?"

"Forty to fifty days in total."

"What?"

"We'll have to stop at different places along the way," Ali sank into the ivory silk cushion, pulling me along with him. I nodded as he untied the string holding my hair together. Sweeping it away, he placed a gentle kiss on the nape of my neck. "Baba's sending Khalid back to Damascus. He wants Amina to have her child there."

"Is this your life? Not knowing where you'll be sent at a moment's notice?" Even in the weak light from the lamps, I saw Ali's face soften.

He kissed the top of my head.

"Every part of us is tied to the Caliphate. We exist for the betterment of the Caliphate," I placed my palm against his cheek, watching his eyes close.

"It sounds so... "

"Constraining?" I nodded. "It is."

Picking up the discarded brush from the vanity, he moved it down the length of my hair. I sighed, relaxing against his chest.

"I am glad of one thing."

"What's that?" His lips were at my ear, nibbling.

"This time, I won't have to wait for you," His chest moved with quiet laughter.