Captive of the Desert King Page 18

  She loved the desert. She loved Rashid and she loved Jarek. And never again would she ever say that to anyone, if she walked away now.

  Slowly, the band in her chest eased, allowing her to take a deep breath.

  While no one spoke, she felt every pair of eyes on her.

  Slowly, she turned back. Jarek hadn’t moved. She smiled through her tears. Even in humbling himself, he stayed arrogant like only a desert king could.

  “May Allah keep you safe on your journey home, Sarah,” he whispered in a low raspy voice.

  “I think for the first time I am home, Your Majesty.” Uncaring, she let the camera drop to the ground. “If you can handle complicated.”

  An instant later, Jarek gathered her into his arms. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He held her up and twirled her around.

  Slowly, she slid to the ground. “I love you, Jarek.”

  “Yippee!” Rashid jumped off of Ping and rushed forward. He threw himself at his father and Sarah.

  The soldiers behind them broke out into cheers.

  “Are we a family now, Papa?”

  “Yes, we’re a family.”

  “Will you be my mama, Sarah?”

  Tears blurred, then slid down her cheeks. Gently, Jarek kissed them away.

  “I’d like that more than anything.” Sarah threw her arms around both of them, her breath hitching with pure joy.

  “What do you think of that, son?” Jarek hugged Rashid to him, enjoying both Sarah and his son in his arms.

  Rashid glanced up at his father, then back at the army of men lined up behind them. The little boy grinned, his dimples flashing in the sunlight. “I think that destiny has many helping hands.”

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-3608-4

  CAPTIVE OF THE DESERT KING

  Copyright © 2009 by Donna Young

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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