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“It’s already decided. Conserve your strength for the trip.”
Tally’s eyes fluttered closed, even as it crossed her mind that she rather liked the fever and delirium better than this wretched return to reality. Tair had no intention of ever returning her to Baraka, did he? If he had his way she’d live in Ouaha forever, wouldn’t she?
“I’ll have to kill you,” she said dully, filled with weary resignation. “It won’t be easy, but it must be done.”
The tent was silent and for a long moment Tally held her breath, waiting for his response. And then it came. He laughed softly. “Good luck.”
Two more days passed before Tair announced that they would be leaving in the morning. “I know you aren’t completely recovered—”
“I’m fine,” she interrupted, cutting him short.
“—so you will travel with me, on my horse,” he continued as though she’d never spoken. “It will be a long day, we’ll leave early, but we shall reach Bur Juman before dusk.”
“Bur Juman?”
“Home.”
Tally blinked, confused. “I thought this was your home.”
Tair’s hard features shifted, his firm mouth easing into a faint mocking smile. “This was a test.”
“A test?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Now you will see where I live.”
Tair was right. It was a long day traveling, and sitting so close to Tair on his horse made her even more restless than her fevers and delirium. The constant motion of the horse shifted her back and forth against Tair until every nerve ending felt rubbed raw.
Just when Tally didn’t think she could handle another moment of such intimate contact, something took shape on the horizon. It wasn’t cloud or wind. Wasn’t a sandstorm or anything sinister. It was a mountain.
“Is that where we’re going?” Tally asked, turning to look at Tair.
“Just wait,” he answered.
It was a long wait. Another hour or more of riding but the mountain grew larger and little by little Tally could see that the mountain was actually a mammoth rock jutting from the earth.
Tair and his men rode toward the rock, and then around the base of the rock and where there was a narrow ravine, they nudged their horses forward.
“Where are we going?” Tally whispered, awed by the sheer size of the rock soaring above them.
“You’ll see.”
And then she did.
Tally leaned forward on the horse, craning her head to get a better look.
This, she thought awed, was more like it.
This was a secret world Westerners were rarely permitted to see, a fantasy world carved from desert and wind, storm and age.
Tally tried to hide her excitement as the mountain opened up before her eyes. Tair’s home appeared to be carved from rock—right from the mountain itself.
There were rooms marked by windows, shutters and iron grillwork, and then there were terraces, balconies, patios and stairs everywhere. Wooden staircases, ladders, wide stone steps, curving stone staircases. It was a fantasy world that was also home. Incredible. Like Swiss Family Robinson but only better because it was real. And she was here.
She felt Tair’s gaze rest on her, felt his hard, male amusement.
“You like it,” he said.
She shrugged indifferently. “It’s…interesting.”
“You should learn to lie better. Especially if you’re going to lie as often as you do.”
Tally pressed the tip of her tongue to the back of her teeth, pressing hard enough to feel the seam between her teeth and the little ridges high near her gums. “Why hasn’t anyone put a poisonous snake in your bed yet?” she asked sweetly.
“They’ve tried.”
She snorted, part laughter, part exasperation. “Just how many times have people tried to kill you?”
He crossed his arms, half-closed his eyes, counting. “Ten. Fifteen. Something like that.”
“Come on. I’m being serious.”
“You’re right. It’s higher than that. Probably closer to twenty. But I try not to dwell on negative things.”
Tally shot him a look of disbelief before seeing the smile in his eyes. It was amazing how he could do that. His face was rigid—marble-like—and yet his eyes were so fierce and alive. And lately those beautifully alive eyes had been smiling.
“I’m so not surprised,” she teased as gates were opened and men appeared to take the horses.
Tair greeted those who’d come to welcome him and then turned back to Tally. “Are you tired? Do you need to sit?”
