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With everyone watching, he pulled her back into his arms and started dancing again. He said in a low voice, “I never touched her.”
“She said you—”
He glanced down at her, his expression harsh. “Under the traditions of the bride market, I cannot touch any of you. Not until I announce my choice.” Setting his jaw, he muttered, “Though I was tempted.”
“Tempted by Sia.”
His dark eyes flashed. “Tempted by you.”
Intense emotion flooded through Beth. “You—you were?” Then she narrowed her eyes. No. She wasn’t going to fall for it again. “You mean as a friend.”
He snorted. “Friend. I nearly kissed you last night. It took all my willpower to...” Setting his jaw, he looked down at her. “If Sia lied to you, it’s because she feels threatened.”
He hadn’t slept with Sia? Because he wanted Beth? No. It couldn’t be true. Could it?
Her pulse was as rapid as a butterfly’s wings. “Threatened—by me?”
“She sees what everyone else can see. Except you.” He looked down at her. “Why can you not see how beautiful you are?”
She swallowed hard. “I’m... I’m not...”
“You are,” he said harshly. His jaw tightened. “But I cannot choose you as my queen.”
“No,” she whispered. Obviously he couldn’t choose the one who’d just insulted all his high council’s mothers. The one who’d lied to his face from the moment they’d met. The one who screwed up everything.
But the realization that Omar hadn’t slept with Sia—and he’d actually been considering choosing Beth as his bride—was the bitterest moment she’d ever known.
Her heart cried out in grief and regret. If only things could have been different...
But no. The relationship had been doomed from the start.
Blinking fast, Beth said, “So you aren’t planning to choose Sia?”
He shuddered. “No.”
“Then who?”
“Only three are left.” His lips flattened. “The choices are not as—robust as I hoped. My vizier was supposed to have every woman sign the contract before you even came to Paris.”
“But we only signed it today. I mean, some of us did.”
“I heard.” His voice was grim. His dark eyes seared hers. “So what should I do, Beth?”
This was the moment. But Beth found it surprisingly difficult. It took several seconds before she could force two words from her mouth.
“Marry Laila,” she whispered before her throat closed. “She should be queen.”
“No.”
She looked up at him with stricken eyes. “But she’s beautiful and kind and—”
“You have pushed her from the beginning.”
“For your sake,” Beth whispered. He didn’t realize what it was costing her. She took a deep breath. “Because your wife won’t just be your queen. She’ll be your partner. Your lover. For the rest of your life.” She lifted her pleading gaze. “Laila is the best choice—”
“Is that really what you want?” he demanded.
“Yes,” she said miserably.
