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He grimaced. “I admit, it never occurred to me.” At her look of complete indignation he lifted a hand to pause her inevitable interruption. “You told me from the first night we met that you did not want any complications. While I knew I loved you, I never dared dream that you felt the same.” He knelt before her, clasping her hands in his. “I told myself that the thought of life without you was causing pain only to me. That you were happy. That you were enjoying our relationship, and that you had no doubt about moving on from me, when the time came.”
“Why would you think that?”
“You seemed so content to talk to me about Arja, Sina and Alisan. I never dared hope that you loved me.” He stared at her with his beautiful, intense eyes. “Even now I do not dare to hope.”
She stamped her foot in annoyance. “This is impossible. You’re going to be the King of a country. I live here. Are you actually suggesting that we can just fall in love and get married? That it can be so simple?”
“I’m begging you,” he murmured throatily. “I can no longer imagine a life without you in it.”
Cassie sobbed, but happiness was beginning to flood her veins.
“You must answer me, Cassie.”
She bit down on her lip. “But …” It was all too much. “I’m pregnant? Are you sure?”
His smile was the most full of joy she’d ever seen. “Absolutely.”
She laughed, a strangled sound of joy and confusion. “But … how? I’m on the pill. It shouldn’t be possible.”
“It is one of these instances of things that are simply meant to be, and so they are.”
She nodded, sense finally being made from his words. “I’m going to have a baby.”
“Together, we will raise a child.”
“Yes.” She smiled down at him, all the happiness in the world exploding through her. “We will.”
Relief flooded his system. The unfamiliar state of worry was ebbing away, returning the powerful Layth Sati to his normal self. He pulled the ring from his pocket, and slid it on her engagement finger. “For the rest of my life, Cassandra Walton, will you be mine?”
“Only if you’ll be mine.” She knelt on the floor, and kissed him with love and desire. “Forever and ever.”
“Agreed.”
And so it was, because it was one of those things that was simply meant to be.
Epilogue
Layth took after his father. Where Elena was small and fragile, with dark hair streaked with grey, Adin was tall and formidable looking. His broad frame was shrouded in the same ceremonial robes she’d become accustomed to Layth wearing.
“I do not understand why you must depart so quickly. You have only been here a week.” Elena was stroppy, and she made no effort to hide it from her son.
“Because when I become Emir, it will not be so easy to slip away with my bride.” He lifted his gaze to Cassie. She was sitting elegantly in an armchair, her face enraptured as Adin regaled her with some story. Undoubtedly one that served to embarrass Layth.
Elena followed her son’s gaze. “Has she forgiven me for my heavy handed match-making?”
“Forgiven you?”
Elena sighed. “I should never have encouraged Arja as I did. I truly believed she would make you happy.”
“And now?” He asked quietly, unable to contain his smile as Cassie laughed. The sound was like petals scattering in the breeze. Gentle and mysterious.
Elena’s voice cracked a little when she spoke. “Now, I realise I have never seen you happy before. Not until this. Not Arja, no one, could have given you what Cassandra has.”
And his mother did not yet know the half of it.
“It is as though she has breathed life into you. More life than I knew possible.”
“Was I so lacking in life before?” He asked, a slightly teasing tone to his voice.
