Chapter 50
Rami
In the tenebrous grasp of death, my world faded to a point where only her tear-streaked face hovered in the dwindling circle of light. The agony of my wounds and the lethal crawl of the poison had sapped the remaining strength from my body, and as my vision dimmed—the shadows encroaching on my golden-eyed enchantress—my heartbeats became sluggish.I mourned the cruel twist that snatched life and love away just as they’d begun, my heart stuttering out its last beat…
The void engulfed me in its silent embrace, a profound stillness settling upon the universe, as if time itself halted. In that suspended moment, a glimmer of hope emerged. An amethyst pendant descended, landing on my chest, directly over my heart. It pulsed rapidly, like a heartbeat of its own, releasing a soothing warmth into my body. The heat spread through me, easing the pain and filling me with a sense of calm.
As it did, I sensed something extraordinary—a connection to Nahlah”s pure heart. I felt her innate need to help others, her fierce protection over her family, her noble intentions, and her everlasting love. Everything good about her flowed from the Heart of Eternity, infusing me with a healing that mended my wounded body, soothed my weary soul, and completed my fractured heart. I could feel her essence merging with mine, her unwavering faith and boundless compassion. Every good deed she had performed, every selfless act, all her dreams and aspirations, coursed through the pendant and into me.
Her wonderful, beautiful soul was being amplified by the Heart tenfold.
With a fierce surge, the pendant released a brilliant flash of purple light, suffusing my entire being and enveloping me in a cocoon of pure energy. The light grew brighter, brighter, brighter, banishing the darkness and filling me with an overwhelming sense of peace.
Against all odds, my faltering heart found its rhythm once more, pulsing with a renewed vigor, countering the icy tendrils that had claimed me. With a gasp, air flooded into my lungs, a life-giving surge that banished the suffocating grip of darkness. As I opened my eyes, the world around me was a blur of colors and shapes, swirling and shifting like fragments of a dream manifesting into reality.
Instinctively, I placed my hand on my chest, tracing my fingers over the place where the fatal wound had been. But to my surprise, I found nothing but smooth, unblemished skin. A wild rush of emotions flooded my senses as it dawned on me—I was alive, inexplicably so.
The sound of Nahlah weeping shattered my newfound clarity, sending a wave of sorrow through me. Turning my head, I caught sight of her slumped forward, sobbing against a man”s shoulder, clutching his blue jellaba tightly. The loose strands of hair framing his solemn face were a unique silver hue—a distinct feature emphasized in the tales spun about him—revealing his identity as Captain Sinbad.
As the depths of Nahlah”s despair became a haunting refrain, I felt an urgent need to go to her, to ease her suffering in any way I could. Summoning all of my strength, I pushed myself into a sitting position, instantly sensing Huriyah”s excitement as he realized I was alive. With a joyful whinny, he galloped toward me, his hooves slipping across the wet roof. When he skidded to a halt in front of me, he tossed his head, prancing in an excited circle.
At the sound of his delighted reaction, Nahlah glanced up, her red-rimmed eyes locking with mine as she gasped, ”Rami?”
”For the love of the realms,” Captain Sinbad breathed out in disbelief.
“Rami?” Nahlah repeated, her voice barely a whisper. She stood slowly, her steps faltering as she approached me cautiously.
”Hayati,” I murmured affectionately, smiling as I reached out to her with open arms. She closed the distance between us instantly, her body trembling as she threw herself into my arms, burying her face in my chest. “It’s okay,” I murmured, stroking a hand down her hair. “You’re safe.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. ”I”m safe.” Another kiss, this time on her cheek. “We’re safe.”
She looked up with a sniffle. ”But how?” her voice broke as she gripped my face, her golden eyes shimmering with tears. ”You were gone, Rami.” Suddenly, a glorious light materialized between us, gradually dimming to reveal the Heart of Eternity hanging around her neck.
I smiled, settling my hand over her heart, feeling its frantic rhythm beneath my palm. “Remember how the Heart”s powers amplify what’s inside us?”
“Yes,” she nodded, tracing my cheek, down to my jaw, and over my lips, as if needing to reassure herself that I was really there.
“That’s how—it was your beautiful, loving soul that saved me,” I murmured, grasping her chin and leaning in for a searing, passionate kiss.
Her response was just as fierce, her hands fisting in my jellaba as she yanked me closer. The taste of her lips, her saffron and sandsilk lily scent, the feel of her skin beneath my fingertips—everything about her was intoxicating. In a sudden motion, I tilted her back, deepening the kiss as her lips parted on a gasp.
“Genio fae.” A raspy voice suddenly cut through the moment. We pulled apart abruptly, and I discreetly dropped my hand so I was no longer cupping her breast.
“Captain Sinbad?” I asked, hastily placing my fist over my heart.
“I’m very glad you’re alive,” he said, a half smile lifting the corner of his mouth. “But if you don’t remove your lips from my daughter, I’m going to remove them from your face.”
As Huriyah chuffed in amusement, laughter, pure and unrestrained, burst from me. Trying to avoid his playful stare, Nahlah hid her face behind her hands, giggling in embarrassment.
“Understood, Captain,” I replied, releasing her. She stood quickly, extending her hands and gently supporting me as I unsteadily rose. Once I”d found my balance, I pulled her closer, my lips brushing her ear as I whispered, “Just wait till we’re alone; I have plans that involve much more than kissing.”
”Ram!” she laughed, elbowing me in the ribs as her entire face turning a charming shade of crimson. The moment was perfect, and it was ours—filled with the promises of endless tomorrows.