Page 61 of Her Arabian King

And Harper threw her arms around him. I love you. She cupped his face and wept harder at the sight of his own tear-stained eyes. I love you. She pressed her lips to his own. I love you.

Epilogue

One moment later

News channels all over the world were celebrating. For the first time in history, they were televising something that was watched more than the World Cup, Super Bowl, and Oscars’ Red Carpet combined.

“And its global reach is just unbelievable,” a CNN reporter exclaimed. “The 2008 Summer Olympics is nothing compared to the numbers we’re seeing. It seems like the whole world truly believes the results of this election can prove whether two cultures can exist peacefully.”

“It doesn’t hurt at all that the people who have flown in to show their support for Emir Sheikh Khalil Al-Atassi are very familiar faces to the public,” an E! program host remarked.

“You can say that again,” the show’s correspondent agreed fervently.

“Can you give us a rundown on who’s showed up so far?”

“Sure can do.”

“There’s the newly formed Greek Coalition, made up by Stavros Manolis, Kyrillos Gazis, Damen Leventis, Ioniko Vlahos, Acheron Simonides, and Mykolas Sallis. I heard from very good authority that this extremely powerful group of businessmen has stated they’d be withdrawing their support for the Ramilian government if the council votes for the Emir Sheikh’s abdication.”

“What about Contini?”

“Queen Wilhemina has sent none other than her most trusted envoy himself.”

A split screen followed, showing photos of a ridiculously attractive couple, both of them tall, blond, and blue-eyed, and their names – Willem de Konigh and his fiancée Serenity Raleigh – flashing below it.

The female program host sighed. “Those two look too good to be true.”

“A whole other contingency of de Konighs is also here, and luckily for Ramil’s single population, many of them remain eligible.”

“Who else is there?”

“We caught a glimpse of The Pussketeers.”

“Any word on their stand?”

“Firmly on the Emir Sheikh’s side. For those who don’t know, all of Constantijin Kastein’s news companies have published articles sharing the accomplishments of the Emir Sheikh, and he paid for all of it out of pocket. These news editions have been freely distributed in all the hotels owned by Staffan Aehrenthal and the ducal properties of Rathe Wellesley.”

“Impressive!”

“That’s not all of it. Staffan’s wife, Sapphire, was also accompanied by the whole March clan. Her father Senator March, her mother – the Beaufort heiress – and of course, Steel and Silver March.”

“That is one serious show of support for the Emir Sheikh.”

“Understatement of the year,” the correspondent said with a chuckle. “And let’s not forget the other Beasts.”

“Did they all come?”

“Everyone and their plus ones are accounted for. Even Russia sends its love. The Russian Beast came with his whole family in tow – Fyodor, Misha, Vassi, Seri Devereux, and of course Sergei’s wife and infant daughter.”

“All things considering, I don’t see how the Emir Sheikh can possibly lose.”

Harper snorted at the TV host’s statement, muttering, “The only reason she can say that is because she doesn’t know how many idiots make up the council.”

Silence.

And the queen belatedly remembered she wasn’t actually alone but in the throne room, where all of her husband’s supporters had gathered to watch the televised results of the election.

Oh shit.

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