Page 60 of Her Irresistible Sheik
If an opportunity came up—clean, quiet, no risk to bystanders—she’d take it.
And this time, he wouldn’t walk away.
Chapter 36
“What are you doing up here?”Mikail’s deep voice rumbled behind her as he stepped onto the upper terrace of the fortress.
Nahla didn’t answer right away.She felt him slide his arms around her waist, and she instinctively leaned back into his embrace.His warmth settled over her like a favorite blanket.She smiled when he pressed a kiss to the curve of her neck, inhaling her clean scent of mint and soap.
“Never mind,” he murmured, chuckling softly as his gaze moved past her to the eastern sky.“Stupid question.”
She lifted her camera just as a flash of neon orange painted the clouds above the horizon, and the click of her shutter broke the hush of early morning.Mikail remained still behind her, resting his chin against her temple, watching the world change color.
The sunrise today was dramatic—far more brilliant than usual.A recent sandstorm, probably several hundred miles away, had stirred up particles that now hung suspended in the atmosphere.Those bits of sand and grit turned the sunlight into a kaleidoscope.Where a normal sunrise would have transitioned steadily from charcoal to navy, then soft gray, yellow, and finally blue, this morning’s display exploded in purples, deep pinks, blazing golds, and fiery vermilion.The clouds looked like molten glass, backlit by the climbing sun.
Nahla sighed, the sound full of contentment as she lowered her camera.Her fingers were cold, but she didn’t mind.She had the shot.
Mikail tightened his hold, his arms firm around her as the first true warmth of the sun touched their faces.Neither of them said anything.There was no need.
Eventually, she turned in his arms, facing him with a radiant smile.Her cheeks were pink from the chill, her eyes sparkling with happiness.“Good morning,” she whispered.
He didn’t answer—just kissed her.Slow and reverent, his lips moved over hers with tenderness that stole her breath.
She’d agreed to marry him.He still couldn’t believe it.His chest swelled with something fierce and protective every time he looked at her.Nahla.His.
Now, he just had to make it permanent—solidify the deal between Tavista and Lativa.There would be negotiations, politics, details.Mikail didn’t care.He’d trade away half his treasury if it meant waking up beside her every day for the rest of his life.
A sharp noise echoed from behind them.
They broke apart, and Nahla turned first.Tom stepped out onto the terrace, looking oddly breathless.He wasn’t alarmed, exactly—but something was up.
“Your Highnesses, you’re going to want to see this,” Tom said, eyes still wide.
Mikail tensed instinctively, his arm tightening around Nahla, but the flicker of amusement in the other man’s face relaxed him again.
“What’s going on?”he asked, releasing Nahla but taking her hand as they followed Tom down the hallway.
Tom didn’t answer immediately.He pushed open the doors to the security room, where a half dozen guards were now clustered around the main screen.The room buzzed with energy.
“See for yourself,” Tom said, gesturing toward one of the monitors.
At first, Mikail wasn’t sure what he was looking at.
“Isn’t that…?”Nahla asked, stepping closer, squinting at the grainy footage.
“Yes,” Tom confirmed.“That’s the assassin—Clyde.Or whatever his real name is.”
The camera feed showed a narrow, dingy alleyway, the view slightly tilted, as if the motion-detecting camera had been triggered at an odd angle.On screen, Clyde—recognizable despite the limp and splint—was gesturing wildly.Across from him stood a woman with dark hair pulled into a ponytail, her arms crossed, expression lethal.
“Is there no audio?”Mikail asked.
“Not yet.This was a lucky catch,” Tom explained.“Last night, someone found dried blood in a utility closet.That’s why I flew out here directly this morning.We were investigating that when this came in.One of my guys noticed movement on one of the long-range perimeter cameras.And…well, we were able to enhance the footage.”He shook his head with a half laugh.“We were trying to figure out if it was Clyde, and then the woman started yelling.That’s when it got interesting.”
Nahla leaned closer, her breath fogging the screen.“Wait.Is his jaw swollen?”
Tom nodded.“Looks like it.And his thumb’s still splinted.”
Mikail’s eyes narrowed.“That woman.She’s not one of ours.”
