Page 65 of The Sheikh's Desert Captive

Nicole rolled her eyes. "Mom. I'm not in the middle of nowhere. I'm only going to be a half hour away. I'm just going to take a look."

Annabelle's brows furrowed. "At this time? It'll be dark soon."

Nicole went round the table and hugged her mother's shoulders. She gazed into her mother's eyes, seeing the concern there. "I'll be fine, mom. I'll call you when I get there. Promise."

Nicole turned and started toward the door. "Bye," she called back.

"Make sure you call," she heard her mother say from behind her.

Nicole thought about going upstairs and changing into something warmer. If it took longer than she thought, it might get cold out there in the desert. She decided not to do that. She couldn't wait to get out there and see how he had lived, see what he had left behind.

Nicole took her own car and drove out west, heading out of the city. Her mother was right. It was almost dark. The sun was sinking below the horizon and the sky was darkening.

She left the city behind and headed out along the long, narrow strip of road, the kind that was so commonplace her in Qazhar. Her car's headlights lit the road ahead. The desert on either side was fading into the darkness.

Nicole didn't feel anxiety about what she was doing. The need to visit his palace was so strong. Besides, she knew that she was merely going to see the palace from the outside. There wouldn't be anything for her to see, other than an empty palace. But, somehow, the promise of that had given her a strange sense of hope, a renewed feeling of connection with the man who had transformed how she felt about her life.

As she followed the road in the growing darkness, she had a sense that she was being led out to this place, as if some inner force was compelling her to come to this deserted palace in the middle of nowhere.

After about a half hour, Nicole slowed the car and pulled up on the side of the road. She checked the map on her phone and saw that, zooming in for more detail, it showed a narrow access road that cut away from the road about half a mile up from where she had stopped.

She continued on, and eventually came to the side road. She turned onto it and drove on. Peering into the darkness, all she could see was the line of her headlights illuminating the way.

But to what? She couldn't see anything at all up ahead. Maybe there wouldn't be anything to see. The thought of turning around and heading back to the embassy hovered in her mind as she peered into the gloom.

Nicole glanced down at her phone.

She should be there by now. The little flashing pulse on the screen which showed her own position on the road, told her that the palace should be up ahead.

Then the road twisted through a series of high dunes and she saw it.

Lights!

A palace fully lit up.

She slammed her brakes bringing the car to a sudden halt. She gasped as she stared, disbelieving at the sight a few hundred yards ahead at the far end of the road.

A palace completely lit up with every room on both floors shining bright light out into the desert darkness.

What did this mean? For a moment she was confused. Hadn't her mother told her the palace was vacant? Hadn't Rashid told her he would never live there again?

So, how could this be?

Nicole leaned her chin against the steering wheel and gazed at one of the most beautiful sights she'd ever set eyes on. Her heart was racing and she felt her pulse pounding relentlessly. She almost gasped for joy and felt her eyes moisten.

Could it be true?

Of course it could be, she told herself. Hadn't he said to her he would do something? Hadn't he promised her?

One thing was certain.

Rashid's Qazhar palace wasn't empty anymore.

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