“This room hasn’t been used in quite some time,” Mehdi said, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and handing it to her.
“Do you have a whole supply of these?” Steph asked, and Mehdi grinned.
“I’m afraid you’re the first woman I’ve ever used them on. I would thank you for the excuse, but I would prefer you not use them for your tears.”
Steph thought back to that fountain, where she had felt so lost and alone. Being with Mehdi, even as her parents’ wrath sat in the back of her mind, she felt freer than she had ever felt before. She wiped her nose delicately and pocketed the handkerchief, determined to get it back to him…someday.
Her feet were beginning to ache from so much walking. Judging by the windows, night had fallen in the time it had taken to tour the palace.
Mehdi glanced out a window. “Ah, we should be good now. Come on. There’s one last place I want to show you.”
He led her toward an ancient tower, the doorway at the bottom revealing only a narrow, winding stone staircase. Mehdi waved a hand at the door.
“Ladies first,” he said.
Steph cast a wary glance up the tall, steep staircase before taking her first step, Mehdi close behind her.
“If I fall you’re going to catch me, right?”
“I would always catch you,” Mehdi answered, and Steph’s heart fluttered.
After what seemed like an eternity of climbing, Steph saw an opening at the top, and she picked up her pace. When she got there, she looked up and held a hand to her mouth in astonishment.
The tower’s ceiling was made entirely of glass, so, much like she had in the aquarium, Steph felt like she was a part of her surroundings, this time enveloped in the sky. With no light pollution, she could see millions of stars streaking in glorious patterns all around her, stopped only by the dark mass of desert below. She felt Mehdi stand next to her.
“This is…unreal,” she breathed.
“Yes. I think that is a good word for it. It’s the one part of the palace I actually like. My ancestors were very interested in astronomy and the study of the skies, so they built this tower as a way to observe them while staying safe from the elements. They were able to learn much from this room.”
“I can imagine so,” she said, gazing around until her eyes landed on the most beautiful thing in the room.
Mehdi was staring up as well, but he seemed to feel her gaze on him, because he glanced down and met her regard, staring deeply into her eyes.
“Why did you do this, really?” she asked.
Mehdi’s expression clouded, and he frowned before answering.
“I too was placed in an arranged marriage. It only lasted a few weeks, as the woman was not at all a match for me, and we ended up getting a divorce. The whole affair was broadcast all over the papers. She threw as much mud at my name as she possibly could. After that, I developed a true dislike of the idea, and I thought I might have a chance to rescue you from the same fate.”
Steph tried to imagine Mehdi marrying another woman, and it left a sour taste in her mouth. It was good to piece together the part of his past he had been hiding, though, and she placed a supportive hand on his arm, unable to resist touching him under the starlight.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she said.
Mehdi shrugged, though he didn’t seem to mind her hand on him, and Steph let it linger a moment longer before forcing herself to drop it.
“It’s all right. All of life’s experiences teach us who we are and who we want to be—and who we want to be with,” he said, gazing down at her once more.
A heavy pause passed between them, and Steph thought about just going that extra distance and pressing her lips to his perfect mouth. But the moment of opportunity passed, and Mehdi broke the trance by looking back up one more time.
“This is a far better place to make wishes than by the edge of a fountain with tears. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Steph looked up again, trying to take in every detail of the moment. Since meeting Mehdi, her whole world had opened up, and she had only known him a day. If she could wish for anything, it would be for just another day with him to live the way she had always wanted.