Upon returning home to Marrakech from the Hajj, Malik promises his mother that he is ready to marry. But when his friend's little sister turns out to be the proud beauty he helped in the market, he blurts out the truth.
Kinti agrees, only to be a spy for her mentor in the underground movement. She wants to find out where Malik ibn Nusair is sending disappearing slaves.
But Malik has more secrets. Secrets he cannot share with a fake fiancée. Only a real one. And Kinti cannot match this sweet man with his reputation or stop herself from wanting to be the reason he is happy.
If everyone is using everyone, why is Kinti the one feeling guilty? If it's all pretend, why is Malik desperate for her to see the truth?
Autorentext
Holly March has been telling stories all her life. She owes a great debt to the girls in the dorms, her RPG friends, and of course her family, who listened to her blather and read her fanfic. She lives on the welsh border and breathes the 12th Century. She did not discover she was autistic until she was 30 but has spent the years since saying 'yeah, that makes sense'. She lives with her parents, her familiar, and the other pets.