Free The Sheik's Command by Loreth Anne White Page B

black, riding his camel.
    Nikki also wound her scarf like a turban over her face and hunched into the hot wind.
    They rounded the Rock of Swords and began to climb a very narrow and steep path into the mountains.

Chapter 7
    N ikki squinted into the wind, her knuckles white as she gripped her camel rope. She’d lost track of how many hours they’d been climbing. The trail had narrowed, a chasm dropping sharply off to her left, the blowing sand obscuring her vision of the cliff edge.
    As they climbed higher into the mountains, clouds began to roll over the jagged peaks, sweeping down over them in great big tatters, worsening visibility. She wondered if Zakir could see much in this light. But as she turned to glance back at him, her camel lost its footing and stumbled. Nikki gasped as dislodged stones and rocks clattered down into the void on her left. She reined in her camel, heart thudding.
    Had she lost the way? Taken the wrong path?
    Zakir came up behind her, his dogs following him in single file along the very narrow trail. “You sure this is the right trail?” he called over the wind.
    “I…I think so. It’s hard to make out the landmarks in this storm.”
    “It’ll be dark soon. We won’t be able to travel without light from the moon or stars tonight. We need to find a place to set up camp.”
    He was wearing his long wool cape now to ward off the chill at this high elevation. She, too, wore a cape that had been packed for her at the palace, and she was grateful for the warmth. But in spite of his simple black garb, Zakir could not hide his regal stature. He looked like a man born to lead whether in common turban and cloak on a camel or in glittering brocade in his castle.
    His words snaked through her mind. I have enemies who will not stop until they have wiped out the entire Al Arif bloodline. They are bold and highly creative.
    It was true. More so than he realized. His enemy lurked among his most trusted bodyguards. She should tell him.
    But she didn’t doubt the intent in that Gurkha’s eyes. There was something reptilian about Tenzing Gelu that chilled her soul. She believed he’d follow through on his threat.
    Nikki had to think of her kids first. This was not her country—or battle.
    Or was it?
    Had Tenzing Gelu just made it hers? She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling trapped. “Nikki?”
    Her eyes flared open. “I’m fine.” She clucked her tongue quickly and nudged her camel forward. Slowly, they began to climb again, the path growing narrower, steeper, closer to the cliff edge.
    Nikki topped a rise, and suddenly the sky was clear again. At this elevation, they were above the blizzard of sand being whipped across the valley and foothills below. But even though the wind carried no sand, it remained fierce. And now it was cold.
    Her fists tightened around her camel rope as more rocksclattered down into the gorge. Then suddenly her camel’s hooves slipped on loose sand. The beast scrambled wildly, front legs buckling as it lost footing, and Nikki was tossed forward over the saddle. She screamed, grabbing wildly for the rope, but her camel got to its feet and scampered up the path. Nikki hit ground hard. She rolled twice like a rag doll. Then she began to slide toward the cliff edge.
    She screamed again, digging nails into stone, trying desperately to find purchase, but couldn’t hold…she was going over.
    Dread slicked through her stomach as she felt herself dropping through the air. She bounced against a rock, grabbing wildly as she slid farther along the steep face. But all she succeeded in doing was releasing a shower of sand and stones that avalanched down with her. With a sharp jolt she hit a small ledge. Breath whooshed from her chest. She heard Zakir calling her name, but she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t call out to him. Rocks clattered down. One smacked her temple.
    Blood leaked down the side of her face as nausea roiled in her gut. She wasn’t sure if she could move her legs.