Dalilah half ran, half stumbled behind him. She was already desperately thirsty, and blisters from yesterday were rubbing raw in her oversize boots. Humiliation, desperation, burned through her chest. She’d opened up, made herself so vulnerable, told him she was falling in love with him, while confirming at the same that she was going to marry Haroun. How stupid could she possibly be? What on earth had she hoped to achieve? Had she thought he’d miraculously rescue her from having to make her own decisions? From her own desires? From her obligations? All she’d done was make it tougher on him, and on herself, and she’d made herself a wanton fool in his eyes. “Faster, Dalilah!” he yelled from ahead of her. “Dammit, I’m going as fast as I can!” He marched harder, his stride wider. She had to start running full tilt to keep up. She stumbled, hitting the ground with such a hard thud that it forced him to spin round.
