Rosewater Oasis this is a joke

the fire in his eyes first sent a chill down her spine — had she enraged him? she braced herself for his wrath. but it dawned on her that this fire was not rage, but bright passion. her words, simple as they were, were oil to samirseti's flame.

ordained by the gods. if that was true, damn them. damn them, why did the blood of innocents — from the royals to the fellahin — had to spill to unite them? if she was meant for samirseti, why be rid of the red palace? there could've been three. the gods could've held dominion over the lowlands, instead of slaying their loyalist.
no. surely, they weren't so foolish. this was not by them, but their own doing. her own doing.

and yet she pressed into his kiss. regret had finally settled in, but it was too late for that. her throat felt dry.

the dark girl nodded solemnly nevertheless. for as far as she'd allow him to know, she was enraptured by his promises of divinity and glory. then it shall be done. i was intended to wed soon. she chuckled into his breast. maybe it was fate, then. her voice quivers, a wetness swelling in her eyes and staining her cheeks. a shaking smile as grim as the tragedy that united them.