Wow, thanks so much for your awesome reviews last chapter, guys! They truly made my day and are always a constant source of motivation. Your enthusiasm helped me to get this update written way faster than the last one. Without spoiling, all I can say is BIG stuff happens. Please read and let me know what you think!

Chapter 23: The Betrayal

From the moment Malcolm Merlyn turned himself in, their lives had descended into utter chaos. Preparations had been made to immediately return to Nanda Parbat. Felicity just barely had time to pack her things and call Dig to say goodbye. He hadn't sounded pleased about her departure on the phone and insisted on seeing her before she left.

Felicity wished she could've seen him at least one more time, but Al Sah-him worried that if A.R.G.U.S. caught wind that Merlyn was in their custody, they'd interfere with his transfer. Ra's had already been informed of his capture, and he would not be pleased if they failed to return with the prisoner as promised. Felicity assured Dig that it was her choice to return to Nanda Parbat with her husband, knowing he probably worried that she'd been pressured in her decision.

Although she didn't reveal the nature of their sudden departure and had promised to visit Starling again soon, Dig hadn't been fooled. They'd just barely made it on the plane before A.R.G.U.S. had showed up at the private runway. There'd been a shoot-out; Al Sah-him hadn't ordered his men to stand down, but he did tell them no kill shots. The goal was to buy time to get the plane off of the ground, not needlessly take life.

Felicity had worried about Dig the entire way back and cursed Merlyn for causing yet another mess for them to clean up. It wouldn't be safe to call Dig in a private jet full of eavesdropping and loose-lipped assassins, but she did slip into the bathroom to send him a message from her tablet through the plane's Wi-Fi. She'd apologized profusely for what happened and asked him to let her know that he was okay.

Someone who definitely wasn't okay during all of this was Tommy. The dark circles under his eyes and unusual quietness were dead giveaways. He now sat behind them in the SUV, tight-lipped and sleep-deprived, staring out a tinted window that was so dark almost nothing could be seen of the outside world. Felicity knew Tommy's worry didn't stem from his own well-being; he worried for his father and the punishment he'd face from his former master. Despite Merlyn's demand to be traded for his son, nothing could be done until they saw Ra's. Only the Demon's Head could grant Tommy's freedom, and even then there'd be no guarantee it'd happen.

That lack of certainty was exactly why Felicity was so suspicious of Merlyn's sudden surrender. The man had gone to great lengths to plan the explosion at QC and then the showdown at the warehouse. Why would he turn himself in so easily without any assurances that his son would be spared? Sara believed he was desperate and out of options. The Ravagers were his last hope, and all his resources were most likely drained. Not to mention that the League and A.R.G.U.S. had every conceivable means of escape in Starling blocked off. Merlyn was a wounded animal backed into a corner.

Al Sah-him didn't disagree with Sara, but his guard was still up. Even if Merlyn did have an agenda, he believed it was best to keep an enemy close. Nyssa took the old adage quite literally and wouldn't let Merlyn out of her sight. She currently sat with him in the vehicle behind theirs, which looked more like a prison transport than an SUV. Watching a black cloth be shoved over his head before his bound body was thrown in the back brought on painful memories of Felicity's own abduction. Noticing her unease, Al Sah-him had quickly ushered her away.

Felicity wished jet lag was the reason she couldn't sleep. Although the flight from Starling to Nanda Parbat had lasted for hours, the time seemed to quite literally fly by. As the SUVs started to slow, Felicity knew the long, bumpy ride to the compound was almost over. Part of her was relieved to get out of the confined space, but she also dreaded crossing the threshold and returning to her gilded cage. She already longed for Starling, the ache inside her like a limb that had been lost but could still be felt. In its absence, she wrapped herself in her husband's warm embrace; he remained her source of strength and calm. She sensed him drawing strength from her, as well; every so often he'd brush his soft lips against her temple and squeeze her tighter. Whatever challenges they were about to face upon their return, at least they had each other.

"Warith al Ghul, we're here," their driver announced from the front.

Felicity instinctively tensed. Al Sah-him helped her out of the SUV and took her hand in his. She gripped it like a lifeline as they approached the large double doors leading into the compound. Every step closer was a challenge and weighed heavy on her heart. She sensed Tommy close behind them, with Nyssa and Sara in the back escorting the prisoner.

The doors creaked open and revealed a large group waiting for them in the foyer. Ra's stood at the forefront with Sarab and Talia on either side—flanked also by his personal guards and advisors. In addition to his stone-cold expression, his eyes resembled those of a shark—dark, apathetic, and predatory. Felicity didn't exactly expect Ra's to be grinning like a happy tyrant when they presented Merlyn to him, but the silent, threatening aura that surrounded him caused a spark of fear within her.

Felicity was sure Al Sah-him sensed it, too, but he didn't let it show. He release her hand and marched right up to Ra's in that strong, confident way of his and knelt in respect before rising. "Sidi," he greeted. "We have returned with Al Sa-her so that he may answer for his crimes against the League and face your judgment."

With one motion of his hand, Nyssa shoved Merlyn forward and kicked his legs out from under him. He fell to his knees, and she ripped the cloth from his head. His left eye had swelled, a blow he'd received from the brunette upon his surrender. She didn't say why she'd struck Merlyn—though their small group knew the cause of her fury—nor had she been reprimanded for her rash reaction.

"His one request is that his son be released in exchange for his surrender."

"Traitors to the League are in no position to make demands of Ra's al Ghul," he retorted.

"That is why no such request has been granted. I shall leave that to you, Sidi."

"Please," Merlyn spoke up. "I have turned myself in in good faith to face my crimes with honor. But my son is innocent—"

Ra's reacted so swiftly, Felicity barely realized he'd moved before Merlyn lay on the floor curled up in a ball from a swift kick to the gut.

"There is no honor in hiring mercenaries to kill your former brothers in arms," he replied calmly, his tone at odds with his enraged, violent reaction only seconds ago. "A magician can cheat many things except one. There is a price you must pay for your crimes that can only be measured in agony and blood."

"Please," Merlyn begged yet again.

"Blood for blood. What you take from me, I take from you. Your son belongs to the League now—a replacement of your lost loyalty and a result of your betrayal. Take comfort that his survival rests in his ability not to repeat his father's mistakes." The threat was clear.

Felicity looked to Tommy, whose hands were clenched into fists at his sides. She wanted to reach out to him, to offer him comfort, but that would have to wait until later.

"Take him away," Ra's ordered his guards.

They yanked Merlyn into an upright position and clamped a set of chains to his legs. They then proceeded to drag him out of the foyer and toward the corridor leading down to the dungeons. His pleas for mercy echoed behind him.

"Father, when will he be sentenced?" Nyssa questioned.

"Merlyn will face justice in due course. We have a more important matter to address—another betrayal that must be dealt with swiftly," Ra's announced, taking them all by surprise. "To the throne room, where we can discuss it in private."

Felicity, unsure whether the command included her, looked to her husband. He'd just started to dismiss her when Ra's cut in, "No, she comes. This concerns her."

The contempt in Ra's gaze as he stared her down nearly made her take a step back. The spark of fear she'd felt earlier ignited into a full flame; something was seriously wrong. Sensing a greater threat, her husband reached for her and adopted a protective stance—which did not go unnoticed by Ra's.

A heavy, tense silence descended on them as they followed Ra's. Felicity squeezed Al Sah-him's hand so tight she probably cut off his circulation. He didn't say anything, just held her tightly back. Concerned looks also passed between Nyssa, Sara, and Tommy.

When they entered the throne room, Ra's swiftly took his seat presiding over them all. Al Sah-him stood before him, as firm and steadfast as the mountains that surrounded their compound. Talia stood off to the side with Sarab, her expression blank though her eyes greedily took in the scene. Felicity was actually glad that she'd worn the League uniform Sara had given her home instead of one of her dresses. It emboldened her and made her feel ready to do battle, which seemed likely if Ra's glower was any indication.

"H.I.V.E. has fallen," the Demon's Head announced.

Felicity's eyes widened. Of all the things she expected him to say, that hadn't even crossed her mind.

Al Sah-him, keeping a straight face, replied, "In what way?"

"It appears Damian Darhk's sins have caught up with him. The group you worked with, A.R.G.U.S., has begun working with the Feds to dismantle his organization. Darhk is now in their custody facing a slew of charges and, if convicted, a life sentence."

"Who tipped them off?"

"Perhaps your wife can fill in the details." Ra's looked to her, his dark eyes full of contempt.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Felicity said and glanced up to meet her husband's confused gaze. "This is the first I've heard of my father being arrested."

"When did this happen?"

"Not long after your departure from Starling City," Ra's answered.

"Sent to whom? How?" Al Sah-him demanded.

"The name John Diggle will no doubt sound familiar to you. He is leading the charge. Al Hassoub said that Abad-eshams communicated with him mid-flight."

"How would he know that unless he hacked into my computer?" Felicity demanded.

"So you do not deny it?"

"John Diggle is my friend. I emailed him after the shoot-out on the tarmac to make sure he was okay. That's it," she explained.

"Did you not also send him incriminating information that could lead to your father's arrest and H.I.V.E.'s demise?"

"No, I did not." The wheels in Felicity's mind were spinning so rapidly to figure out how this had happened that she actually felt disoriented. She was completely blindsided by this accusation.

"Do not lie to me, child," Ra's warned.

"I am not a child," she refuted, standing her ground, "and whatever information John may have on my father, it wasn't given to him by me."

Ra's snapped his fingers and two guards entered the room. Bile rose in Felicity's throat at the sight of the mini computer in the first man's hands—the computer that she'd built to pirate the League's Wi-Fi and track Armitage. The second man held her other electronic devices, including the tablet she'd kept hidden. Her panic flared, and she glanced at Sara out of the corner of her eye; the blonde didn't seem to be faring much better.

"If I order Al Hassoub to examine these devices, will he not find the evidence of your betrayal?" the Demon's Head challenged.

"It's unfair to accuse my wife of treason without proper evidence," Al Sah-him interjected. "Where did you even get those?"

"They were hidden among her things," the first guard answered. "We also found this device"—he held up the computer—"in Ta-er al-Asfe's quarters."

This was bad. Very bad. If Al Hassoub did check the devices, he would most definitely find the dossier she'd been building against her father and Armitage. Denying it would only confirm Ra's suspicions and make her appear guilty. But if she revealed the truth, he'd probably consider it an admission of her guilt anyway. Not to mention that it would get Sara and Nyssa in trouble for helping her.

"Shamsi," Al Sah-him prompted when her silence lasted too long. The confusion and disbelief on his face were almost as bad as the charges being brought against her.

"Yes, they're mine," Felicity admitted, holding her husband's stare. He was the only one she needed to believe her. The only one who mattered. "I was collecting information on Milo Armitage, as well as my father."

"A confession," Ra's stated.

Al Sah-him ignored him and asked, "Why?"

"Clearly to break the alliance and free herself from your arrangement," Talia cut in for the first time. "Her loyalty has never been to the League. She's wanted out from the first moment she got here."

"You made sure of that with all of your assassination attempts, didn't you?" Felicity shot back. The younger brunette looked like a dog salivating over a fresh piece of meat. Talia's punishment had meant nothing; she'd been lying in wait for Felicity to screw up so she could be vindicated in her actions.

"You are not worthy to be Aroos El Ghoul, bint kalb," Talia cursed at her.

"That's enough," Al Sah-him ordered. "Accusations are not convictions, and she is still my wife. Watch your tongue, Talia, or you just may lose it."

"Al Sah-him," Ra's said, "the evidence is—"

"With all due respect, Sidi, we have not yet heard her reasoning."

"I must agree with my daughter. There can be no other reason for Abad-eshams to convict her father than to put an end to the alliance."

"Isn't the point of the alliance to help each other out of these types of situations?" Felicity questioned. "Shouldn't you be rushing to my father's aid now as we speak?" She didn't really care what happened to Darhk. He deserved whatever was coming to him, but it was curious that they were all acting like the deal that had been struck was now meaningless.

"The alliance we made only involved aligning against our mutual enemies of the criminal underworld. Complications with foreign governments and law enforcement were not part of our agreement with H.I.V.E. Your father is solely responsible for shielding his enterprise. The League will not risk its own exposure and recrimination."

"I didn't know that—or the majority of the details, for that matter."

"You are resourceful enough to find out and use them to your advantage," Ra's countered.

"There is no love lost between me and my father, I'll admit. But I love my husband, and I would never do anything to jeopardize my marriage to Al Sah-him."

"Then why turn your father over to A.R.G.U.S.?"

"I was collecting information on him, but I never intended to show it to anyone—at least not yet. I don't know how A.R.G.U.S. got a hold of it, but I could figure it out if I could just go into the war room and use the computer—"

"No. You cannot be trusted. Giving you access to a computer is like placing a sword in your hands and exposing our necks," he stated.

"Abad-eshams, what would possess you to do something like this?" Al Sah-him inquired. He tried to keep a steady voice, but Felicity knew there was a battle raging within him. He was upset with her, though he didn't want to reveal just how much in front of Ra's and the others.

She'd promised Sara that she would keep her secret, and she didn't want to get her in trouble, too. Felicity wasn't sure what the punishment would be for Sara to disobey orders, but it had to be much worse than whatever Felicity may face. Al Sah-him would protect her, she knew.

Quickly, an explanation popped into her head. She replied, "During his last visit, my father made threats against me and Al Sah-him. I thought it'd be a good idea to dig up some of the skeletons in his closet just in case he posed a problem for us in the future."

"Why the focus on Armitage?" Ra's challenged.

"He's my father's right-hand man. His hands are just as dirty."

"Why not tell Al Sah-him?"

"Because he had other concerns, and I did not want to burden him with what-ifs. I was going to tell him what I found after his mission to capture Al Sa-her was complete. I guess you beat me to it," she added with an indignant raise of her chin.

"A plausible explanation," Ra's acknowledged after a moment of silence. "Yet also a little too convenient. There is still the matter of who sold out your father, and you are the only one with the knowledge and means to do so. The League of Assassins is built on unwavering fealty, and your actions whether intentional or not have betrayed that. I cannot take the risk that my heir and empire's downfall be brought about by a woman whose treachery is in her very bones."

"I didn't—" she began to protest but was interrupted.

"You've shown no loyalty to your own father, and you've disgraced your leader and your husband," he declared. "Talia is right. You are not worthy of being Aroos El Ghoul. With the alliance shattered, Warith al Ghul has legitimate grounds for an annulment."

"An annulment?" Felicity repeated, her heart sinking.

"Sidi," Al Sah-him interjected, "let us not act in haste."

"An annulment is merciful. Other members of my League who dare defy me face either a life sentence or death."

"No, I won't agree to an annulment. We must conduct an investigation," her husband spoke up. "I won't let my wife stand here and be accused of a crime she did not commit."

"You just heard her confession," one of the advisors replied. "She admitted to building a case against her father."

"She also said that she didn't reveal the information to anyone, and I believe her," Al Sah-him argued. "There is something larger at work going on here."

"Al Sah-him, you will do as I—" Ra's began.

Another voice interrupted. "I did it."

The entire room fell silent as several pairs of eyes landed on Sara. The blonde stepped forward. With her hair pulled back in tight braids and her jaw clenched, the angles of her face looked sharper.

"She's trying to protect me. I'm the reason that Abad-eshams was digging up dirt on Armitage and Darhk. That is why you found those devices in my room."

"Ta-er al-Asfe, don't," Nyssa warned. She looked as on edge as Felicity felt.

"Nyssa, stay out of this," she retorted.

The realization of what Sara was about to do filled Felicity with fear once more.

Sara continued. "I was upset that the League was aligning with Armitage. He murdered my family, and I wanted justice. So I begged Abad-eshams to use her knowledge of H.I.V.E. and her hacking skills to find something on him that could put him on the outs with Darhk and that I could use to then make my case to you and Al Sah-him. The night he visited, I put spyware in his phone while she and Al Sah-him were serving as hosts so that Abad-eshams could monitor him.

"For her help, she made me promise that we wouldn't make any moves until first discussing it with Al Sah-him. She was adamant about it. I agreed at the time, but I grew more impatient with each passing day. The anniversary of my family's death is coming up, and I had a weak, impulsive moment. I wanted Armitage to pay, and so I used her device without her knowledge to send the information to A.R.G.U.S. With H.I.V.E. in disarray, I knew that Armitage would be vulnerable and it'd be my chance to sneak away and take my revenge."

If it was anatomically possible, Felicity's jaw would've been on the floor. She hadn't expected Sara to throw herself to the wolves for her, but she probably shouldn't have been surprised either. Her new friend and protector was a loyal and honorable woman.

"Ta-er al-Asfe," Felicity said with a somber shake of her head.

"This is my fault." Sara gave Al Sah-him a pointed look before turning to face Ra's once more. "I shall accept the consequences of my actions, Sidi."

Ra's stood on the dais looking down on them all with a severe frown, the disgust evident on his face. "Put Ta-er al-Asfe and Abad-eshams in a holding cell. That should keep them out of trouble until we discover the truth of all this."

"Father, please, that is unnecessary," Nyssa pleaded. "At least let her return to her room—" She was silenced with a glare.

"Do it. Now," he ordered the guards.

The men took a step toward her, and Felicity looked to Al Sah-him in a panic. The compound already felt so small and confining since returning from Starling. Being put in a cell like a criminal, completely trapped and stripped of what little freedom remained, terrified her. Once she was behind bars, would she ever be let out? The deck already seemed stacked against her.

Al Sah-him took hold of her arm and drew her behind him. "The wife of Warith al Ghul will not be put in a cell. I shall address this matter with her and get to the bottom of it. You have my word, Sidi."

"It is too late for that, I'm afraid. The damage cannot be undone."

The guards came closer. Within a blink of an eye, Al Sah-him raised his sword. "I do not want to hurt you, brothers, but if you come any closer you won't be able to leave this room on your own two feet."

Rage flashed in Ra's eyes. "You dare defy me?"

The tension in the air crackled dangerously. Nyssa had also pulled out her sword. Tommy, just behind her, didn't arm himself but Felicity saw his hand hovering over the hilt at the ready. It was like a fuse had been lit. As the seconds ticked by, the spark got closer to the powder keg just waiting to explode.

"Justice is not defiance. I want to discover the truth of all this just as much as you, but I would be remiss in my duty as a husband if I didn't also protect my wife. We do not know how long this investigation will last, and I will not let her suffer in squalor in the meantime."

"Your fealty is to me, not her. You are Warith al Ghul," Ra's retorted, "there is no higher duty than that. Perhaps she has poisoned you with her deception, too." He added something in Arabic that had his advisors smirking. Roughly translated, she thought Ra's told him to think with his head and not with his "sword."

Al Sah-him's eyes narrowed in determination. "My reasoning has everything to do with being Warith al Ghul and my future legacy as Ra's." Before he could be interrupted, he announced, "Abad-eshams must be protected because she is with child. You harm her, you also harm my heir."

With her husband's unexpected declaration, the spark finally reached the end of the fuse. The revelation exploded in silence, rendering them all speechless as it viciously blew up Ra's decree and covered them all in invisible debris that couldn't be so easily brushed away. Felicity felt every single pair of eyes in the room fixate on her.

Then all hell broke loose.

Felicity sat on the couch staring at her husband's back. After Al Sah-him's shocking bombshell—and Ra's command that the situation had to be reassessed—the retreat to their bedroom had been swift and silent. There wasn't much they could say out in the open with their guards and passersby in earshot. She was sure once they reached the privacy of their own room, Al Sah-him would give her the scolding he'd been holding in ever since they'd been confronted by Ra's and the others.

What she didn't expect was her husband to ignore her completely. He leaned against the archway to the balcony, the angles of his body as hard and sharp as one of his arrowheads. Al Sah-him didn't so much as spare her a glance. Maybe it was for the best seeing as though her own mind was having difficulty processing what had just gone down in the throne room. She tried to figure out how the information she'd gathered had been breached and then leaked to A.R.G.U.S.—maybe if she still had her tablet, she could have discovered the source—but all her mind could seem to focus on was Al Sah-him's lie.

She is with child.

The mere insinuation that she was pregnant had her chest tightening. She'd fought the shock when he'd first announced it, because it would look odd in front of Ra's and completely destroy whatever plan her husband was strategizing. In the privacy of their room, however, she was allowed a full freak-out. She breathed in large gulps of air and fidgeted in her seat. Being back in the desert heat already set her body on fire in the worst way. She tugged off the top layer of armor and cast it aside.

When that didn't work, and she couldn't stand the silent treatment any longer, Felicity blurted out, "I used to think that yelling Al Sah-him was scary but silent Al Sah-him is way worse."

"I just keep going over it in my head." Despite his response, he remained still and turned away. "How much of what Sara confessed is true?"

"All of it."

"Those devices found in Sara's room, you built them?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"Sara and Nyssa helped me sneak into Al Hassoub's supply room. Taking the parts and building my own computer would be less suspicious than borrowing an entire unit."

"You hacked into and pirated the League's network?"

"Yes. It was the only way I could download the information from the spyware we put in Armitage's phone."

He paused then said, "Ra's was right. You and tech is a dangerous combination. Only you could pull something like this off with limited resources. I'd be impressed if this hadn't turned into such a gigantic mess." He finally turned to face her. "You should've come to me, shamsi."

"I tried. You said it wasn't the right time to target Armitage, but I knew there never would be a right time as long as he was under my father's protection. I wanted to help Sara. You saw how much it tore her up to have the League align with him."

"So you lied. Who's the one with secret missions now?" he accused.

"You just lied about me being pregnant. How is that going to work out for us in a couple of months when they realize I'm not?"

"Ra's was about to throw you in a cell. It was the only thing I could think of to buy us some time."

"I was going to tell you before we did anything."

"You shouldn't have been doing that at all," he retorted. "If I'd have known, I wouldn't have—"

Felicity interrupted. "You wouldn't have let me, which is exactly why I didn't tell you."

"Felicity," he chastised.

She stood up to face him. "Like I said the other night, I'm only 'free' to do what I want when you and Ra's allow it," she pointed out. "I'm sorry that this happened. I really am. I didn't mean to jeopardize the alliance or pit you against Ra's, but this is who I am. I can't just sit back and let monsters like Armitage or my father hurt the people I care about. Not when it's within my power to stop them. My father also threatened you during his last visit and that dirt I got on him would've protected you, too, if he ever tried anything."

"Sara didn't actually send that information, did she?" Despite the question, she figured he already knew the answer.

"No, she didn't. And neither did I," said Felicity. "I did email Dig on the plane, but it was to make sure he was okay after that shoot-out. That's it, I swear."

"Who do you think could've done it?"

"I don't know. Without access to a computer, I'm completely in the dark. It's obvious Al Hassoub caught on at some point and has been keeping tabs on me. I did use the computer in the loft, which could've been bugged without my knowledge," she said, thinking out loud. "I also did some research at A.R.G.U.S., since they have more resources."

"You could've been monitored."

"I've hacked into it in the past undetected. I know that system and thoroughly covered my tracks. Besides, something isn't right about Dig going after Darhk."

"Felicity, he's been waiting for years to bring him down."

"Yes, but he wouldn't make a move if he knew his actions would cause me harm. The alliance ending puts me in even more danger here."

"He could've thought it was you sending it like Al Hassoub did," Al Sah-him pointed out. "It sounds like someone might've tried to frame you to sow discord between me and Ra's. But who?" His eyes narrowed as he thought. "Merlyn must've had help staying off the radar. He could be behind this. This happening right when he turns himself in is too much of a coincidence."

"It's also suspicious how the information got leaked while we were stuck on a flight for all those hours," Felicity added. "I would've been alerted to a breach in my encryption. Someone knew I'd be unable to check my computer and put a stop to it. It was the perfect time to make a move. I don't suppose you can convince Ra's to reinstate my computer privileges so I can find the culprit?"

"I can try, but I doubt he'll budge. You won't be able to sneak into the war room again either. Ra's will have it heavily guarded now." He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.

"If Ra's finds out that I'm not pregnant, how much trouble will you be in? Will he really make us get an annulment?" Felicity questioned in a small voice. "I didn't even know that was possible. You never mentioned it."

"It's rare that it's granted. With the alliance intact, I didn't think it was ever an option." He held her gaze, his eyes searching.

"Oliver—"

"I have to go talk to Sara and figure out how to make this right with Ra's—or at the very least deescalate the situation. It's best if you stay here. We can talk later."

"Okay," she murmured.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Though he probably meant it as a comforting gesture, her anxiety was hardly quelled. A tight, queasy feeling churned in the pit of her stomach. If Felicity didn't know for sure she wasn't pregnant, she might've thought it was morning sickness.

Sitting on the couch by the fire pit with a book in her lap, Felicity tried not to think about what Oliver must be saying to Ra's for damage control or what type of punishment Sara might be suffering. She'd taken a warm bath a while ago to wash away the traveling dust and relax the knots in her tense muscles. Afterward, she'd put on her favorite silk nightgown, needing to feel the cool, soft material against her skin. The desert heat felt so much worse since she'd returned.

She'd just started to doze off when the bedroom door opened. Oliver walked in looking fatigued. His shoulders were hunched and the underside of his eyes were shadowed.

"Is Sara okay?" Felicity asked.

"She's in a cell but okay for now. Nyssa is watching over her," he replied.

Before she could say anything else, he announced that he'd be taking a shower and disappeared into the bathroom. He was probably still upset with her, and Felicity couldn't necessarily blame him. She was furious with herself. The only way she could fix or at the very least better understand her error would be to investigate the leak, but that wouldn't be happening anytime soon. The one thing that could clear her name was also what had gotten her into trouble in the first place. She'd returned to Nanda Parbat with even less freedom than when she'd first left.

Minutes later, Oliver emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. In spite of her inner turmoil, her eyes couldn't help but hungrily take in the defined muscles of his torso glistening with the remaining droplets from his shower. A different kind of heat settled in Felicity's core, and she bit her lip to keep from calling out to him.

Oliver dressed himself in plain black pants and a t-shirt before finally turning to her. He must've sensed the desire building in her, because his eyes suddenly trailed the length of her body and settled on her thigh poking out from the slit in her nightgown. Even when they were at odds, with their entire world in upheaval, it was crazy how the sexual attraction still simmered like a hot skillet on a lit stove.

As if pulling himself out of a trance, Oliver blinked a few times and straightened. "Get up." It wasn't a request.

Felicity set her book aside and did as he said.

"Come here."

She complied, never once looking away as she closed the distance between. Their chests brushed together ever so slightly. His eyes looked almost black as the nearby flames reflected off of his dilated pupils. The air seemed to crackle in the charged silence that followed. Finally, he reached for her hand and began to pull her toward the bed.

Felicity didn't know what he had in mind, but she was eager no matter what it was. She'd felt lost and unsteady ever since Ra's had made his threats earlier. Oliver was her port in the storm, and she wanted nothing more than to latch onto him and feel him anchored deep within her. When they reached the end of the bed, she braced herself—expecting him to snatch her up in his strong arms and toss her onto the mattress. She would've preferred that instead of what he actually did, which was grab her bathrobe and lead her past the bed and toward the door.

"Oliver?" she questioned.

Her husband helped her put on the robe before guiding her through the doorway and motioning to the guards to stay put. Felicity frowned, her confusion acute, until she realized where he was leading her. They ended up in the hidden corridor, heading toward the stairwell to the roof. Despite her disappointment, Felicity wasn't about to complain. She could use the fresh air and time away from the confines of their bedroom. Oliver held her hand in his firm grasp as they walked the edge of the compound's dome and found their usual stargazing spot.

"Why'd you bring me up here?" Felicity asked once they'd settled.

"Because I don't know whether I want to fuck you or fight with you," he muttered while looking out over the dark, expansive desert. Bathed in the light of the moon, the sand looked like liquid silver. "Since it's harder to maneuver up here, that means we have to talk."

"I'd prefer the first option."

He sighed. "I also thought you might want to get out of the room for a bit."

"I love it up here. Thank you," she murmured.

He nodded, his gaze still on the desert.

Felicity added, "I don't want to fight, Oliver."

"We do need to talk. I know this will probably be a challenge for you, but I need you to just listen to what I'm about to say and not respond until I'm done. Okay?"

His cryptic words did nothing for her frazzled nerves. "All right," she reluctantly agreed.

"I love you, shamsi. More than anything. From the first moment I saw you, I've wanted to be the one man that you could trust and depend on no matter what. I've wanted to be a good and worthy husband."

"You are," she interjected. He gave her a stern look. "Sorry, go on."

Oliver continued. "Everything I've done these past months has been for your protection, and that will always be my priority—no matter what role I play in your life." He paused, taking a breath; Felicity, meanwhile, felt like she couldn't catch hers as the dread built. "But I wouldn't still be a worthy husband if I made you stay in a situation that has become far too dangerous for you. With the alliance broken, there isn't much leverage or influence you can wield here. Your time in the League has already been strained and it'll only get worse. That's why—" he swallowed—"that's why I've decided to release you from your vows. I will grant you the annulment, if you so choose, and return you to Starling with John—no strings attached and no hard feelings. I'll ensure that you leave on good terms with the League, free and clear. No one will ever bother you again."

"I don't understand," Felicity muttered, feeling as if the rug had been pulled out from under her. "Did Ra's order you—"

"This has nothing to do with Ra's. This is my offer to you."

Her eyes watered. "You want an annulment?"

"What I want doesn't matter. All that matters is your safety and you being free to actually live your life." His voice was low and hoarse, as if each syllable he uttered cost him something.

"What good is freedom if I don't have the one person I want most to share it with?" She shook her head. "What is this offer costing you?"

"I will deal with the League—"

"To hell with the League," she retorted, understanding now why he'd taken her up on the roof to have this conversation. Their guards surely would've heard them arguing from their post outside their room. "I'm talking about your happiness, Oliver. Your very soul. How much more are you going to sacrifice as Warith al Ghul? Soon you will have nothing to fight for, and then you'll be just like Ra's—a shadow of a man, a monster, with all of the power in the world and yet so isolated and corrupted by it that you'll completely lose touch with reality. With what really matters."

"You are what matters, shamsi. I need you to be safe," he asserted.

"Well, I don't want to be safe. I want to be with you and the others, unsafe." She placed her hand on his cheek. "If you're not leaving, I'm not leaving. It's my duty as your wife to protect you—even if it's from yourself. We're stronger together, remember?"

"Do you truly know what you'll be risking if you stay?"

"Laki alf mara," she whispered, repeating the promise he'd made to her the night she'd been attacked. For you, a thousand times.

"Felicity…" He stared back at her in awe and covered her hand with his own.

"My choice is you. It'll always be you." Their foreheads touched. "For better or for worse." They would weather this storm together; otherwise, they'd be consumed by it. If they let each other go now, that would be it. There'd be no turning back. No second chance. "Our souls are bound together, forever joined," she repeated their vows. When the priestess had uttered them months ago, they'd been a lie and a burden. Spoken now, they were a true and unbreakable promise.

"We will never be free. We will always be held captive by our love for each other," he finished and brushed his thumb along her bottom lip.

Their lips met in a slow, loving caress—each kiss another seal of their vows. Felicity, needing to be closer, wound her arms around Oliver's neck and shifted to straddle him. Oliver wrapped her up in his strong embrace and traced the seam of her lips. He undid the knot in her robe and opened it, allowing his hands to roam against her silky curves. She moaned as he tasted her, letting her own tongue glide against his.

It still wasn't enough.

Felicity slipped off her robe and reached for the hem of her nightgown. She lifted it over her head and tossed it next to them.

"Maybe we should go back to our room," he suggested in between kisses. "It's chillier up here."

He must've felt her trembling, but it wasn't from the crisp night breeze in the open air. She was starved for his touch. "I want to stay out here. It's been a while since we made love under the stars."

"You don't mind having your back to the desert?" he questioned, sucking on her neck. Felicity always had to be facing the ledge when they sat out there. Her fear of heights was much worse when turned away and unable to see her position in relation to the drop.

"It's okay. I know you'll never let me go." She drew back enough to meet his eyes, making sure he understood.

His hold on her instinctively tightened. "I've got you," he promised before claiming her lips once more. He removed his shirt and lifted his hips, meanwhile keeping a solid grasp on her, so that she could undo his pants and slide them down.

Felicity stroked him as he devoured her mouth and kissed his way down to her breasts. A loud moan tore from her throat when his tongue swirled around a pert nub before taking it into his mouth. She rubbed herself against him in time with the rhythm of her hand until she knew neither of them could wait any longer.

Without hesitation, Felicity poised herself on top of Oliver and then sank down. The feeling of him spreading her slick folds and entering her made her entire body vibrate with pleasure. Oliver groaned into her mouth and clutched at her thighs, helping her to wrap her legs fully around his waist. He filled her so completely that she couldn't move for a moment, simply content to feel the connection that had eluded them these past few days.

Oliver buried his hand into her golden tresses and tugged her head back, exposing her neck. Felicity wasn't afraid to lean back; as she'd said, she trusted that Oliver had a firm hold on her. He sucked and nipped a path from her chin down to her collarbone as they began to move together. Goose bumps broke out on Felicity's skin at the contact. Her nails dug into her husband's back as her thighs gripped his hips to propel herself up and down. She rocked into his powerful thrusts, taking in all of him each time.

Their sweat-slicked chests glided together, causing her breasts to tighten and tingle from the sensation. Oliver's rough, calloused hands stroked the length of her back. He explored every downward slope and curve before gripping her ass in each hand and driving into her. Felicity didn't know if it was the real stars in the sky or the ones behind her eyelids that started to swirl as she cried out in ecstasy. She felt her husband everywhere, overwhelming her senses and yet grounding her emotions in a way that only he could. The coil in Felicity's core tightened, and she tilted her head to deepen their kiss.

"I love you, shamsi," he panted against her lips.

"I love you, too, Oliver." She moaned. "I'll always, always, always love you. I'm not going anywhere. I'm glue, baby."

With a possessive growl, he vowed, "If anything happens to you, I swear I'll burn this entire place to the ground."

Felicity's heart raced in her chest, the all-consuming love she felt mounting with their passion and pleasure. "Boosni." Kiss me.

Oliver kissed her into oblivion, until her body and mind finally let go. Their hips gyrated in a slow, deep rhythm as they rode their climax together. She clung to him as he groaned into her neck, emptying himself inside of her. Her fake pregnancy popped into her mind just then. Even though they were always careful, for a second, Felicity imagined that her husband had planted the seed. A vision of what it would be like to carry their child flashed in her mind, and Felicity was surprised by the intense sliver of hope that she felt.

She truly wanted everything with this man, and she wanted to give him everything that the League had taken from him and would continue to deny him. If Ra's wanted to go to war over Oliver, then so be it. She'd already taken down her father. What was one more dragon to slay?

Translations:

shamsi = my sun

Sidi = Master

Aroos El Ghoul = Bride of the Demon

Bint kalb = daughter of a dog

Laki alf mara = For you, a thousand times

Boosni = kiss me