Cruz awakens disoriented amidst a sumptuous setting worthy of One Thousand and One Nights. The pasha, who has confiscated the talisman, discovers that the object has no effect on him, granting him neither healing nor superhuman strength. Convinced that magic only responds to the shaman's blood, he demands that Cruz choose a woman from his harem of twelve wives to bear him an heir with superhuman strength. When Cruz refuses, remaining deeply loyal to Eden, the pasha drugs him without his knowledge and leaves him in the hands of his first wife, Shaila. Demonstrating unwavering faithfulness, Cruz manages to ally himself with Shaila to fake the act and deceive the pasha. But the respite is short-lived, as Cruz is immediately captured by the men of the sheikh of Kabir, Idi Ben Adir, the pasha's sworn enemy who once decimated his family. Cruz finds himself thrown into a dark jail, in the midst of a deadly clan war.

Meanwhile, Eden, accompanied by Michael Donnelly, travels the world to rescue Cruz. Michael, disguised as a Bedouin, delivers Eden to pasha Omar as a new captive for his harem. When the pasha discovers her true identity, he decides to make her his thirteenth wife, maintaining his hold over her by falsely leading her to believe he still holds Cruz captive. Eden then manages to steal the talisman to use as leverage. Later, learning from Michael and Shaila that her husband is actually the sheikh's prisoner, she uses her status as a journalist and offers the pasha an unexpected deal. She offers him an exclusive report for American television to present him in the best possible light to the West and thus gain new allies in his war against the sheikh of Kabir.

In Santa Barbara, the Capwells are stunned to discover the pasha's interview. None of them knew that Cruz had been kidnapped and that Eden had gone looking for him. C.C. decides to leave immediately for Khareef, where he finds an informant who guides him to the pasha.

Eden's scheme is a success. Moved by the interview, several Western countries take up the pasha's cause and pledge their support. Cruz, having escaped the sheikh's prison, rejoins Khareef and finds Eden. Meanwhile, C.C. proposes economic arrangements to force sheikh Idi Ben Adir and pasha Omar to sign a permanent truce.

Eden and Cruz, finally reunited after braving the clan wars, are able to leave Khareef in peace alongside C.C. and Michael. They return safely to Santa Barbara, leaving behind a pasha without his lost talisman, all the while wondering if this whole strange affair was nothing more than a waking dream...