“—and I need to get my book back from Cyrus. He’s refused to give it to me.” Hazan shook his head. “I’ll kill him.” Alizeh laughed, her heart warming with affection. “You can’t kill him. I need him.” Hazan stood before her, tall and looming. “All due respect, Your Majesty, you don’t need him. You have me.” She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “If only you had an empire.” Hazan sighed heavily, then turned away. “If only.”
