The Wrath & the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn, #1)

by Renée Ahdieh

“It happens, from time to time. He’s better than I am.” “I don’t care. Don’t let him cut you again.”

“And the fool just watched you fall?”

Her beautiful monster.

“My soul sees its equal in you.”

Shazi, I prefer the color blue to any other. The scent of lilacs in your hair is a source of constant torment. I despise figs. Lastly, I will never forget, all the days of my life, the memories of last night— For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you. Khalid

“The Caliph of Khorasan going into the gardens at dawn alone. And returning with a single rose.”

And he smiled a smile to shame the sun.

“Two, maybe three weeks.” “I see.” Shahrzad chewed on the inside of her cheek, trying to remain silent. His smile returned. “Two weeks, then.”

“Murderer, monster, madman . . . Khalid may very well be all of those things. But he’s also loved. By me and by my father. But, most of all, by Shazi. With her, he is as fiercely loved as he loves.”

“But,” she whispered, “I am home.”

And now, though you are gone, there is no pain or fear. All I am left with is gratitude.

Our story may have come to a close, but your story is still yet to be told. Make it a story worthy of you.

So I write it to the sky— I love you, a thousand times over. And I will never apologize for it.