More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Khalid wrapped both his arms around Shahrzad, and they stood together under the dome of the Grand Portico, with the indecipherable art of love poems giving silent testament.
The worst part of it all—the part that took the very breath from Tariq’s body—was the unguarded look of peace on her face. As though this was right. As though she wanted nothing more. Shahrzad was in love with Shiva’s murderer.
But the thing that truly gave Tariq pause was the reaction of the boy-king. The supposed aging camel. At the first hint of an unforeseen threat, he pulled Shahrzad behind him. He shielded her in a menacing stance augmented by the metallic rasp of his shamshir, which he held steady in his right hand, with the blade pointed to the floor— Poised to attack.
“A shared history does not entitle you to a future, my friend.”
“Some things exist in our lives for but a brief moment. And we must let them go on to light another sky.”
A madman with a temper and a penchant for death— And Shahrzad’s face at peace in his arms.
“Don’t move, you bastard son of a whore!” her captor exploded. “Or I’ll slice a maggot hole across her throat. You can watch her die, just like your mother.” Khalid froze in time. Then Shahrzad watched his face shatter. The eyes of molten amber faded to dull memory. Faded to ruin. His raw anguish seared her soul and robbed her of breath. The bloodstained shamshir fell to his side. “I will kill you for that,” Shahrzad choked over her shoulder.
“Drop your weapon.” The shamshir struck the marble with a sharp clang. Without the slightest hesitation.
Then a pair of strong arms yanked her aside, pulling her into a bloodstained chest. Khalid’s heart thudded around her, loud and fast. It raced against her cheek, each beat an unspoken promise. And, for a breath of time, it was enough.
Before she had a chance to react, she was lifted off her feet. Khalid dismissed her protests as he carried her away from the carnage, with Jalal and the Rajput following close behind.
Like the edges of a rumpled scroll, demanding to be smoothed . . . or cast aside, once and for all.
Then he leaned forward, pressing his brow to hers, catching her hands in his. Stilling them both. “I want to send you away. To a place where none of this can touch you,” he began. Her heart shuddered, and she pulled back. “Send me away? As if I were a thing?” “No. That’s not what I meant.” “What did you mean, then?” “I meant that I cannot keep you safe. From anything.”
It is a willingness to do whatever it takes—even something as distasteful as sending you from my side.” “And you expect me to obey? To go wherever you command?” “I expect you to trust me.”
Loyalty ebbs and flows with the tide; gold does not.
“I don’t care what they think as long as you’re safe.”
“To know you? As if I could ever hope to achieve such a thing. Yet, like a fool, I’ve wanted to learn. To understand what pains you, what brings you joy. But I remain ignorant of even the most trivial of things. I don’t know your favorite color. What foods you detest. What scent brings to mind a treasured memory. I know nothing, because you fight me every step of the way.”
“It does not have to be so difficult, Khalid-jan. My favorite color is violet. The scent of roses makes me feel at home, wherever I am. I do not enjoy fish, but will eat it to make a loved one happy, suffering through my smiles.”
“Prove that a real man doesn’t make a show of what’s his. It just is.” “Is it? Are you mine?” Khalid asked with quiet solemnity. Her conviction wavered further. “I told you; don’t try to own me.” “I don’t want to own you.”
Khalid’s features smoothed knowingly. “How right you are. You are not mine.” He dropped his palm from the door. “I am yours.”
Alas, she no longer saw the same boy before her. Just light amidst a sea of darkness, and the unerring promise of something more. But she never saw the things she should see. The pain, the anger, the betrayal. These things always faded, and she despised herself for it.
they existed for no other reason than to touch him.
Like the poison toying with its remedy, Shahrzad’s hands ignored her and took control, a mere taste of his skin not nearly enough.
“Why won’t you touch me?” she whispered. It took him a moment to reply. “Because if I start, I won’t stop.” “Who asked you to stop?” Her fingers traveled to his chest.
Yet there, in the warmth of his eyes, was everything.
Khalid kissed her, melding nothing to everything.
“It’s a fitting punishment for a monster. To want something so much—to hold it in your arms—and know beyond a doubt you will never deserve it.” Khalid pulled open the door and stepped over the threshold without waiting for a response.
She offered silent thanks to the stars that dealt in fate—for her monster did not seem to know how all reason had left her for the space of a breath.
Shahrzad, I’ve failed you several times. But there was one moment I failed you beyond measure. It was the day we met. The moment I took your hand and you looked up at me, with the glory of hate in your eyes. I should have sent you home to your family. But I didn’t. There was honesty in your hatred. Fearlessness in your pain. In your honesty, I saw a reflection of myself. Or rather, of the man I longed to be. So I failed you. I didn’t stay away. Then, later, I thought if I had answers, it would be enough. I would no longer care. You would no longer matter. So I continued failing you. Continued
...more
“And how will you know when you’ve found this elusive someone?” “I suspect she will be like air. Like knowing how to breathe.”
But now, as she closed her eyes, her mind conjured a parallel world of sorrow—of a boy-king at his ebony desk writing a letter to a dying girl, with the sun ascending at his shoulder. Of this boy halting in unexpected awareness, with his hand poised over the parchment. Of him racing down the corridors, with his cousin at his heels. Bursting into a courtyard of silver and grey, punctuated by black ink and burning agony— Wondering if he was too late.
And without one, Shahrzad knew what must be done. Khalid had to answer for such vile deeds. Such rampant death. Even if he was her air. Even if she loved him beyond words.
“The boy was stumbling about, wielding an unsheathed blade. I find it fortunate he didn’t trip and impale himself on the cold steel of his own stupidity.”
“You must love her a great deal, Khalid-jan.” After a beat, Khalid lowered his sword, his brow marred by pain and consternation. “Love is—a shade of what I feel.”
Because you love her, and we fight to protect those we love.”
She was a dangerous, dangerous girl. A plague. A Mountain of Adamant who tore the iron from ships, sinking them to their watery graves without a second thought. With a mere smile and a wrinkle of her nose.
This dangerous girl. This captivating beauty. This destroyer of worlds and creator of wonder.
Whatever torment he had to endure. Whatever evil he had to face. There was nothing that mattered more.
The sound of fear in her voice unnerved Khalid. More than he cared to admit.
He felt her draw closer in wary protectiveness.
Khalid forced opened his screaming eyes and stared up at his uncle. “My wife stays.”
He peered sideways at her, and his look of misery robbed her of breath.
But if it’s your burden—if it causes you to suffer—I wish to know.”
“If that is the case, there is little else I would ask of heaven.”
“No. I will not consider it.” He reached for her with both hands, framing her chin between his palms. “There is no situation in which I will consider it.”
“You are ridiculous, Khalid Ibn al-Rashid. I am just one girl. You are the Caliph of Khorasan, and you have a responsibility to a kingdom.” “If you are just one girl, I am just one boy.”
He rested his brow against hers. “Just one boy and one girl.” Shahrzad forced a pained smile. “If that is the case, there is little else I would ask of heaven.”
Yet, with all these seeming attributes, he was still powerless to protect what mattered— His people. His queen.
He would never be a man who failed to care again. He would fight to protect what mattered to him, at all cost. Save the one thing that mattered most.
“Here.” He unsheathed the dagger and handed it to her.
And then Khalid sank to his knees before her.
