As with the first night, Shahrzad was amazed by her ability to detach from reality. And again, she remained strangely grateful he never once tried to kiss her. Grateful . . . yet somewhat perplexed. She had kissed Tariq before—stolen embraces in the shadows of vaulted turrets. The illicit nature of these encounters had always thrilled her. At any time, a servant could have found them; or worse, Rahim could have caught them kissing . . . and he would have needled Shahrzad mercilessly, as he’d done from the moment he’d crowned himself the brother she’d never had. So, while she appreciated not
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