“I’m sorry.” “Why are you sorry?” “It isn’t easy to lose your best friend. At least, I can’t imagine it would be.” “Thank you for saying so. But Khalid lost his older brother. His father died the following year. And because of that terrible incident with his mother . . . he was only fourteen when he took the throne. Fourteen and alone. I’m sure you have an idea of what came after.” I don’t care. There is no excuse for the monster he’s become. He’s had four years to grow accustomed to being king. And as for what came after . . . When Jalal saw the look on Shahrzad’s face, he took a step in her
...more
