Alizeh struck Cyrus across the face with the force of a bludgeon, the impact so violent the young king staggered, audibly striking his head against a column. Kamran felt the shock of it in his bones. He knew he should rejoice in this moment—knew he should celebrate Alizeh’s actions against the depraved royal—but his mind would not submit to relief, for the scene unraveling before him did not align with reason. Cyrus appeared entirely too unnerved. The trepidation in his eyes, his astonishment at her approach, the blind steps he took backward as she advanced—it made no sense. Alizeh had
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