These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom, #2)

by Tahereh Mafi

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he called out, frustrated. “How many times do I have to tell you that I can’t kill you before you actually believe me?” She halted at that, her crazed mind devouring the reminder as the nosta burned against her skin. It was no wonder she couldn’t decide whether to fear him; it was obvious now why she wavered so much on the subject, why she struggled to feel danger in his presence. Her instincts were not addled; it was only that he’d been ordered by the devil not to harm her. She had some kind of immunity.

Alizeh spun around, the movement so fast that Cyrus, who’d been chasing after her, didn’t have time to process the change. He abruptly crashed into her, sending them both hurtling before they finally slammed together, him pinning her to the wall so hard she gasped, air leaving her lungs in a rush. Alizeh froze.

“I hate you,” he whispered. Alizeh blinked, her heart pounding too hard in her chest. “I know.” He leaned in then, his throat working, his gaze fixed entirely on her mouth. “I hate everything about you. Your eyes. Your lips. Your smile.” His words grazed her skin when he said, softly, “I find your presence insufferable.”

“Okay,” she said again, her pulse skyrocketing. “That’s okay.” He was still breathing hard, his chest heaving between them. “But I’m not going to hurt you.” Again the nosta verified his words, and Alizeh felt some of the pressure ease in her lungs. “Do you believe me?” he asked. Alizeh nodded.

“I need you,” he said roughly. “Don’t run away from me.” “How can you expect me not to run from you,” said Alizeh, still trying to shake off her apprehension, “when you threatened just hours ago to have my eyes sewn shut?” He looked sharply away from her then, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “I shouldn’t have said that.” “And then you threw me off a cliff,” she said, her voice a bit breathless even to her own ears. “You wouldn’t stop threatening to kill me,” he said angrily, turning back to face her. “I was merely trying to change the subject.” “By having me devoured by dragons?” she nearly cried. Cyrus scoffed at that, arching a brow. “You were never devoured by dragons.” “I was, too,” she shot back. “Your little joke resulted in some nasty bites all along my left side. Your mother was kind enough to mix me a medicinal bath.” Cyrus studied her then with an inscrutable expression. She thought he might demand to see proof of her injuries, but he said only, “Dragons are gentle creatures. They don’t bite unless provoked.”

“Well,” said Alizeh, averting her eyes. She was feeling petulant, and there was only so much eye contact with Cyrus she could handle. “I don’t think the animal meant to bite me. But I was rolled onto its back teeth with rather gruesome results.” She felt, rather than saw Cyrus go suddenly still, and for the length of a wild, charged moment she thought he might do something unhinged, like apologize. Instead, he said, “You seem well enough now.” “I’m fine,” she said, irritated. “Good.”

“Cyrus,” she said suddenly. He halted at once, meeting her eyes. “Why, exactly, did you make a deal with the devil?” Cyrus blinked slowly, visibly thrown by her question. “I thought you didn’t care,” he said. “I thought you said I was no doubt suffering the consequences of my own sins.” “And are you not?” This, he didn’t answer, not at first. He seemed to be assessing her, deciding whether she was worth an honest response before he said, quietly, “I was desperate. And stupid.”

“Should you choose to tell her why, you’ll only ruin all my fun. Soon thereafter you shall die, bit by bit and both are done.” Alizeh felt the grip of a familiar terror. “Iblees,” she breathed. “Yes,” he said quietly. “What does he mean—bit by bit and both are done?” Cyrus only shook his head. “Right,” Alizeh said, wringing her hands. “You can’t say.”

“And while, yes, you might need me,” she went on, “I feel it necessary to point out here that I require nothing from you. I derive no benefit from helping you; only harm.” “What if”—he took a deep, measured breath—“what if I made it worth your while?” “What? How?” “My mother offered you a deal, which you accepted,” he said. “I’ll offer you a better one.” She gaped at him. “You’re asking me to double-cross your mother? Heavens, but you’re a very strange family.” “Marry me,” Cyrus said, a spark of heat in his eyes. “Become my queen just long enough to sate the devil’s demands. Once he’s satisfied, he’ll discharge me of a tremendous debt, and I’ll be that much closer to my freedom. When I’m finally free, I give you leave to kill me at your leisure and take Tulan for yourself.” Alizeh stiffened, disbelief roaring through her, even as the nosta burned hot against her chest. “You can’t be serious,” she breathed. “My kingdom,” he said softly. “For your hand.”

“The lost queen of Arya,” Kamran whispered. Hazan stilled. “Where did you hear that?” “She told me,” Kamran said, remembering. “She said her name was Alizeh of Saam, daughter of Siavosh and Kiana. That I might know her better as the lost queen of Arya.” Hazan took a step closer, studying Kamran now with a renewed focus. “Why would she tell you that?” “Because I asked her. I’d wanted to know her name.” “Was this when you went to Baz House? When you were meant to search her rooms—and claimed you’d found them empty?” Kamran, who was perturbed by the look on Hazan’s face, considered lying but didn’t see the point. “Yes,” he said. “Angels above,” Hazan said quietly, horror awakening in his eyes. “You kissed her, didn’t you?” Kamran felt uneasy now. “Why does that matter?”

“You misunderstand me,” Kamran said sharply, “if you think I ever—” “I should call you out right now, you arrogant bastard, for treating her so poorly—that you’d ever dally with her and discard her—” “I did not dally with her—” “You speak of killing her!” “I would’ve married her,” Kamran cried. Hazan stiffened at that, his features frozen in a strange shock. “You lie.” Kamran laughed, laughed like he’d lost all reason. “I only wish I were. I wish I felt nothing for her. I wish I could rip this useless organ out of my chest for all the trouble it’s caused me. I was so deluded—so disgustingly besotted—I even named her as a possible bride to my grandfather. I had the gall to propose as my queen the young woman prophesied to be his downfall, and he nearly chopped off my head in response. “I’d asked her to give me hope, Hazan. I asked her to wait for me. It was she who didn’t want me, who didn’t want to be with me. I never trifled with her. If she’d given me even a little encouragement I would’ve laid down my life for her—happily, I would’ve made her my queen, I—”

“WHAT ON EARTH,” SHE SAID, blinking, “could be worth both your life and your kingdom?” “Alizeh,” said Cyrus quietly, and for a moment he looked quite desperate. “Please.” Oh, she was not made of stone. She was not unaffected by the sound of his voice nor the tragedy in his eyes. She understood, rationally, that Cyrus was a shameless brute, but she also knew the devil too well to dismiss the terror that accompanied his whispers, the way his riddles pierced a soul and lingered, clawing at a mind until one could think of nothing else. She couldn’t help it; she pitied him. “Cyrus,” she said, shaking her head. “What am I to do with your kingdom?” A flicker of irritation animated his features. “You might do the obvious thing and fulfill your destiny. You are meant to lead your people, are you not?” “Yes,” she said, subdued. “In theory.” “Well, if you take my kingdom, you might put that theory into practice,” he said. “You saw our fireflies— You must realize that Tulan is home to one of the largest populations of Jinn. Our numbers aren’t huge, but it could be the start of something.” “But isn’t that exactly what the devil wants?” “Isn’t it what you want?” he countered. “As far as I can tell, you’ve never bartered with Iblees, so any power you attain will be yours to do with what you will. He can only manipulate you through the will and actions of others.” “As he is now,” she said wryly. “Through you.” “Right. Well.” Cyrus cleared his throat. “I’m afraid the devil’s wishes are a g...

“And I suspect you’re not allowed to tell me more?” He laughed; the sound was bleak. “I will only say that arranging our unhappy marriage is but a fraction of what I’ve been commanded to do, and yet it’s the scheme he cares most about. He wants me to help you attain power first and foremost, and I’d be surprised indeed if he isn’t making deals with other unsuspecting fools, tethering their freedom to your ascension much as he has with mine. I pity them all,” he said sullenly. “Dealing with you has been the simplest and by far the most punishing of all his demands.” “By far the most punishing?” Alizeh echoed, almost smiling. “Come now, you don’t really find me that unbearable.” “You think I exaggerate?” he said tersely. “Being forced into your company ranks high on the list of the most abhorrent experiences I’ve ever had.” The nosta flared hot at that, and Alizeh was thrown by the heft of the insult. “You really mean that,” she said, astonished. “But what crimes have I committed to earn your unyielding censure?” “Are you giving me permission to insult you?”

She felt a flash of anger. “I didn’t realize you needed permission.” “Alizeh,” he said, his expression both grave and impatient. “Do you have any idea how many people would leap at the opportunity to overtake my kingdom and kill me? Your hesitation is unnerving.” “But what if I don’t want to kill you? What if I can’t bring myself to do it?” “What on earth would prevent you?” he shot back. “My overwhelming charm and charisma? You’ve been so eager to off me all this time, but now, suddenly, when I ask you to do the godforsaken deed, you refuse to take direction?” “Heavens. You talk almost...

Alizeh’s anger sharpened; she was growing tired of his childish jabs at her pride. “If you’re so keen to die,” she said, “why not let the devil do it?” “Oh, I don’t know,” he said, attempting a smile. “I watched you kill five mercenaries with an assortment of sewing supplies. I think I prefer your creativity.” “Wait— What?” She blinked, alarm awakening her pulse, which fluttered fast now against her throat. “You were there?” “I was there to protect the devil’s darling,” said Cyrus, his eyes darkening. “Clearly, he underestimated you.”

“You committed patricide,” she went on, “in the pursuit of domination and glory, for control of a formidable empire. You went to such lengths for power! It couldn’t have been a small thing to kill your own parent. So why would you then toss your spoils at my feet, as if your title means nothing to you?” Cyrus visibly swallowed. It was a long moment before he said: “I’m quite desperate.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” he mused. “I didn’t say a word until I was three years old. I don’t like eggplant. And you have a single little freckle in the hollow at the base of your throat.” Alizeh clasped a hand involuntarily against her neck, almost surprised when her fingers met with the heavy gold collar of her dress, which all but obscured her throat from view. “How did you know that?” “I have eyes,” he said flatly. “You’re lying to me.” “About my eyes? I assure you, they’re quite firmly affixed to my skull.” “Cyrus—”

“Hazan is my friend, you terrible halfwit!” she cried, and then looked sharply away, emotion threatening to disorder her. “Was my friend. Hazan was my friend.” “I warn you,” said Cyrus. “If you weep, I might vomit.”

Cyrus opened his eyes, and for the first time since she’d met him, he looked almost happy. It turned back time on his face, made him look more youthful. His eyes were bluer, brighter. He smiled, and it was real. She had to fight the urge to smile back. “Come with me,” he said, straightening, and held out his hand. Alizeh eyed his outstretched hand warily, biting her lip as she hesitated. “Why? Are you going to throw me off a cliff again?” “Maybe later,” he said lightly. “Then what?” “I thought you might like to see Tulan.”

“Kamran, I’m going to ask you something, and I want you to know that I ask it sincerely—” “What?” “Have you lost your mind?” The prince laughed at that, the sound hollow. “I lost my mind the moment I met her, Hazan, and you were there to witness my fall from reason, so don’t feign surprise now.” “I swear, sometimes you scare me.”

Hazan shot him a dark look, but still he gave Kamran a deferential nod. “You are very lucky, then, that I already have a trusted team upon whom I rely. They’ll make a fine militia.” Kamran, who’d been about to resume his walk, turned fully to face his friend. He was unable to leach the surprise from his voice when he said, “You have a team?” “I’ve never worked alone,” said Hazan quietly. “I’m not the only one who’s been searching for her, you know.”

“I BEG YOUR PARDON?” ALIZEH blinked at Cyrus. “You want to show me Tulan?” “Aren’t you curious?” “Very,” she said. “It’s only that I didn’t think you’d let me leave the palace.” Cyrus laughed at that, then frowned. “Why wouldn’t I let you leave the palace?” She matched his look of confusion. “Because,” she said slowly. “I would run away, you see. And you need me to remain here and do your bidding, or else the devil is going to kill you.” “Ah.” He grimaced. “Right. Well. In that case, I must get on. I suppose I’ll see you at dinner, should you choose to join me.” He gave her a nod, turned on his heel and, with a purposeful stride, headed to the door. Alizeh watched this happen with undisguised disappointment. “Wait,” she called out, crestfallen. “Are you really leaving? Are we really not going to see Tulan?”

He said softly, “It was rather foolish of you to mention the bit about running away.” “I know.” Alizeh bit her lip. “I’m quite sorry for it now.” Slowly, he turned around. “Are you saying you’re not going to run away, then?” Alizeh prevaricated.

She lifted her eyes, finally meeting Cyrus’s impatient gaze. Hesitantly, she said, “Perhaps I won’t run away today.” His agitation gave way to visible bemusement. “Is that so? Having a good time, then, are you? Enjoying my hospitality?” Quietly, Alizeh cleared her throat. “You may choose to poke fun,” she said, clasping and unclasping her hands. “But I am deciding, after all, whether or not to marry you, and I think I should be allowed to see the land you intend to leave me before I make my choice.” Cyrus stiffened at that. He stared at her, unblinking, the light dying in his eyes as he turned slowly away, lapsing into silence. In fact, he said nothing for so long that Alizeh felt forced, in the mounting discomfort of the moment, to speak. “Cyrus?” she said uneasily. “Are you all right?” He looked up. “Ever?” She frowned. “You know,” he said attempting a laugh, “I realize you might not believe this, but I never dreamed I’d one day be forced to take a wife in this manner.” He shook his head, turned away again. “I’m trying to give you Tulan—a jewel among empires, a land that is my home. I stand here begging you to marry me—to kill me and take my nation, my crown, my legacy—and you won’t even say yes.” He closed his eyes and swore. “I really thought I’d already hit rock bottom, but this— This is a shade of wretchedness I’ve never known.”