These Infinite Threads (This Woven Kingdom, #2)

by Tahereh Mafi

“I thought she broke through the fire to punish me,” Cyrus was saying. “I see only now that she did so to protect you.”

“This is my dragon,” said the Tulanian king. “You are not allowed to steal my dragon.” “I didn’t steal it, the creature took – Wait, how did you get here? Can you fly?” He laughed at that. “Is the mighty empire of Ardunia really so poor in magic that these small tricks impress you?” “Yes,” she said, blinking. Then, “What is your name?” “Of all the non sequiturs. Why do you need to know my name?” “So that I may hate you more informally.” “Ah. Well, in that case, you may call me Cyrus.” “Cyrus,” she said. “You insufferable monster. Where on earth are we going?”

“With what ease you insult me,” he said, his eyes mocking. “Were you anyone else, I’d have you executed.” “Goodness, more poetry. Are these tender declarations meant to endear you to me?” He fought a smile at that, running a hand through his hair as he looked up at the stars. “Tell me – is it too much to hope for our future that you will not make it a habit of slapping me in the face?” “Yes.” “I see. Then married life will be exactly as I imagined.”

He closed the inches between them, his glittering eyes assessing

her face now with a renewed fervor. “Do I appear to you a free man boasting of free will? Or perhaps you thought that, after lowering myself to execute the obscene demands of the devil himself, I might take one look at your wide, doe- like eyes and experience a change of heart?” “No,” she whispered. “That is not what I –” “Yes,” he said softly, his gaze dropping, briefly, to her mouth. “You are well aware of your beauty, I think. Much as I am well aware of the maneuvers of the devil, and the weakness of human flesh. You think me so ignorant of his schemes? From the very moment I saw you I suspected his game – I knew he’d sent you to me, specifically, to torture me – as if I might be so tempted by the sight of you that I would bend in but a moment to your wishes, abandoning in the process an oath I signed with my soul, ensuring I am bound to him forevermore. No. I will not be moved by you – and you have underestimated me if you think I will succumb to your charms.” “Sir, I fear you have lost your mind,” Alizeh said, her heart racing wildly in her chest. “You misjudge me terribly –” “And you take me for a fool,” he said angrily, the movement in his throat briefly distracting her. “This story is both odious and familiar, and I already know how it ends; indeed, I have already seen the consequences of your seductions. Just tonight you snapped in half the spine of one sovereign. I will not be the next.”

Alizeh felt a flash of heat at that; an anger that compelled her into silence as the two locked eyes then in a vicious contest. Alizeh did her utmost to remain still under Cyrus’s now ruthless inspection, but the full weight of his scrutiny – at such close proximity – was indeed too much to bear. He seemed to devour her with a single look, his blue gaze holding hers without mercy before cataloging every inch of her face, the angle of her jaw, the column of her neck. His eyes were charged with something both electric and devastating, the unbound energy of his entire body diverted to this single avenue of connection. Alizeh felt the heat of his slow appraisal in her bones, in the tips of her fingers; her heart sped up in response, understanding even as he frightened her

Kamran was quiet for some time, absorbing this. “It’s astonishing,” he said finally, “how long you managed to hide your true self from me. I always suspected you were holding back; I never realized how much.” “And are you horrified,” he said, “to discover the truth?” “No. I think I prefer the real Hazan.” “I fear you might regret saying that,” he said, even as he almost smiled. “Be warned, Kamran. The terms of our agreement are nonnegotiable. Lift a finger against her prematurely and I won’t hesitate to kill you myself.”

be a real trial, and Alizeh thought she might hate them both. “Forgive me,” said Cyrus quietly, “but do you intend to make it a habit of wearing transparent garments in my presence? Do tell me now, I beg you, so that I might blind myself in anticipation.”

Not trusting herself to speak, she shook her head. “God, you’re so beautiful,” he said, his smile vanishing. “Even when you lie to me.”

“No,” he echoed softly. “And you should take care to remember that. Should you marry me, it would be in title only. I have no interest in your companionship.” The nosta went cold.

“Take care, Cyrus,” she chided him. “If you keep laughing like that, I’m liable to think you have a heart.” “Oh, you needn’t worry,” he said, his smile fading. “I most certainly don’t.” The nosta went cold.

“How what works?” She stared at him, unmoving. “And where do you mean to take me? Are we going into Tulan now?” Alizeh saw only the back of his head when he said, “Yes.” “Really?” She hurried after him. “And you’re no longer worried I’ll run away?” “No.” “Wait – Why not?” Alizeh stopped in place. “You should be a little worried, at the very least.” “I’m afraid that’s not possible,” he said, finally turning around to face her. “For I’ve recently

Alizeh,” he said, stumbling over the words. He sounded delirious. “Let’s go back to bed, Alizeh.” “Cyrus –” He laughed a little, like he was drunk. “I do say it a lot.” “What?” she said, going briefly still. “Your name,” he said, and closed his eyes. He nearly fell over, catching himself at the last second. “I didn’t know your name for so long, angel. I love the way it feels in my mouth.” Alizeh’s confusion was outweighed by the physical shock she felt at his casual affection, the endearment embedding in her chest, causing chaos.

She saw an intensity in his stunning irises, something desperate straining against his control, and she swore in that moment she could almost feel his soul pressing against hers. Even then, he was breathtaking. Some quiet, foolish part of her wanted to rest her bones against his powerful body, feel the weight of his arms around her. She wanted to stroke his cheek one last time.

“Why did you do it?” he said, his voice strained. “Why were you so kind to me? I’d heard someone crying, but I thought the sounds were part of a dream, or a hallucination. God, the way you touched me –” He cut himself off, his expression tortured. He shook his head, dragged a hand across his mouth. “Alizeh, my own mother has never touched me with such tenderness. I didn’t think there was any chance you could be real.”

She worried that if she said a word, she might combust. “I touched you,” he said softly. “Do you remember?”

“I would marry you,” he said, stepping closer again, coming dangerously within reach. “I’d marry you tomorrow. And then I’d take you to bed. For weeks.”

“It’s my own fault,” he said, and dragged both hands down his face. “I have only myself to blame. I knew better; I knew you were dangerous. You’ve had the upper hand from the moment I laid eyes on you. I saw you and saw right away that I was in hell, and I hated you for it, because I realized even then that you would be the end of me.”

“I didn’t trust you,” Cyrus said quietly. “How could I trust you? You were a vision conjured by the devil, designed to ruin me. I hated you for being real, for coming to life only to personify torture, to be another trial to endure. In fact I wanted to hate you. I wanted to discover your faults, your flaws. I thought you’d never match up to the figment of my dreams, and I was wrong. You are far more enchanting in real life. Far more exquisite.” His voice shook just a little when he said, softly, “It is excruciating to be in your presence.” Again, the nosta seared her skin.

“Then be with me,” he said softly. “Let me worship you.”

“You have no idea what I could give you,” he said, his own eyes blazing. “You have no idea what I want. I have been in agony for eight months, Alizeh. Do you know how hard it’s been to pretend I don’t know you? To pretend I don’t want you? To act as if I haven’t known every inch of your body in my dreams? To learn that your heart has been entangled elsewhere? I look at you and I can’t breathe. In my mind, you are already mine.”