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She placed a hand against his cheek. “Beyond words.”
His eyes still fixed on her face, he lowered her onto the cushions. Then he covered her hand with his, brushing his lips across her i
“My soul sees its equal in you.”
All that was before her melted into amber and truth.
And, with a kiss, Shahrzad let herself fall.
For the boy who was an impossible, improbable study in contrasts. The boy who burned her life to cinder, only to remake of it a world unlike any she had ever known.
Tomorrow, she could worry about such a thing as loyalty. Tomorrow, she could worry about the price of such betrayal.
Tonight, all that mattered was this.
Their hands threaded above her head. His low whisper in her ear.
Just one boy and one girl.
This.
Oblivion.
• • •
Shahrzad awoke to the scent of roses.
To the scent of home.
A golden sun streamed from between the carved wooden slats of the screens leading to her balcony. She winced at its light and rolled over.
On the silk cushion beside her head was a pale violet rose and a folded piece of parchment. She smiled to herself. Then she lifted the rose and brought it closer.
It was perfect. The circle of winding petals was flawless, and the color was the ideal balance of striking and subdued. Inhaling its heady fragrance, she reached for the piece of parchment and shifted onto her stomach.
Shazi,
I prefer the color blue to any other. The scent of lilacs in your hair is a source of constant torment. I despise figs. Lastly, I will never forget, all the days of my life, the memories of last night—
For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you.
Khalid
Shahrzad read the letter four times, committing his words to memory. Her smile grew wider with each reading, until it stretched far enough to cause her pain. Then she laughed like an imbecile and quickly chastised herself for it. She placed the rose and the parchment on the stool by her bed and reached to the floor for her discarded shamla.
Where is Despina?
Tying her laces, she walked to the door of her handmaiden’s chamber and knocked. When no one answered, she twisted the handle and looked inside. It was dark and deserted. She frowned and turned back toward her chamber.
Her frown deepening, she proceeded to bathe and dress in a sleeveless linen qamis of vibrant scarlet with matching trowsers. Tiny seed pearls and embellishments of copper and gold were embroidered at the cuffs and along the hem.
As she finished tugging the ivory comb through the last of her strands, one of the double doors opened and slammed shut with a deafening bang.
Shahrzad jumped through the air with a strangled cry.
“Did you miss me?” Despina teased.
“Where were you all morning?” Shahrzad glowered at her handmaiden, snaking her still-damp hair over one shoulder.
Despina cocked her head to the side. “You must be joking, Brat Calipha. I would rather eat my fill of excrement than return to this chamber a moment too soon. Especially at the risk of incurring a king’s wrath.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Cease with the displays of false modesty. The entire palace knows about it.”
A feeling of warmth crept up Shahrzad’s neck. “Knows about what?”
Despina gri
The heat bloomed onto Shahrzad’s face.
Despina groaned. “Are you going to deny it, then? How tedious.”
Shahrzad paused. “No. I’m not.” She lifted her chin.
“Thank the gods. I thought I would have to suffer through another odious attempt at coyness.”
“You’re one to speak on such matters.”
“Excuse me?”
Shahrzad positioned her hands on her hips and peaked an eyebrow in a perfect imitation of her handmaiden. “Did you have a nice evening, Despina-jan?”
“Of course I did,” Despina said over her shoulder. “I slept quite well.”
“I’m happy to hear it. Have you finally mustered the courage to tell the man you love the truth?”
“The man I love? I think you may have hit your head. Perhaps too much unrestrained—”
“Now who’s being odiously coy? Honestly, it galls me how both of you continue to play these games and ignore your feelings. He needs to know that you care about him. And he should definitely know about his child. Maybe I can—”
“Shahrzad!” Despina spun around, her features contorted in horror. “You can’t! You mustn’t!”
“Despina—”
“You don’t understand! He can’t know—anything.” Despina’s hands shook as she brought them to rest above her stomach.
Shahrzad shot her a gaze of bewilderment. “You’re right; I don’t understand. He’s a good man. He must—love you. Does he not?”
“I . . . don’t know.” For the first time, the proud, haughty set to Despina’s posture faltered. Her shoulders sagged, and she moved to the foot of Shahrzad’s bed to lean against the platform. Without a word, Shahrzad sat down on the white marble beside her.
“Anyway, he can’t marry me,” Despina said in a soft, defeated tone. “I’m—a handmaiden. He’s the cousin of the caliph. One day, he will become the next shahrban. His father married a princess of Khorasan. He has to marry someone from a good family. Not a handmaiden from Thebes.”
“Even if he loves her?”
Despina closed her cerulean eyes. “Even if he loves her.”
“I think that’s absurd. Have you discussed it with him?”
She shook her head. “He thinks I don’t love him. I’ve said as much.”
“Despina!” Shahrzad glared at her handmaiden.
“It’s easier that way. If he believes this is just a passing fancy, it will be far simpler for us both to carry on with our lives after the fact.”
“Why would you do that to yourself? Why would you lie to him?”
“I believe when you truly love someone, you want what’s best for that person.”
“I find that not only absurd, but arrogant, as well.”
“And I find that amusing, coming from someone as arrogant as you.”
“I’m arrogant?” Shahrzad sputtered. “I’m not the one assuming to know what’s best for a grown man without consulting him first.”
Despina smiled sadly.
Shahrzad nudged Despina’s shoulder with her own. “I understand how difficult it is, putting your heart in someone else’s hands. But, if you don’t, how will you ever truly know a person?”
Despina drew her knees to her chest. “His father will despise me. Everyone will think I trapped him into marriage. That I’m a scheming whore.”
“I will personally beat senseless the first person to speak ill of you.”
Despina arched a dubious brow.
“Don’t sneer at me. I may be small, but, when pushed, I can strike out with a surprising amount of force.” Shahrzad sniffed. “If you don’t believe me, ask Jalal.”
“You struck Jalal?” Despina frowned.
Shahrzad shook her head, a smile playing at the edges of her lips.
“Khalid.”
“What?” Despina gasped. “You . . . struck the caliph?”
“Across the face.”
Despina’s hand shot to her mouth, and a bubble of laughter burst from her lips.
The two girls remained seated on the floor talking and laughing until a knock at the entrance brought them to their feet. The double doors swung open, and Khalid walked across the threshold with Jalal at his side. A contingent of guards remained in the hall. The shahrban waited patiently amongst them.
As always, Khalid moved with an air of imperious grace. His dark rida’ was fastened over an elaborate silver and gold cuirass. The hilt of his shamshir was looped through a black tikka sash slung across his narrow hips. He looked menacing and unapproachable—a thousand years, a thousand lives, a thousand tales away.