Chapter 14
Rami
Aroar thundered through my head so suddenly and violently that I nearly toppled off the dais. Drawing in a steadying breath, I closed my eyes, a jolt running through me as I realized that someone had breached the wards around the Heart of Eternity’s tome. Disbelief mingled with a grudging acknowledgment of the Sultan’s paranoia—his fears were not unfounded. How had someone not only gotten into his chambers, but discovered the hidden passageway and deciphered the sequence?
Maintaining my composure, I reached out to him. The wards around the tome were breached.
Immediately, his elation surged through me, though he impressively maintained his poise as he continued dancing with the Lantarean queen. What are you waiting for?! Go arrest them!
I hesitated, wondering at the repercussions Nephria might face if I were to detain the leader of a neighboring domain. But what if it’s a royal?
It doesn’t matter! They infiltrated my private chambers after being welcomed as an honored guest.His initial excitement morphed into anger. Go, now!
With a resigned sigh, I descended the steps, my strides quick and purposeful. Navigating the palace, a knot of dread formed in my stomach. The Sultan’s reasoning was sound. To welcome guests into your home and have them steal from you was a grievous offense. It was odd, however, as I couldn’t quite understand why anyone of nobility would...
Horror abruptly ignited every nerve in my body, cutting off the thought. No, no, no…
Needing to distance myself from others, I ran down the corridors, only slowing once the shadows of the gardens hid me from prying eyes. With a flick of my wrist, I became invisible before materializing in the hidden chamber. My heart plummeted at the sight of her—the golden-eyed enchantress.
No.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I wanted nothing more than to reverse it all, to tell the Sultan that it was a false alarm. But even as the thought crossed my mind, the band around my biceps seared my skin in warning.The imposter prince and a flora fae were also present, but my gaze lingered on her. Though she’d left me breathless from across the room, her beauty up close made the moon itself pale in comparison.
The soft, pearlescent glow of her gown—a seamless blend of twilight and mist—clung to her form, accentuating her gentle curves as it gathered at her waist, cascading to the ground. Delicate chains draped over her shoulders, down her back, and across her chest, ending in a beautiful moonstone pendant resting just above her waist. Her long black curls flowed freely down her back, a silver circlet crowning her head. She wasn”t just beautiful; she was a masterpiece.
“What happened?” the flora fae asked, her wings fluttering anxiously.
“I... don’t know,” she replied, her voice trembling. “I just touched that book, and then... then this power enveloped me.”
“We need to get out of here,” the impostor prince urged. “Now.”
Sultan Ghazi’s impatience churned within me as I trailed behind them, feeling more miserable by the second. Inevitably, I would take her into custody, but for now, I merely listened, following as they exited the chamber and rushed down the hallway.
“Kenz,” the imposter prince spoke. “Go immediately to Tareq. We need to be seen downstairs, so let”s meet back at the suite in two hours.”
“Okay.” The flora fae glanced at them with concern. “Please be safe.” She placed a hand on the golden-eyed beauty’s arm, receiving a smile in return before flitting off toward the guest wing.
As we descended the staircase, a sudden realization dawned on me—they couldn’t have known that the guards would be absent; it was a last-minute order from the Sultan. Were they intending to eliminate the guards entirely? Or perhaps there were spies planted in my ranks? Who were these people?
“It was strange.” Her voice immediately drew my attention. “When the power surged over me, it felt like... like...”
“Like?” the imposter prince pressed.
“Like the tome recognized me?”
Recognized her?The notion struck me with the force of a thunderbolt—she wasn”t just a common thief; she was a Heartseeker. Did that mean they had masqueraded as royalty to retrieve the tome? But something didn”t add up—they had left it behind.
“I really wish you’d listened to me and not touched anything, Nahlah.”
Nahlah.
Her name was a caress, a wound, a thing of beauty that pained me to hear. Unable to bear it, a snap of my fingers brought me back to the darkened gardens. I braced my hands on my knees, struggling to draw in breath through the heaviness in my chest.
Is it done?Sultan Ghazi demanded.
I must be discreet about it, but it will be,I promised, though my entire being rebelled at the thought.
His irritation washed over me. Do not mess this up.
I knew that once Sultan Ghazi had her in his grasp, she would be in immense danger. If he even suspected my interest in her, he wouldn’t allow me to accompany her to find the Heart, which meant I couldn’t keep her safe. With a sharp exhale, I strode toward the doors, knowing what I had to do.
I entered the ballroom with heavy steps, feeling the weight of my duty pressing down on me. The hum of a hundred conversations, the melodies of the musicians, and the sounds of utensils and glasses clinking overwhelmed my senses. To avoid drawing attention, I had shed the mantle of my duties; gone was the sword and the guard’s attire, replaced by a lighter gold jellaba. It was more fitting for a guest than a sentinel, allowing me to blend seamlessly into the crowd.
Locating her required no effort, as she was a shimmering star amidst a sea of red, gold, and black. She was dancing with the Prime Minister of Carthanea; her smile radiant as she listened intently to the elder man’s words. I told myself I would wait until their dance was over, so I could request one with the proper decorum my role demanded.
But patience was a virtue I didn’t have tonight.
Her smile, her laughter, her entire presence were vibrant and mesmerizing, making waiting an unbearable task. Barely half a minute passed before my restraint slipped.Flicking my fingers, the Prime Minister faltered mid-step. Concern flashed across her face as she placed a hand on his shoulder. Another subtle manipulation had him loosening his collar and dabbing at his brow with a handkerchief.
Seizing the opportunity, I navigated easily around the dancers, my focus locked on her. I reached them in time to hear the end of their conversation.
“It’s no problem at all. Please, take care,” she assured him, her worry genuine.
“Thank you, my dear.” He gave her arm an appreciative pat before hobbling away toward a nearby table in search of respite. Once he was sitting, I lifted the vertigo I”d inflicted on him, granting him relief.
“Oh!” she exclaimed as I stepped in front of her, her golden eyes widening with surprise.
With no formalities that the setting warranted, and without giving her—or myself—a chance to reassess, I asked, ”Dance with me?”