Page 48 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“Release her.”
“My King.” Zahra fell to her knees as themedjaylet go of her. She rubbed her wrists and ran toward him. “You are alive. Thank Selene, I thought?—”
He stepped out of her reach. “Where have you been?”
Zahra was alarmed by his tone, pausing some feet from him. “I was taken by assassins. They wanted information.”
“Did you give it to them?”
“Of course not.” Her voice quieted, her confidence slipping. Why had she thought he would be happy to see her? “I came to warn you. They’re coming to kill you.”
An eerie laugh emanated from him, so startling that Zahra flinched at the sound. “Is that so?”
“Yes.” Her chest tightened. “I… I don’t understand.”
“Enough lies.” Namir stepped out from beneath the shadows, his glare fixated on her face. His features dripped with hatred. “I know the truth.”
Zahra’s blood ran cold. “I can explain.”
“I am sure you can.” He clenched his fists at his side. “Your father was captured and brought before me. I know you lied about the crime he committed and your role in it.”
“He did not commit it,” Zahra cried. “I—I mean…”
“I trusted you against my better judgment,” he seethed. “I should have listened to Zosar.”
“Youcantrust me.” Her voice cracked in desperation. “Namir?—”
Namir stepped forward, swinging his arm. “I am your King!”
Zahra’s mouth clamped shut, hot tears streaming down her cheeks.
Namir clenched his jaw. “You and your father are thieves. You are a sorceress, and Re cursed you to remember each day because of your wicked acts. I will not keep my promise. At sunup, you will die for Re and all of Aur to watch!”
“No!” Themedjaygrabbed her arms once more, and she cried out in pain. “My King, please?—”
“Do not beg,” he spat, turning away from her. “To think I almost doomed Aur by trusting asobki.”
Zahra gritted her teeth, rage bubbling in her chest. “I am no thief.” She stood tall. “I lied, yes, but I did so to protect my father.”
“You did so because you could not trust your King,” Namir corrected. “If you had told me the truth, you would have been guilty by law.”
“And the blood of two innocents would be on your hands!” Zahra summoned her next breath. “I don’t know why he steals the Thoth every night. Despite his actions, he is a good man. I believe he is being forced to steal it. By whom and for what purpose, I don’t know.”
Namir turned to her and jabbed a finger in front of her face. “How am I meant to believe you have good intent when all you have told me are lies?”
Zahra leveled her gaze at him. “I told no lies except the ones concerning my father’s crime tonight. Everything else is true.”
“And yet, I cannot believe you.” He dropped his hand, turning away. “Take her from my sight.”
Themedjaytugged on her wrists.
“Kill me then,” Zahra screamed, “but I will not perish under the pretense of a liar. I speaktruth. Someone has tricked my father, and assassins are coming to kill you. They had me in bounds all day, but I escaped because I couldn’t bear to witness a murder that I could have prevented.”
Namir laughed, turning to her. “This again?”
“My King.” Themedjayon her left moved his hand up her arm and held out her raw and bleeding wrist for Namir to see.
Zahra looked for Namir’s gaze, but he was focused on her wrists. His expression was conflicted between anger and confusion.
