Page 113 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“Iset has messed with both of our memories,” Zahra said. “She could have made you not remember your bride. And you are still learning to be a King. You cannot expect to be perfect.”
“I expect to be good enough,” Namir rasped, “but I am not. I have donenothinggood for this kingdom.”
“Stop it.” Namir’s pain-filled eyes looked up at her. She leaned close, still maintaining pressure on his wound. “You have done many things for this kingdom and for its people. My people can attest to that. And you will domanymore things, Namir.”
He scrunched his forehead. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because I have seen it.” Zahra smiled. “I have seen the Pharaoh you will become, Namir. You will unite the people of Aur and the Deshret. Your people will be blessed by your rule, and you will be proud of what you have accomplished. Don’t give such little value to your life when you have yet to see what great things you will do.”
Namir stared at her with wide eyes. “Were you there?”
Zahra’s smile faded. “No.”
Namir sucked in a pained breath, and he blinked hard. “Is… Is that why you said no?”
Zahra was silent for a moment. “No.”
Namir closed his eyes, scrunching his eyelids as his breathing quickened.
Zahra applied more pressure to his wound, and Namir cried out. The bleeding had slowed, but Zahra did not know if that was good or bad. She just had to keep him alive until the night ended. They were so close.
But she did not know if he would last that long.
Namir’s voice came quietly, wavering as he spoke. “Then why?”
Zahra turned back to him. Her eyes still stung from the tears she had cried when she had thought she lost him. She bit her trembling lip, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she found the answer. “Because I was scared.”
Namir’s eyes fluttered open. “Of what?”
Dawn.
Zahra pressed her lips against his, and Namir stilled. He lifted his hands to her face, pulling her closer. Her tears did not cease, but she did not let them stop her. She pulled in a jagged breath before kissing him again.
“I love you,” she whispered. “You are my own personal star. You light up the darkest parts of me, and I feel warmest when I am with you. I want to be your queen. Your wife. I want to spend the rest of my life by your side.” She pressed her forehead against his, sobbing. “But you mustlive.Please.”
Namir’s fingers tangled in her hair, and he smiled against her lips. “I will,ib ib.”
Zahra let out a breathy laugh.The heart of my heart.
Her lips found his again, and she cried as she kissed him. She pushed the thoughts of her curse aside, focusing only on her love for him—the love she had for so long ignored. She did not care if it wouldn’t last. She wouldn’t waste the time they had.
Voices came from outside. Zahra pulled away from Namir, whispering, “I must go.”
Namir grasped her arm weakly. “Don’t leave.”
Zahra sniffled and smiled. She slowly took pressure off of his wound and cupped his face. She kissed his lips and then his curls. Then, she took off her seashell necklace and placed it in his fist. “I will see you in the morning, my King.”
Namir reached for her as she pulled away. She grabbed his dagger before running up the stairs. The door closed quietlybehind her as she left the building. The assassins were nearby, conversing in Ionic. “There’s a footprint in the soil. Someone came this way.”
The blood moon cast an orange glow on her. The assassins were hiding in the shadows, searching behind barrels and moving toward one of the other buildings.
One of the assassins turned to her, freezing as he spotted her.
“He is here somewhere,” the other said, turning in confusion toward his comrade. “What are you—?” He spotted Zahra, and his grip tightened on his blade.
Zahra gripped the dagger in her hand, staring the assassins down. She could see thekeresworking within them. Their eyes flickered with a red glow.
“We have to find him,” the assassin growled. His comrade didn’t appear to hear, and the assassin shook his head as if disagreeing with himself. “We don’t have time?—”
