Page 117 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Nubia placed her hand on the back of Zahra’s neck. “It is a little late for that, but you can still do the right thing.”
Zahra looked up, sniffling. “How?”
“Tell him the truth.”
Zahra looked down at her hands. “I…I can’t.”
“It will be hard,” Nubia agreed, “but you are doing a brave thing. You are right. Namir needs someone who can stay by his side. He will hurt from this, yes, but he will find another. It will be alright.”
Another.Zahra did not want him to find another. She wanted to be there for him. She wanted to stay by his side, be his queen,and support him through whatever challenges he would face as King.
But she couldn’t. No matter how much she wanted to.
Nubia finished with Zahra’s hair and helped Zahra dry off. She fetched the dark green dress the servant had brought and helped Zahra change into it, then tied her wet curls back. When Zahra was finished, Nubia guided her outside to the gardens. The sun shimmered through the trees, and the sweet scent of dew filled the air. She left Zahra on a stone bench. “Wait here. I will tell him you are waiting for him.”
Zahra swallowed as Nubia turned away. “Vizier?”
Nubia turned around, her eyebrows raised.
Zahra smiled sadly. “Thank you.”
Nubia nodded with a compassionate expression. “It is the least I can do.”
Zahra clenched her hands in her lap as Nubia left the gardens. Her chest quivered with each breath. It was taking everything she had not to break down again.
Namir stepped out into the gardens. Zahra took a deep breath, forcing herself to stand.
“Zahra,” Namir breathed. “You look—” His voice cut short once he saw her tears. “What is wrong?”
Zahra looked down at her dress.
Namir walked toward her. “Did someone say something to you?”
Zahra shook her head. “No.” He reached for her hand, but she pulled away, gesturing to the stone bench. “I need to tell you something.”
Namir let his hand fall to his side. He obeyed, sitting on the other end of the bench as she sat. “What is it? If this is too fast, I can move the wedding back. We do not have to obey tradition.”
Zahra shook her head, her hands gripping the edge of the bench. “No. That isn’t it.” She faced forward, pulling in a breathof courage. But the courage didn’t come. The truth sat in her throat, and her lip quivered.
Namir studied her face. He leaned forward. “Zahra.”
She pulled in a fast breath, turning to him. “I am cursed to die tonight.”
Namir stared at her. He half-smiled, letting out a raspy laugh as he shook his head. “No. No, you are not.”
“I am.” She tightened her grip on the bench. “There are creatures calledkeresthat kindle anger in the hearts of those around me until I am killed. Every night, they come for me, corrupting the minds of those closest to me. The only reason I am not dead now is because the sun is out.”
“But you have not died every night,” Namir claimed. “If you had, you would have told me. You…” His face slowly filled with horror as he watched her face.
Zahra’s eyes softened. “I have died every night, Namir. When you end the spell, I will die for good. And I willnotcome back.”
Namir stood, stepping back. “No. No, you are wrong. If that were true, then I would have been affected by these creatures.”
“Thekerescan’t act when we are in moonlight, and for most nights, I have ensured you are elsewhere when the moon is weak. I did not want thekeresto affect you.”
“But what about others? Ramses, mymedjay…” His face fell. “Ramses would never?—”
“He didn’t, but thekeresmade him try. They make everyone try.” She fought tears. “I’m sorry, Namir.”
