but that was it.”
“Are you sure that was it?”
“Yes.” She offered a tight smile that didn’t touch her eyes. “Come.”
With every additional moment of strained politeness, Ali was growing more convinced something was wrong. But knowing how guarded Nahri could be, he held his tongue, simply following her to a small balcony overlooking the forest. Cushions surrounded a low table set with fruit, pastries, tea, and juice.
Nahri motioned for him to sit, and Ali did. Then, more like herself, she snapped her fingers at her brother. “Oh no, Jamshid. Don’t you slink off. You’re joining us too.” She fell onto one of the cushions and reached for a cup of tea. “You know, for all the lecturing I’ve heard about how emotional women supposedly are, we have nothing on the men I’ve known.”
Jamshid sat, glowering.
Ali fidgeted for a moment and then decided to just let it out.
“I’m sorry.” He met the other man’s gaze. “I’m so sorry for that night, Jamshid. I was worried about getting caught, about my father learning the assassin was shafit and doing something awful, but that doesn’t excuse what I did to you. I can’t take it back, and I understand if you don’t trust me. I also know how rudely I once spoke of your faith and your people; I know that even before Nahri arrived in Daevabad, your tribe was right to look upon me with suspicion. But I’m sorry.”
There was a moment of silence, tension rising in the air, and then Jamshid spoke, his eyes not leaving Ali’s. “And what of Muntadhir and me?”
Muntadhir. His brother’s name was like a wound; Ali feared it would never stop hurting. In his mind’s eye, he saw his grinning older brother, always so charming, and wondered just how much it had hurt to hold that facade. It broke Ali’s heart that he’d had to.
“Muntadhir saved my life,” he said, noticing Nahri drop her gaze. “I will regret to the end of my days how we spent our last months together, and that my behavior meant he had to hide so much from me. But I am incredibly grateful he had someone like you at his side with whom he could share some happiness.”
At that, he finally saw Jamshid’s cool visage crack. “You have a politician’s gilded tongue,” Jamshid replied, but there was no heat in the insult as he quickly wiped his eyes. “I still don’t like you. I’m only agreeing to work with you because Nahri has asked. You have a very long way to go to earn my trust.”
“I pray I can one day,” Ali said sincerely, pouring a cup of tea. “Perhaps this can be a new beginning for us.”
Something quirked in Jamshid’s expression, but there was a knock at the door, and then a steward entered.
“The queen would like to see you, my prince. The Banu Nahida and Baga Nahid as well.”
God, did his mother have his every move watched? Ali had been here only minutes. “We’ll be right there,” he said with a resigned sigh.
Nahri rose to her feet. “Let me get my cloak.”
Jamshid was pouring a drink. He pushed the cup toward Ali. “Tamarind juice before we leave,” he said politely. “I know how fond you are of it.”
Ali scowled. “I was fond of it before someone tried to poison …” He trailed off, noting the challenge in Jamshid’s eyes. “Oh, you bas—”
Jamshid tsked, nodding at Nahri’s retreating back. “We would not wish to upset her.” He raised his own cup, smiling dangerously. “To fresh starts.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Betray my sister—hurt her in any way—and there will be no one around to interfere the next time you’re poisoned.”
Not trusting himself to respond, Ali simply grunted. Nahri returned, a hooded cloak pulled over her clothes and messy braid.
“Let’s go.” She sounded like they were headed to a funeral.
Ali let Jamshid get ahead of them in the corridor and then turned back to Nahri. “Are you sure everything is okay?” he asked again. “Should I not have said—”
“No,” she cut in quickly. “What you said was perfect.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Ali pressed. “You seem so sad.”
Nahri stopped, taking a deep breath as if to steady herself. “There’s nothing wrong. But you shouldn’t do that here,” she added, pulling away.
Mortified, Ali realized he had unconsciously reached for her hand.
He instantly stepped back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine. It’s just we’re not running around Cairo by ourselves anymore.” A flush darkened Nahri’s cheeks. “People talk. I wouldn’t want them