The Rose & the Dagger (The Wrath and the Dawn #2) - Renee Ahdieh Page 0,53

suffered so greatly in life. And died with his lie blistering her ears.

A lie of love. The one thing she’d asked of him.

The one thing he’d never attempted to give.

In all things, Khalid had failed Ava. In this, he wished to succeed.

And he did not make promises lightly.

“I understand,” Shahrzad said.

“Shazi—”

“Since you can’t say it, will you at least tell me how much you love me?”

Khalid ran the tip of his nose beside her ear, a grateful smile upon his lips.

“From the stars, to the stars.”

ONCE AND FOR ALL

SHAHRZAD SNUCK BACK INTO HER TENT JUST AS DAWN was cresting along the horizon.

She felt fortunate to have managed the return journey unseen. In truth, she’d left Rey with not a moment to spare. Though she’d desperately wanted to stay with Khalid and watch the sky catch fire around them, she could not risk being seen.

And she knew she had to answer for how she’d left things with Irsa the night before.

As soon as their tent fell shut, Shahrzad turned to see her sister sitting up in her bedroll, her eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot.

Clearly, Irsa had not slept well. And might even have shed a tear or two.

Shahrzad stifled a sigh. “Irsa, I—”

“I told Rahim you were gone.” A note of insolence punctuated her raspy whisper.

“What?” Shahrzad almost dropped the bundle containing the magic carpet.

Irsa bit her lip. “Since you’ve missed breakfast almost every morning, he already suspected you were up to something, so I—”

“So you simply told him I was gone?”

“After you left, I went to speak with him, and—” Irsa cleared her throat while toying with the edge of her blanket. “And he knows you’re not sick. He already knew something had been occupying your time these past few nights. So, when he walked me back to our tent and saw that you weren’t here . . .”

Shahrzad could not be angry with her sister. She would not be angry with her. Irsa had done so much to be a bastion of strength for Shahrzad. To offer understanding and support, when no one else would dare to do so. And Shahrzad had done little to deserve it. All those times Irsa had desired her confidence, Shahrzad had demurred from giving it, knowing her secrets were too dangerous for a girl so earnest and tenderhearted.

Here was proof Shahrzad had been wise to withhold it. When pressed, Irsa had been incapable of lying to Rahim as to Shahrzad’s whereabouts. Had Irsa truly known where Shahrzad was, she would undoubtedly have told him.

What might have happened then? Shahrzad shuddered to think.

No. Shahrzad would not be angry with her sister for this lapse in judgment. It could not have been helped.

It was just the way Irsa was—honest to a fault.

Even still, when Shahrzad glanced down at her sister, her temper started to rise.

“I know you’re angry with me,” Irsa continued, a quaver entering her voice. “But I did not intentionally divulge your secret to Rahim. In truth, this is—your own fault. What did you expect? You’ve missed breakfast for almost a week. I don’t know what’s come over you of late. You’ve become careless. Distracted.”

The flare of anger spiked even higher. Even wider.

“Are—are you planning to go out again tonight?” Irsa asked. What started as a squeak finished wrapped in steel.

“Yes.” Shahrzad’s own answer was dangerously defiant.

“Even though it grows more difficult each day to hide your secret?”

“You don’t have to lie for me.”

“Of course I do.” Irsa threw back her tattered blanket and stood tall. “You’re my sister. But your friends are worried about you, and soon their worry will turn to suspicion.” Lines of concern pleated her brow. “Please don’t go out again tonight. I beg you.”

Shahrzad thought quickly. She had already made plans to take Khalid to the Fire Temple to meet with Artan and Musa Zaragoza. If she did not return to Rey as promised, Khalid would undoubtedly worry. And those at the Fire Temple would be left waiting for them; she was without means to deliver word to either side.

She swallowed hard, knowing these issues paled in comparison to the larger matter at hand.

Be honest.

In truth, Shahrzad had no intention of denying herself a single moment with Khalid, simply to mollify her sister. She knew it was selfish. But his absence had become a lasting presence. And Shahrzad was tired of doing nothing to change circumstances. Of merely waiting in the desert for life to happen to her.

All that would end tonight. Destiny was for fools. Shahrzad would not