‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered.
She slowly lifted her gaze to his. ‘Lilah would never hurt anybody. She heals people, just like Mama did. She was helping people the day she died.’ Her eyes filled with tears. ‘And they burned her alive for it.’
He reached up to touch her face, and she drew back. He lowered his hand. ‘My father is dead. There are processes I have to follow.’
She searched his eyes. ‘This isn’t the wedding day we envisioned.’
He shook his head, his chest tightening. ‘No.’ He swallowed. ‘You know how this looks, right? The king dying on the day of our wedding?’
Frustration sharpened her features. ‘Zahvik has to be behind this.’
He wished he could believe that. ‘Me on the throne, with you as queen, is the last thing they wanted. They know everything’s about to change.’ He leaned against the doorframe, watching her. ‘Give me some time to sort this out. If we do everything properly, we’ll only have to do it once.’
She looked at him like he was a stranger. The love and trust they’d built seemed to be dissolving before his eyes.
‘We’ll both do what we need to do,’ Aisha said.
With that, she turned and left.
Aisha returned to Zara’s quarters, her breath shallow and mind racing. Her sister was frantically packing.
‘Where have you been?’ Zara asked without looking up. ‘They confiscated Lilah’s bag. The gods only know what conclusions they’re drawing.’
Aisha peered into the adjoining room, where Yasmin and Omar were asleep.
‘I’ve sent word to the captain, informing him that we need to leave at first light,’ Zara said. ‘Hopefully that’s enough time to gather supplies.’
Aisha looked around at the mess. ‘Have they searched Baba’s chambers?’
‘Yes.’ Zara straightened. ‘Lilah and Safiya are there trying to settle him. As soon as we’re packed, we’ll head straight to the ship. We need to get as far from Azura as we can—and quickly. I’ve got a bad feeling.’ She fell silent to look at Aisha properly. ‘What’s going on? Why are you so calm?’
Aisha drew her eyebrows together. ‘I’m not calm. I’m far from calm.’ She sank down onto the chest, gripping its edge. There were things she needed to say, and she didn’t know where to start or how much time they had.
‘You’re scaring me,’ Zara said. ‘And you know I don’t scare easily.’
Aisha looked up at her. ‘They’re going to arrest Lilah. They may have even done it already.’
Zara’s eyes widened, then darkened. She moved to leave, but Aisha seized her wrist.
‘You need to listen to me first,’ she said.
Zara shifted her weight in Aisha’s direction. ‘Then you better speak quickly.’
Aisha wet her lips. ‘They’re going to arrest Lilah for the murder of King Hamza, but they’re not going to hurt her, because I have a plan.’
Zara never looked away. ‘Go on.’
‘I’m going to confess to the murder.’
Zara pulled her hand free. ‘No, you’re not.’
‘They’ll kill her.’
‘They’ll kill you!’
Aisha rose to her feet. ‘Tariq won’t let them.’
Zara laughed. ‘Your naivety is mind-blowing.’
