‘So, you plan on changing these laws when you’re king?’ she asked.
‘I would like to change them before then.’
She drank, then passed the flask back to him. When her fingers met his this time, a chill ran through her, and the world dimmed. A rush of images, sharper than memories, played in her mind. She saw herself standing with Tariq in the centre of a grand hall, dressed in ceremonial robes. Their hands were clasped, their gazes locked. Around them, a sea of faces blurred into obscurity. It was the connection she felt with Tariq that she was most aware of. The absence of fear. Only certainty.
The vision left as abruptly as it had come. Aisha blinked hard, grounding herself back in the present. Her forehead was slick with sweat. Oh gods.
‘Are you all right?’ Tariq asked, his brow creased with concern.
She nodded, swallowing down her nausea. ‘This is why I don’t drink wine during the day.’
He rose and tipped out the wine, then walked down to the water’s edge to fill the flask. Returning, he handed it to her. ‘Here.’
She took it and drank. The water tasted of wine, but she swallowed it anyway, desperate to cool the heat in her chest. ‘Thank you.’
‘Are you sure you’re all right?’
Aisha nodded again, though her head felt light. She tried to pull herself together, but her trembling hands weren’t helping.
Tariq leaned forwards until his face was mere inches from hers, searching her eyes. Seeing too much.
‘Stay,’ he said. ‘Stay and marry me.’ The gold in his irises flickered like sunlight on metal. ‘Together, we’ll fix it.’
The air between them stilled. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.
Say no, reason whispered. Wait.
But the vision urged her towards him.
She released a shaky breath. ‘All right,’ she whispered. ‘I’ll stay and marry you.’
Chapter 12
Tariq found his mother seated in the garden playing cards with one of her attendants. Farrah placed her hand of cards on the table when she saw him coming, then excused her companion.
‘There you are,’ Farrah said when he reached her. ‘You were gone all day yesterday, and then you were training with Kaidon all morning.’
He took the seat her attendant had vacated. ‘I train with Kaidon every morning.’
‘For what reason I have no idea. Enjoy the peace your father has provided for you.’
It infuriated him that she acted as though obedience to the Emperor meant they were safe. He knew better than to lay his weapon down.
‘Where were you yesterday?’ Farrah asked, looking him over.
‘With Aisha.’
Her eyebrows rose slightly. ‘Oh, it is Aisha now, is it? How very familiar. I thought the princess would be busy packing.’
Tariq didn’t take the bait. ‘I’ve come to tell you that she’s staying here in Gruisea, and I would like to publicly announce our betrothal.’
Farrah’s mask of composure slipped for a second. ‘Given she is prone to changing her mind, perhaps we should wait.’
‘No need. We’ll also need to set a date for the wedding so guests can plan their travel.’
For a moment, Farrah didn’t speak. The sound of the fountain filled the silence. ‘It must have been some day out yesterday,’ she said eventually.
He didn’t reply.
