She hesitated. ‘There is one thing. I cannot, in good conscience, let you go into this union with a lie between you—or between us, for that matter.’
He waited for her to continue.
‘Aisha knows,’ she said. ‘She knows what I am. That I’m a covenweaver—like her.’
Her words seemed to land one at a time. ‘She… knows?’
Maryam nodded. ‘She discovered it herself, through a vision. I had no choice but to tell her the truth. Since then, I have been helping her understand and control her gift.’
He just stood there, trying to absorb this new information. ‘You’ve been teaching her?’
‘Yes.’
‘She never said a word about…’ He didn’t finish his sentence. Of course Aisha never said anything to him. She would never tell another soul, no matter how much she trusted them. It was simple maths. The more people who knew, the higher the risk of exposure.
‘She was struggling,’ Maryam said, ‘and in need of guidance. Guidance her mother would have provided if she were still alive.’
He paced a few steps over to the table and held on to the edge. ‘What exactly does she know?’
‘I have not told her of any cooperation between us. Nor of the visions that brought the two of you together. However, I trust her. So if you wish to begin your marriage with transparency, you are free to tell her whatever you like.’
Tariq straightened and drew a long breath. He looked back at Maryam, nodding slowly. Yes, he would tell Aisha, because she deserved to know everything—especially about the visions that had brought them together. He was confident she would understand every decision he had made up to that point, the same way he understood hers.
‘Thank you,’ he said.
Maryam bowed her head. ‘May the gods bless you both with a lifetime of happiness, Your Highness.’
Tariq went to the door and opened it for Maryam. As she was exiting, he noticed Aisha standing several paces away, her body still and expression confused.
Maryam froze when she spotted Aisha. For a beat, no one spoke. Then Aisha brought a hand to her forehead as though struck by a sharp pain. Turning, she walked away.
Tariq dragged a hand down his face before going after her. ‘Aisha, wait.’
When he caught up with her, she spun to face him. ‘I didn’t mean to interrupt.’ Her tone was cold.
He was conscious of the fact that they were in a public space, so he kept his voice low. ‘Let me explain.’
‘Explain why Maryam was in your chambers at this hour?’
He blinked. ‘Not for the reason you think.’
‘You either have her spying on me or you’re sleeping together. Which one is it?’
‘Sleeping together?’ His voice was too loud that time.
‘Spying on me, then. What was so important that it couldn’t wait until morning?’
He scrubbed a hand through his hair. ‘The conversation wasn’t supposed to go like this.’
‘We’re supposed to be getting married tomorrow.’
He stepped closer. ‘Will you just listen, please?’
‘What exactly has she been reporting? When I sleep? What I say? What I?—’
‘Stop.’ He gripped her shoulders firmly but not roughly. ‘Listen to me.’
She fell silent.
