She looked up, but he would not meet her eyes.
“Hazan,” she said softly. “Will you look at me?”
She watched him swallow, watched him hesitate before dropping slowly to one knee before her. He lifted his head and their eyes locked. He seemed to drink in the sight of her, fear and affection at war in his gaze.
“Hazan,” she said again. “I’m worried you’re not sleeping well.”
This disarmed him so completely he almost laughed, the intensity in his eyes melting into something gentler. His chest caved as he exhaled, and he lowered his head once more. “I will try to do better,Your Majesty.”
“Thank you,” she said softly. “For saving my life.”
“You need not thank me,” he said, “for the actions I perform in my own self-interest.”
She laughed, and they shared an easy, fleeting moment of silence.
“I feel you should know,” she said, her voice quieting to a whisper. “That I’ve made my decision.”
He looked up sharply.
“I’m going to say yes. To his proposal.” Alizeh clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m going to marry Cyrus.”
Hazan seemed to stop breathing.
“I know you were against the idea – and I know he’s not trustworthy – but I hope you can understand why, especially after today –”
The door slammed open without warning, and they both spun toward the sound. Alizeh fought back a gasp.
Kamran had arrived.
TWENTY-FOUR
ALIZEH WENT RIGID, SURPRISED BYthe intensity of her reaction to him. Kamran was as handsome as ever, the vein of gold branching up his face giving him a magical, mysterious air. He’d always been striking, but her memories had done him an injustice. His bearing impressive, his eyes gleaming – Kamran radiated the kind of glory that could only be born from a lifetime of power and privilege. The young man who stood before her now was truly a wonder to look upon, and yet, the idea of speaking with him filled her with dread. The last time she’d seen the prince he’d been enraged and unreasonable. He’d refused to listen to her, refused to be rational, and then he’d shot her with an arrow, nearly killing her in the process.
Kamran kept his eyes on Alizeh as he moved slowly forward, as if afraid to spook her. Still, there was something gentler in his countenance today, the fire in his eyes dampened, and she felt herself unclench as he approached, even as she remained wary.
“Forgive me,” he said, glancing between her and Hazan. “I hardly know what to say. I heard the good news, then the bad. I’m so relieved to see that you’re unharmed.”
“Yes,” she said, feeling oddly wooden. “I was lucky a friend arrived in time to spare me a much darker fate.” She softened,smiling at Hazan with real warmth. “I owe him my life, over and over.”
Hazan only bowed his head.
“Indeed.” Kamran nodded, glancing at his old minister before refocusing on her. “How – how are you?”
An array of answers flowered in her mind, but Alizeh only appraised him before saying, politely: “I’m fine, thank you. How are you?”
“I’m – Yes. Fine.” Kamran hesitated, then laughed with a charming self-consciousness. “Heavens, this is awful, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she said, and sighed.
Kamran shook his head, lost his smile. “Will you ever be able to forgive me?”
She looked up at him, surprised. “I’ve already forgiven you.”
“You have?” His brows lifted. “Yet you don’t seem at all pleased to see me.”
Alizeh looked away. She knew his actions that awful morning had been unintentional – knew he hadn’t meant her any harm – but Kamran’s conduct had been indicative of a man unable to think beyond his own desires. She’d tried to reason with him, had begged him to imagine the situation more complexly, to see how killing Cyrus would have far-reaching consequences – and he’d shaken her off without care or consideration.
Thishad bothered her almost more than the injury itself.
