“It’s King Amir,” I babbled. “He’s trying to force me to marry him and he’s convinced you to—”
My father pulled out of my embrace and turned to go.
“Baba, wait!” He didn’t. And worse, I couldn’t hear a single thought from him, as if he couldn’t absorb any conversation about the wedding. What had Amir commanded him?
“Why don’t you hear me?” I cried after him as he rounded the corner. He didn’t respond. He couldn’t. I swallowed back tears, holding onto that thought. It wasn’t his choice. He didn’t mean to leave me alone. It wasn’t his fault.
I ran to my rooms before anyone could see me cry. He couldn’t help me. He couldn’t even help himself.
I went to bed that night wide awake, ignoring the teardrops trailing down my cheeks and hitting my pillow as I wracked my mind for a solution. A way out. I’d do anything—absolutely anything—besides marry the king of lies.
CHAPTER 5
Arie
WHEN I HEARD HAVAH’Sslippered feet come in the next morning, I was ready. I didn’t even roll over. “I’m not getting dressed today Havah, you can go.”
She curtsied. “Yes, Princess Arie.” Ever the obedient one. Unlike me. “I’ll get you some breakfast.”
“Two helpings please,” I called after her before she left the room. “Extra bread and fruit. And cheese!”
Her thoughts were judgmental, but she didn’t say a word, only nodded and left, letting the door swing shut.
It wasn’t long before she came back with a full tray and another servant helping her carry the second. “King Amir requests you join him and your father in the library.”
“Tell him I’m not feeling up to going out.” If he wasn’t in my presence, then I could feasibly disobey without him suspecting my Gift, couldn’t I? “It’s my time of the month. I’ll be staying in my room today.”
I ate as much as I could stand and wrapped up the leftovers, carefully hiding them in the back of my wardrobe. At first, I expected Havah to return or Amir himself to show up, disregarding etiquette that forbid him from entering a lady’s bedchamber, but he must have accepted my excuse because no one came, except Havah to bring the noon meal, and much later dinner. Each time, I asked for extra servings of everything. Though they thought I was acting strangely, they obeyed.
As the day dragged by, I went over my options one last time, making certain this was the best choice.
My father, King Mahdi of Hodafez, was vacant and disconnected from his own kingdom, his own daughter. He couldn’t save me. Our armies weren’t strong enough to fight Amir’s, even if he hadn’t had the advantage of his Gift. They couldn’t save me. My father was well-loved, so others might fight with us. But how could they even begin negotiations with Amir in their midst? He’d seen our weakness and exploited it. No one could save me.
There was only one thing he hadn’t accounted for.
I was not a weak woman. I could save myself.
