CHAPTER 52
Arie
IHEARD HIS THOUGHTSbefore he spoke. “You’re free now,” Kadin said softly.
We stood on my balcony overlooking the ocean. He’d used the tunnels over the last few days, though I suspected he would’ve found a way in even if I hadn’t shown him.
I stared down as waves crashed into the cliffs below, creating white surf. The sound usually calmed me.
Not today.
“Free?” I scoffed, glaring at the waves. “I’ve never been less free.” My father was still in a comatose state—only in Rena’s presence, under her enchantments, did he occasionally wake. Over three days had passed this way. If he didn’t get better soon, I worried he’d never recover.
When I’d imagined becoming queen, it’d never felt like a burden. And there was no one to share it—most of the Shahs were avoiding the castle. It had become a silent tomb with servants tiptoeing through it.
“You mean Amir?” Kadin hopped onto the marble ledge to sit facing me, trying to catch my gaze. He misunderstood, but he was right about that too. The king of Sagh was still a threat. “Why does he want Hodafez so badly anyway?”
“He needs it to reach the other kingdoms.” I finally met his gaze, but I couldn’t hold it. The ocean didn’t stir up feelings the way he did. “And yes, I’m worried he’ll try again, but it’s more than that. It’s also the people...” My new rule was so fragile. The other Gifted women depended on me, yet if even one of them made a mistake, it would demolish the delicate peace I’d created. And I couldn’t comfort them—the entire kingdom feared me more than anyone else.
Kadin waited.
“And... I’m worried about my father.”
That was an understatement. Gideon had promised to save him. The Jinni had come back only once, for mere minutes. No news. He’d asked for the lamp, and vanished once more. I feared his own mission came first. And that there might not be a solution to be found.
“There’s another healer on the way,” Kadin murmured. “Bosh sent word he found someone. And the others haven’t given up searching.
I nodded, turning to pull myself up onto the ledge as well, swiping the tears away while my back was turned and keeping my voice steady. “How are they doing?”
“Good. You’ve given us more than enough,” he waved a hand and I stared at it where it landed on the balcony next to mine.
I’d pardoned Naveed and Daichi, who’d landed in the dungeons, and given each of the men a handsome reward for their aid.
“They just want to help.Ijust want to help,” he added.
I already knew that. It was impossible not to hear his thoughts when he let his walls down. Even now, he pictured wrapping his arms around me. It was more a warm sensation than a full thought, but I could sense it all the same.
I put a palm on the stone between us, and he covered it with his own, leaning toward me.
Instead of moving away, I held my breath, hoping the kiss would be as good as he was imagining.
The seagulls called to each other, the waves crashed around us, and I let myself forget everything else, just for a moment.
I closed my eyes as his lips brushed softly against mine, light, tentative.
I leaned toward him and kissed him back.
He pulled away first, rubbing the back of his head, as if it still ached from the guard’s blow during the fight.Tell her how you feel,he urged himself.
I blinked, and the spell was broken.
