Dealt with.
I clenched my teeth to keep a flood of words from escaping.
A neighboring prince’s Gift had surfaced just two months ago. Of course, his Gift had been deemed safe. But it’d been years since anyone had discovered a Gifted woman.
My father turned to the cleric. “Schedule a hearing. And arrange a search party to see if anyone can find a Jinni. We’ll likely need a Severance.” The cleric scratched notes on his parchment.
The blood drained from my face. The hum in the room grew louder. Another Shah stood to go next, but I stopped listening. My heart pounded as I waited for the worst of it to manifest. Bracing myself, I still felt completely unprepared when it happened.
The princess looks like she’s about to faint.
It was someone else’s thought forming in my mind—the tone of it high and shrill. Though I’d doubted the sensation when the episodes had first begun, certain I was losing my mind, it was undoubtedly a thought. Now, I could usually distinguish which thoughts belonged to me versus those around me.
I tried to ignore the stranger in my head. But as one of my ladies-in-waiting, Havah, stepped forward to offer me a cup of cool water, her thoughts intruded as well.
She looks horrible.
It took everything in me not to wince as I accepted the cup. As I thought about the ruling, it was hard to swallow.
I didn’t know the full details of a Severance. But the Gifted woman’s fate was certain: death.
Whether a day, a week, or even a month or two after the fact, she wouldn’t live long. They always said it was an accident. The women hung themselves, or slipped in the bath, or fell from their horse... But I knew better. Someone killed them. What a horrible punishment for an innocent girl who couldn’t help herself. I hated that I had to keep silent. But if I didn’t...
If my kingdom—if my own father ever learned of my Jinni’s Gift, would he do that to me?
***
WHEN THE BELL TOLLEDin the keep across the castle, my father dismissed everyone to get ready for dinner. “We’ll resume with Yik-Shah in two day’s time.”
I stood a split second after he did, rushing toward the back door to avoid the crowds as I all but fled the throne room, trailed by my ladies-in-waiting. I led the way up the curving staircase, down a long hallway, and entered my rooms.
My sitting room at the entrance held a dozen comfortable chairs and a table, meant for entertaining guests without allowing them the intimacy of my bedroom, though there was a small bed hidden along the wall where my ladies-in-waiting took turns staying the night in case I required anything.
“I’ll call if I have need.” I dismissed them, entering my personal rooms. Locking the door, I crossed to my bathing room and stared into the floor length mirror.
Havah was right. My warm, golden skin was pale; a sharp contrast to the soft black hair that flowed loosely over my shoulders. I touched my lips, still a vivid red, and the paint came away. Dipping a clean towel in fresh water, I scrubbed until my face was clean. Water dripped on my elegant dress, but I didn’t care. As I set down the towel, my hand shook.
A knock sounded.
With a sigh, I moved to open the door. “Time to get you ready for dinner, Arie-zada,” Havah called me by my childhood nickname, a shortened version of my formal title,Shazada. She stepped through the door, to stand beside it.You go through so many dresses.
I turned to hide my reaction as I waved her in, moving to the balcony for some fresh air.
“Sirjan-Shah paid you so many compliments during the last courtship tour, I could hardly keep up,” Havah said.
I stared at the sea, eyes searching for a glimpse of one of the Mere out of years of habit, though I’d yet to see one. Waves crashed against the cliffs below, and I struggled to tune out Havah’s thoughts as I replied, “His compliments were shallow.” I knew, because his flattery was interlaced with thoughts of my treasure and how he could best get his hands on it.
Or maybe you’re shallow, Havah’s thoughts washed over me like a bitter rain.
I winced.
She ignores them all.I couldn’t tune her out, no matter how hard I tried.I’d give anything for attention like that.
When I glanced back to where she sifted through my closet for a suitable evening style, she only smiled. If not for the way my Gift had manifested over the last six months, I’d never have guessed her thoughts.
What did she have to be jealous of? Her bronze skin was smoother than mine, her lips fuller. Her brown eyes more slanted and her hand more talented at lining them with coal. Her hair shone just as dark and long as my own. We could be sisters, but for my tiara and the quality of my clothes.
“What about Tahran-Shah?” she asked, pulling out a red, sleeveless dress that would cling to me. She helped me remove the white pearl gown. “He’s very handsome and his—”
