I closed my eyes again, wishing I could prolong this moment forever. I didn’t want him to revert to the Zafir I used to know, always dosed on Stillheart and criticizing me. I wanted the Zafir who comforted me when I was frightened and whose kisses made me feel like I could fly.
The memory of his reaction after we kissed slunk in.Was I about to endure another day of Zafir pretending I didn’t exist, where we were too embarrassed to even look at each other?
He shifted, arms wrapping tighter around me. How long would this last? I slowly tilted my head up to look at him, only to find him wide awake. Flaming phoenixes, I had fallen for him so hard. He had to know it, despite all my hostility and barbed insults.
“Did you sleep better?” His arms didn’t move.
“Much better. But I’m surprised you slept in,” I told him. “You always wake up early.”
He propped himself up on his elbow and his eyes searched my own. “You aren’t the only one who dislikes being alone at night. And if I’m going to be with someone, I want it to be you.”
“Zafir,” I breathed.
His gaze dropped to my mouth and he inclined his head. “I really do love hearing you say my name.”
“Zafir,” I repeated softly. “What are you doing?”
“I should think it’s obvious. You’ve tortured me these past weeks, I hope you know that. That kiss…I want you to know that I don’t regret one second of it, but I worry that you do.”
If I was about to be thrown into prison, what did it matter if I confessed my feelings now? “I don’t regret it either. It was incredible.”
Joy lit up Zafir’s face. “It really was. The worst part was it ending.”
“I never took an infatuation elixir that day, did I?” I ran my fingers along his neck. “You lied and said you gave me one to spare me the embarrassment of admitting my feelings.”
“You have no idea how hopeful I felt after that. I worried if I hadn’t lied, you would’ve run.”
I let out a breath of laughter. “I couldn’t have gotten far, being chained to you.”
“You aren’t chained now.”
“And I didn’t run.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up into a smile. “I’m planning to give up my quest for the lamp. I won’t cross the world to make a wish when I already have everything I want right here. Forget your revenge. Stay with me.”
I touched his face. “I would, but I can’t leave Nadia, and you know I’m going to prison.”
“I’ll send for her. We can find a way to get her on a boat and bring her over. By the time she gets here, I’ll find a way to bail you out. I told you—we’ll figure it out.”
I could hardly breathe. “You mean it?”
“I mean it. I’ll send for your sister and try to alert the authorities to what Rahil has been doing. I’ll take care of everything.” He paused. “I really do care about you. So much.”
Something inside my chest cracked open at that.
Before I could overthink it, before fear or logic or the looming weight of my impending prison sentence could pull me back, I lifted my head a little and closed the small space between us.
Zafir sucked in a breath as our lips met.
The kiss was nothing like the frantic desperation from before. This one was slower, steadier, as if we were both afraid that if we moved too quickly, the moment would vanish. His hand slid to my jaw, warm and sure, his thumb brushing my cheek as though he were memorizing me. I melted into him, the world narrowing until there was onlythe press of his mouth against mine and the way my heart felt dangerously full.
For one impossible second, I let myself believe this could be enough. That we could stay right here, wrapped around each other, pretending the rest of the world didn’t exist.
But then, the sound of boots came, heavy and purposeful, and the sound sliced straight through the warmth between us.
“They’re early,” Zafir said under his breath. All softness drained from his expression.
My stomach dropped. Panic rushed in, cold and fast, stealing the air from my lungs. They were coming to take me to prison.
