“I don’t—” My voice cracked. “I don’t know anyone like that.” Julian had said he wouldn’t spend that much on me, and Zafir hadn’t had enough time to get that sort of money.
“You do now.” He stepped aside and motioned me forward. “Let’s go. They’re waiting.”
My mind raced as he escorted me down the corridor. Bailed after one day? Parliament had no love for me and wouldn’t willingly release me. What had changed?
They led me through a final set of doors and into a wide antechamber flooded with sunlight, and there he was.
Zafir stood near the center of the room, hands clasped behind his back. When his eyes met mine, acute relief immediately relaxed his face and he ran toward me.
He caught me, arms wrapping around me with a force that bordered on desperate. I buried my face in his chest, clinging to him like he might vanish if I let go.
“You’re here,” I breathed. “You came for me.”
“I promised,” he said hoarsely, one hand cradling the back of my head. “I told you I would manage a way.”
I pulled back just enough to look at him. “Zafir…how?”
He didn’t answer right away. His eyes still searched mine.
“What did you do?” I whispered.
“I paid your bail.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. How did you do it?”
He gave me a weak smile. “I resigned.”
The words didn’t register at first. “You resigned from…what?”
“Everything,” he said quietly. “My position as vizier. My advisory role to Parliament. My contracts. I called in all the favors I’ve been owed and got them to agree to deport you if I personally funded the trip, and I said I’d accompany you to ensure you left.”
The room seemed to tilt. “Zafir, that’s your entire life. Your ambitions, your career, everything.”
“I know.”
“And the money?” I demanded. “My bail wouldn’t have been cheap, and you paid it? How?”
“I sold everything.” His mouth curved into something like a rueful smile. “Turns out rare potions and magical artifacts fetch a remarkable price. I sold everything I’ve been collecting over the years.”
My heartcracked wide open.
“Your books?”
“First editions and all.”
“Your potions?”
He nodded. “Everything.”
“The wardrobe?” I whispered.
He winced. “That one hurt, but yes. Want to know the worst part? Julian was the one who bought the wardrobe.”
Tears blurred my vision. “Zafir, you loved that thing.”
“I love you more.”
The words hit me like a blow.
