Princess of Smoke (2020 Reissue) Read online

  “Zadie.” My name was a growl as the sultan closed the gap between us in two steps, gripping my arms tightly. “How can you think I would want to marry Lalana after spending all this time with you? I only came up with the story to bring her back because I thought it would please you.” His amber eyes shone. “Yes, I’m furious with you. But I’m angry because you lied to me. You. Not your parents, not your sister.” He paused, struggling for words. “But even though you lied, I wouldn’t give you up for anything.”

  My heart jumped into my throat. “Y-you still want to marry me?” I rubbed at the tears escaping my eyes, and my blackened knuckles told me I’d undone all of Jevera’s hard work lining them.

  “Zadie, you shouldn’t even have to ask me that.” Kassim rubbed my cheek with the corner of his golden sleeve, covering it in kohl, too. “But you must promise not to keep things from me anymore. If we’re to be married, no more secrets.”

  A sob escaped my chest as I pulled away from him.

  Lalana had been the first lie I’d told when I met Kassim, but since coming to Astaran I’d done nothing but lie to him again and again.

  I pulled at the high neckline of my dress. “I’ve lied to you about more than just Lalana,” I whispered.

  The sultan stopped reaching for me and dropped his hand to his side, worry flashing across his face. “What do you mean?”

  My breath felt short as I realized what I had to do.

  “When I first met you, I thought you were the handsomest man I’d ever seen.” Something burst in my chest and the words rushed from me. “I worried if Lalana had seen you first, she would have changed her mind about running away with Ambar.”

  Kassim’s eyes softened. “Well, that’s not–”

  “I hated being dressed up and displayed in the palanquin like part of the dowry when we came to Kisrabah. On my first day in the palace, I spied on you in the training grounds. I stole a ring from the treasury, as well as an enchanted key from the thieves. I really did stop them from stealing the treasure they came here for.”

  Kassim’s eyes widened, but the words continued to tumble from my lips.

  “I snuck out of the palace to send letters when you wouldn’t let me write my own, and I helped Aliyah and her thieves steal a book from the Order of the Scholars.” I took a breath. “I struck a deal with a merchant in the Magic Quarter to find out how to use the Night Diamond talisman. At Safiyya’s ball, I thought your tiger costume looked more like a cat. And I almost missed it because I’d dressed as a dancing girl in a tavern to cheat Bahar at cards. I won back Aliyah’s flying carpet for her.”

  Kassim’s mouth fell open, but I kept pacing across the balcony and wringing my hands as I blurted more truths.

  “I hate camels. I never trusted the vizier. I liked that you were jealous when Prince Cao flirted with me. I was jealous of Mak the whole time we were in Hidu.”

  I touched the pale band of skin on my finger, suddenly hesitant. “This whole time, I’ve been master of a ring djinni who granted me seven wishes. But I gave the ring to Lalana when she arrived here in Kisrabah. And...”

  I stopped pacing and spun to face Kassim, who leaned back on the balcony, an unreadable look on his face. “And even though I came here because I wanted to be sultanah, I want to be here now because I love you.”

  A sudden breeze stirred my hair, tugging strands loose from Jevera’s braid. I felt lighter than I had since leaving Khiridesh. I had likely ruined any chance of being with Kassim, but at least the knot in my stomach had loosened. He’d said he wanted no more secrets, and now there were none left between us.

  Several agonizingly long seconds passed.

  Then the sultan looked at me with an intense, amber gaze. “If all that’s true…”

  I could barely remember everything I’d said, but I knew it was the truth. “It is.”

  “I suppose the first thing to do…” He stepped toward me, hooking a finger through the slim pearl belt at my waist and tugging me closer so the distance between us melted away, “is to get married tomorrow.” He leaned closer, whispering against my neck. “You’ll have the rest of your life to tell me these stories properly, from start to finish, every night. I want to hear about the thieves, the djinni, the dancing girl outfit… All of it.”

  My heart thudded. “That’s it?” My words were breathless. “You just want to hear the stories?”

  He tugged me even closer, and his scent of sandalwood and citrus clouded my thoughts. “Well, unless you can think of other ways you’d rather make it up to me.”

  Heat rushed to my cheeks at his suggestive tone. He knew everything. And he still wanted me.

  “Kassim.” My voice sounded distant as he pulled me closer, wrapping his hands around my neck and the small of my back. The wind picked up around us, whipping our hair and clothes.

  Suddenly, I didn’t care if I smudged Jevera’s lip balm. I slid my arms around his neck, pulling him closer and kissing him.

  “Kassim!” a deep voice called.

  The sultan pulled away, frowning at the intrusion. Elian strode onto the balcony, a large hand shielding his eyes from the sun.

  “This had better be important–”

  “Sorry to interrupt, Kassim.” The captain’s tone was unusually clipped, and he made no comment about the lip paint smudged across the sultan’s mouth. “It couldn’t wait.”

  “What is it?” Kassim asked.

  Elian turned to me. His eyes creased with worry, his tone carefully gentle. “Princess, your parents and their convoy have arrived at the city gates.” He shifted on the spot, his hand gripping the hilt of his scimitar. “They were attacked on the road.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Where are my parents now? When can I see them?” I hurried to match Kassim’s and the captain’s long strides as we moved from the palace corridors out into the grounds.

  The sun was still high in the sky as we stepped outside, but a cool, easterly wind whipped sand from the ground and sent my skirts flapping around my ankles. I again recalled Aliyah’s prediction that a storm was coming.

  “They’ve been checked over by the healers and now they’re resting after their ordeal. Everyone’s fine, and you’ll see them soon at lunch,” the captain replied patiently. He flashed me a concerned smile, and I tried my best to return it. Elian had answered every single one of my questions on the walk over. I knew he was trying his hardest to reassure me, but I was anxious that he wouldn’t let me see them straight away.

  “You’re sure no one was hurt?”

  “Like I said, several of your father’s personal guards sustained minor injuries, but they’re being treated by the healers. I promise, Zadie. Your family is fine.” Elian gave me another tight smile. “Plus, given our past conversations, I thought you would appreciate being involved in the discussion about what happened on the road…”

  My shoulders dropped and I wrapped my arms around myself. He was right. I did want to know what had happened. I shot the captain a grateful look as we hastened through the palace grounds. He’d come to know me well since I’d arrived in Kisrabah.

  I thought we might head for the council chambers, but instead, Elian led us to the barracks.

  Namir waited at the top of one of the archer-dotted walls, surveying small groups of soldiers hurrying across the courtyard, stablehands rushing to saddle horses. Wafts of sweat, leather, and horses drifted up from below.

  The spymaster looked up as we joined him, his expression pinched. “Kassim, I swear there were no reports of bandits in the Tigrib Desert.” He looked nervous, probably because of the dressing-down he’d received earlier. “I had my men stationed at Persylis after the bandit attacks before, but–”

  The sultan held up a hand. “I know, Namir. Your men are spread thin. We have guests from every corner of the twelve kingdoms traveling to Astaran for the wedding. You can’t have eyes everywhere.”

  Elian unhooked a scroll from his belt and unrolled it with a flick of his wrist. He held it up to th
e sky, the parchment almost transparent with the glaring sun behind it.

  We all shuffled closer to the captain, crowding around him. The map flapped in the breeze, so he caught the bottom end of the scroll with his other hand, holding it taut.

  Namir pointed at the parchment. “Zadie’s family was attacked here, well inside Astaran’s borders. We’ve interrogated several of the bandits. They say they were paid to attack the Khirideshi royals, but they don’t know by whom.”

  “And there have been no other attacks reported?” Elian asked.

  Namir shook his head.

  “Are my sisters here yet?” Kassim asked suddenly.

  Spirits. I’d forgotten Kassim’s older sisters would be traveling home for the wedding from their husbands’ kingdoms. I’d have to meet them later, too. And so would Lalana...

  “They’ve just arrived. Safiyya’s greeted them,” said Namir.

  So only my family had been attacked. The three men fell silent, staring at the map.

  “Obviously someone is trying to sabotage the wedding,” I said, and all eyes trained on me. I stepped back a little as Elian lowered the map. “The only guests attacked so far are my family. As you know, Kassim must hold hands with one of my parents as part of the ceremonial rites to make our marriage legal. If they were delayed or injured, we’d have to postpone the wedding.”

  “Zadie’s right,” Kassim agreed. “This might only be one attack so far, but it seems calculated.”

  “And whoever arranged it knew Namir’s men would be stationed in Persylis,” said Elian, raising the map once more, “and they obviously knew my scouts go as far as Hashara. They coordinated their attack in the narrow gap between the two.”

  A dark look crossed Namir’s face. “There’s only one other person who knows such details of our forces.”

  “Hepzibah.” There was a hard edge to Kassim’s voice. He exchanged a look with Elian and Namir.

  I toyed with the edge of my sleeve. “She never wanted us to marry. It makes sense she’d continue her vendetta, even now she’s in hiding.”

  “The question is,” Namir tapped his foot, “is it a personal vendetta now? Or is Hepzibah still working with the Phoenites to prevent the Astarian-Khirideshi alliance?”

  “I don’t know,” Kassim admitted. He let out a low, frustrated sound. “We still don’t know her motives, or her allegiances – beyond the fact she’s worked with a Phoenitian assassin. We don’t even know the real extent of her powers.”

  I let my eyes roam the map, across the golden lands of Astaran, to Khiridesh in the south, then back up north, to the Ossur mountains and the shadowy land of Phoenitia beyond. Who knew where the vizier was hiding, or what she was plotting?

  “Hepzibah’s a sorcerer who’s controlled spirits in the past,” I said. “Remember the spirit who posed as Prince Cao? That was her doing. She could have spirits at her disposal again.”

  My gaze momentarily flicked to the gathering storm on the horizon. It was out of season for storms. Could this unusual weather be the doing of sorcery, too?

  “She knows everything about the palace. The layout, how Elian’s and my men operate.” Namir ran a hand through his mop of curls. “If Hepzibah has set out to sabotage the wedding, we can’t treat her like a normal enemy. She was your closest council, Kassim. Even closer than us.”

  Kassim leaned forward on the edge of the wall, his broad shoulders slumped.

  I moved to stand at his side, resting a hand on his arm. I shot a stern look at Namir. “But we can play her knowledge to our advantage. We have a treasury filled with powerful spirits at our disposal. Hezpibah would be foolish to attack the palace directly knowing we have the lamps. She knows she’d never overpower us.”

  “True.” Elian gazed down at his men, who strode with purpose across the courtyards below in full Astarian armor. He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “But she could still attack any number of our guests on their way to the palace, or our own people.”

  “And are we prepared to use the spirits if she attacks?” Kassim straightened, sliding an arm around my waist. He tilted his head down to direct his next words to me. “Hepzibah knows we hesitated unleashing the spirits on the soldiers in Hidu. That we thought they’d be too dangerous. Perhaps the attack on your parents was a test to see if we’d retaliate.”

  “I don’t know.” I chewed on my lip, watching the Astarian soldiers below us. If Hepzibah attacked us with magic, their strength and skill still wouldn’t be enough to protect the palace. “What’s the bigger danger? An enemy sorcerer with unknown powers, or several hundred volatile spirits?”

  “We can make that call when the time comes. If the time comes. But we must act fast. The rest of our guests will be here by this evening, and Zadie and I are supposed to be greeting our families at lunch right now.” Kassim dropped his arm from my waist and turned to face Elian and Namir. “Elian, double your guard in the outpost towns, and send your palace guards to accompany our guests from the moment they cross the border into Astaran. Act like it’s a common courtesy, though. I don’t want anyone thinking Astaran is unsafe.”

  “That leaves fewer men to guard the palace,” Elian said cautiously, his gaze flicking back to me.

  “I’ll have all of my eyes working inside the palace walls,” Namir said, crossing his arms. “And like Zadie said, Hepzibah is aware of what we have inside the palace. She’s more likely to attack where we’re weaker, in the distant reaches of our lands.”

  Kassim’s gaze settled on the rolling, dark clouds on the horizon. “You think it’ll reach us?”

  “I’ve already sent out warnings of possible flash floods,” Namir answered, lips pressed together.

  Desert storms were short and fierce, and I’d hoped the deluge would hit in the middle of the desert to spare the people of Kisrabah. But a storm was the least of our worries.

  “Come, Zadie.” Kassim tore his gaze away from the horizon. “We need to meet with your family before lunch. We have a certain someone they need to be reacquainted with.”

  Spirits, with the news about the attack on the road, I’d almost forgotten about the drama surrounding Lalana. How would my parents react when they found out Kassim knew she was still alive? Not to mention we’d have to tell Kassim’s family, too.

  “I want all of our men on high alert for anything suspicious. Report to me immediately if anything happens, Namir.” Kassim reached an arm back for me. “Ready, Zadie?”

  I hesitated. “Wait. What about the people in Kisrabah?” With Elian’s guards accompanying guests and Namir’s men keeping lookout in the palace, who would protect the people of the city as they prepared to celebrate the royal wedding?

  “I’ll ask Aliyah to keep an eye out,” Namir replied.

  I scrunched up my face. “No offense, Namir, but I’m not sure Ali and her thieves will answer to you.”

  “She’ll help if I say it’s a favor for you,” the spymaster replied, a dark look crossing his eyes.

  Something in my chest loosened. Yes, she would. I felt better knowing Aliyah was keeping an eye on the city. Although I was sure plenty of revelers would still find their pockets picked.

  My stomach growled, and Kassim’s lips quirked up for the first time since he’d discovered Lalana. “Let’s get you to lunch. I can’t have my bride-to-be fainting on me.”

  I managed a weak smile in return, hitching my gown in my hands to take the steps down. Kassim’s hand trailed along my hips as I slipped past him.

  “I saw that!” Elian called after us, standing at Namir’s side once again. “Spirits. Save something for the bridal chamber tomorrow night, please.”

  Kassim made a rude gesture to his captain over his shoulder.

  I took a deep breath. The only thing standing between me and a good meal was the small matter of introducing my supposedly dead sister to my parents and my new in-laws.

  What could possibly go wrong?

  I wished I could squeeze Kassim’s hand underneath the table, but he sat at the h
ead at the opposite end, and he felt leagues away.

  Between us, the orange-gold afternoon light streamed through the windows, throwing long shadows across the table and the royals gathered around it. Along one side sat my family – Mother, Father, Lalana, and my five-year-old brother, Umar – and along the other, Kassim’s two elder sisters, Kira and Auriya, sat either side of Safiyya.

  I shifted in my chair, wetting my dry lips as I tried to catch what Kassim and my father spoke about. My parents had panicked when we reintroduced Lalana and told them our plan to blame her disappearance on the vizier. Father looked ashen and hadn’t stopped apologizing to Kassim, even though he had reassured him the alliance would still go ahead.

  “You seem well recovered from your attack on the road,” Kassim’s eldest sister, Kira, addressed my parents, taking a long sip from her goblet. “I’m so glad no one was injured.” She was a handsome woman, with a long, straight nose and sharp, golden Astarian eyes. She reclined back in her chair, the swell of her pregnant belly visible through shimmering cream-and-blue robes, the colors of the Kingdom of Akyria.

  She had married an older prince, and at twenty-seven had already produced four heirs, with another on the way. Kira had traveled to Astaran alone while her husband remained to tend to state matters. She seemed shrewd, if a little calculating.

  “Actually, several of my father’s men were injured.” I ran a finger around the rim of my goblet.

  Father shot me a look before returning his gaze to Kira. “Thank you for your concern. We are very grateful none of the royal family was injured in the attack. Although Indira’s nerves are quite frayed.”

  “If it wasn’t for the extra protection I arranged this morning, we would have surely been killed.” My mother’s eyes were wide, her hand shooting to the amulets and talismans hanging from her neck.

  “Extra protection?” Auriya, Kassim’s middle sister, asked. She swept her bangs from her face, which was made up in traditional Qusharan style, with thick flicks of black kohl giving her eyes a catlike look. She had married a handsome nobleman from Qushara several years ago. He would be joining us for the wedding tomorrow. “You traveled with additional soldiers?”