Princess of Smoke (2020 Reissue) Read online

  “I know exactly which princess I’ll be taking for my own.” Kassim grinned.

  I slapped him on the arm with the book. “Stop joking. I’m serious.”

  His grin fell away. “So am I.”

  He tugged one of the large hairpins from the top of my head and my wild waves dropped down, brushing my shoulders. He clinked the metal against his goblet. The babble of chatter and laughter stilled so only the rain on the roof could be heard.

  “Esteemed guests.” Kassim’s voice echoed through the chamber. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you all here, and how appreciative. You have all journeyed far to celebrate my union with Princess Zadie tomorrow. As you all know, we have already received the best wedding gift of all – finding the lost princess, Lalana, who I will be blessed to call my sister-in-law after tomorrow.”

  A low murmur swept through the room.

  “While I can’t compete with the timely reappearance of a lost sister, I do have a wedding gift for my new bride.”

  I glanced at Kassim, but he didn’t look at me, still addressing our guests. “Princess Zadie will rule at my side with both wisdom and courage. She has already proven herself to be the most remarkable, passionate, and capable woman I’ve ever met. It’s no exaggeration to say she has changed my world and how I see it. As our wedding gift…” He held out his hand. Namir appeared at his side and handed him a scroll, before melting back into the crowd. “I have changed an old law to reflect a new era in Astaran.”

  “Kassim, what–”

  He handed me the scroll, and I read the words, my mouth dropping open.

  “From today,” he continued, “the rightful heir to Astaran will be our first-born, regardless whether the child is a boy or girl.”

  For a moment, the crowd looked aghast, then applause broke out. Someone whooped loudly. Tears filled my eyes as I scanned the crowd. Even Kira was clapping.

  I turned to Kassim to thank him, but he was already at my side, sweeping me backward.

  Before I could protest, his lips were on mine, kissing me in front of everyone.

  When he finally let go, I staggered back a step. “Show off,” I gasped as the cheers intensified.

  Kassim opened his mouth to reply, but a loud boom rang out through the chamber, shaking the floor and drowning out the sound of the cheering.

  Applause turned to cries and shouts as an explosion outside filled the room with light. The area lit up so brightly it could have been the middle of the day. I twisted around, squinting through the rain-covered windows as another round of bangs, pops, and high-pitched squeals rang out, the entire sky lit with colorful patterns of fire. The guests’ initial shock turned to gasps and squeals of delight.

  I’d heard of this before.

  Fireworks…

  Kassim was full of surprises.

  But when I turned to the sultan, he was also staring out of the window, his brows just as high as mine, his mouth quirked up. Mak and Safiyya threw open the doors to the gardens. As one, we all swarmed forward to get a better view of the fiery lights in the sky, stopping just inside the doors to avoid the downpour.

  “Did you organize this?” I breathed, clutching the sultan’s hand.

  “No. It must have been Prince Cao.” Kassim twisted to look around. “Fireworks are made in Lyani, and it’s traditional there to have them at celebrations. I should find him and thank him…” Kassim squeezed my hand, then pushed through the crowd in search of the Lyanese prince.

  My eyes were drawn back to the doors as another round of squeals caught my attention, before bangs lit the sky with crackling color.

  I’d never seen anything like it.

  Lalana appeared at my side.

  “Isn’t it amazing, Lana?” I only cast a quick glance her way, not wanting to miss anything.

  “Who organized them?”

  I shrugged. “Kassim thinks Prince Cao.”

  Kassim reappeared at my side. “I was wrong. Prince Cao said he had nothing to do with it, but that it’s one of the finest displays he’s ever seen.”

  Elian and Namir wandered over to join us, both admiring the fireworks in the gardens beyond.

  “Elian, did Safiyya arrange this display?” I asked, eager to thank whoever was responsible for such an impressive spectacle. The princess had been in charge of the decorations, and I had no doubt that if anyone could source such high-quality Lyanese fireworks for a wedding gift, it would be her.

  Elian shrugged, not tearing his gaze from the lights, his eyes glittering. “I don’t think so. Maybe. She never mentioned it…” Pain flashed across his face as he reluctantly cast a look toward where Safiyya stood next to Prince Diyan.

  I hoped the captain wouldn’t suffer too badly for her engagement to the prince. Maybe I could find him someone else who might help him get over her...

  Lalana tugged at my elbow. I turned away from the captain, letting her pull me away a few steps. “I don’t like this, Zadie.”

  “What? The noise?”

  “No. This.” She gestured to the crowd gazing at the fireworks, a dark look clouding her features. “I’m worried. There was supposed to be a display like this in Yadina after the city was freed. But because the weather was bad, it had to be called off. It shouldn’t be possible to have fireworks in so much rain.”

  I chewed my lip. “So what’re you saying? You think someone arranged this display using magic?”

  “I don’t know, Zadie.” Lalana’s liquid eyes were wide. “But I think you should warn Namir. Especially if the organizer is still a mystery. What if it’s just a diversion?”

  A diversion? But a diversion from what?

  I glanced outside again. All of the guards on the surrounding walls had turned to watch the display, and I could see several gold turbans admiring the colorful skies with the rest of the royal crowd. I nodded, letting my sister know I would speak to the spymaster. Lalana’s unease was starting to rub off on me.

  “Namir,” I said as I approached, while Lalana hung back. “We’re worried about the fireworks. Lalana thinks they shouldn’t be possible in the rain. And if no one here claims to have arranged them, perhaps they’re a diversion from something else....” As the words left my mouth, my stomach sank. “The lamps,” I half-shouted, raising my voice over the banging and cheers. “It could be a diversion to get into the treasury. To get to the lamps.”

  Namir gave me a sidelong glance. “You shouldn’t worry about that, Zadie. The lamps are safe. I promise.”

  “But perhaps someone should check the treasury, just in case? Can you get Elian to send more guards?”

  Namir shook his head. “There’s no need, Zadie. They’re safe, and the treasury is fine. Just enjoy the display.”

  I nodded, but looked out at the fireworks with new eyes. They were loud, and almost every pair of eyes had been trained on them ever since they started. I dropped back to join Lalana once more.

  “What did he say?” she asked.

  “I said I thought it could be a diversion to get to the lamps in the treasury. But he said they were fine and not to worry.”

  Lalana’s dark brows lowered. “How does he know that?” she shouted, her words punctuated by a series of high-pitched pops that drew another chorus of amazed aahs from the crowd. “We should go check ourselves. I think someone is making this happen using magic, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing…”

  I looked between Lalana and Kassim.

  “Please, Zadie. Someone should check.” She pulled me toward the door.

  Unsettled by her concern, I let her lead me.

  Chapter Seventeen

  My slippers skidded on the smooth stone as we hurried through corridor after corridor. The palace was a maze, but luckily, I knew my way around by now. When we ran past the statue of a djinni I’d hidden behind before, I knew we were close.

  I slowed slightly. “It’s just here, around the...” The words dried up on my tongue as I turned the corner. The doors to the treasury were splayed open, drooping l
imply from the hinges like wilted petals from a flower.

  I was too late.

  Lalana gasped as we slowed to a walk toward the glowing, cold light emanating from the treasury. Someone must have lit all the lanterns for it to glow this brightly.

  I held my breath as I crossed the threshold. Inside, the towers of gold coins, jewels, and expensive fabrics were all still there, glistening and untouched. But something far more valuable was missing.

  I pressed my hands together, resting them against my nose as I took in the empty space closest to the door. I’d watched Elian’s men unload the crates of treasure from Hidu in this exact spot last week.

  “They’re gone?” Lalana rubbed my arm.

  I nodded numbly. It must have been Hepzibah. She knew where the lamps were, and it must have taken sorcery to smash the doors open like this.

  “The spirits are gone,” I said, my voice disbelieving. “Someone’s taken all the lamps we brought back from Hidu.”

  “Well, you’re partly right.”

  We spun to see Namir standing in the doorway, closely followed by Kassim and Elian.

  The sultan frowned at the glowing torches on the walls, and Namir bent to examine the smashed doors.

  I crossed my arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Lalana hovered at my side as I took a few steps closer to Kassim. “The spirits from Hidu. They were here and now they’re not. I told you. It has to be Hepzibah. She was the only other one who knew–”

  Namir straightened, shaking his head. “She had a key. She wouldn’t need to blow the doors open like this.”

  “Then who? Someone’s taken them all.” My hands shook as Kassim took them in his own.

  “Zadie, it’s okay.” He stroked his thumb over my skin. “We moved the lamps. They’re safe.”

  “What?”

  Namir and Elian came to stand on either side of Kassim, all three glowing in the blueish light of the torches.

  Elian did his best to smile reassuringly. “We knew Hepzibah had a key to the treasury, so we moved them, just in case she tried something like this.”

  I pulled my hands from Kassim’s and took a step back. “And you didn’t tell me?”

  Elian and Namir exchanged an uneasy glance.

  “The fewer people who knew, the safer they were, Zadie.” Kassim scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “We didn’t even involve any guards. We carried them all ourselves.”

  “To where?” I demanded, irritated.

  “Zadie, the fewer people who know…” Elian’s placating tone trailed off when I threw him a withering look.

  Lalana stepped to my side. The ghostly light of the torches illuminated her lilac gown with an ethereal glow so she looked half-spirit herself. “From what Zadie told me, she’s a big reason you got hold of those lamps in the first place. You’ve put your trust in the wrong people before, so I understand your reticence.” Her voice was firm as she addressed the sultan, yet somehow still coaxing. “But Zadie has earned your trust. It’s hurtful you didn’t trust her with this, too.”

  My chest swelled with gratitude. I hadn’t even voiced my thoughts to her, yet Lalana knew exactly how I felt.

  “We said no more secrets.” My voice was tight as I parroted Kassim’s own words back to him from our conversation on the balcony this morning, which already felt like a lifetime ago. “Or does that only apply to me?”

  Kassim exhaled. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

  “So…” I glanced between the men.

  Kassim cleared his throat. “Both of you are sworn to secrecy.”

  “Of course,” I replied. “Lana and I are good at keeping secrets.”

  “A fact I’m well aware of,” Kassim replied drily, looking between us. He took a step toward the empty space on the floor. “We moved the spirits to the crypt.”

  The torches lining the walls flared higher, the air seeming to grow hazy before me. I tried to move my hand to fan it away, but found it pinned to my side in Lalana’s clutches.

  “You shouldn’t have told me that.” A smooth voice filled the air, along with the sweet, musky smell of frankincense.

  I froze as the violet mist cleared to reveal Tarak, standing in the space where the lamps had been. He looked exactly the same as he had a few hours ago, except his tan chest was completely bare, his usual embroidered waistcoat nowhere to be seen.

  Without missing a beat, Elian grasped his scimitar and lunged at him, but Tarak dissolved into a cloud of smoke.

  “A spirit,” Elian cursed, then spat on the floor.

  Namir whirled around, trying to look in every direction at once. “Has it gone?”

  “Tarak?” I called out, my voice echoing through the treasury.

  Elian looked incredulous. “You know this spirit?”

  “So that’s your ring djinni.” Kassim didn’t sound too happy at the realization. “I thought you said you gave the spirit to Lalana?”

  “Tarak,” Lalana called out. “If you’re still here, show yourself.”

  The djinni appeared at Lalana’s side, his hand outstretched, then he disappeared again, a small curl of lilac smoke brushing against her cheek as he faded away.

  He reappeared at the top of one of the treasure mountains, sitting cross-legged. “I can’t stay long, princess.”

  I had no idea if he was addressing me or my sister, but I answered anyway. “What happened? Are you bound to the ring again?”

  He shook his head.

  “If you’re still free, why come back?” Lalana shot me a confused look before turning back to Tarak with her eyes wide. “Zadie said spirits bound to objects are slaves.” A note of hope entered her voice, her cheeks slightly flushed. “What else… Was there something else you came back for?”

  The djinni opened his mouth, then snapped it closed again, uncrossing his legs and sending a rush of gold coins hissing down the side of the treasure mountain.

  “For the lamps,” he said eventually.

  My blood ran cold. Lalana had only freed Tarak, what, a few hours ago? Had he come here as soon as he’d been free of the ring?

  Something in my chest twisted painfully, all my breath seeming to leave my body in a rush.

  “Why?” I clenched my fists in frustration. “Why would you want the lamps? The trapped spirits hate you. Who are you working for, Tarak?” I blanched as a horrifying thought occurred to me. “The Phoenites?”

  Tarak just stared down at us, his expression impassive.

  My shoulders set. He made a deal with me once… “Whatever they’ve offered you, Tarak, we could offer you more–”

  “I trusted you!” Lalana shouted, cutting me off. “You are not the man I thought you were when I freed you.” She wrenched the amethyst ring she’d still been wearing on her finger and tossed it toward the mountain of gold Tarak was perched on.

  With hollow eyes, he watched the ring bounce and roll back down to the floor. “I’m not a man at all, princess. As you’d all do well to remember.” He turned to me and Kassim, his purple eyes somber. “Race you to the crypt.”

  With that, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

  All five of us tore through the palace corridors, then outside into the storm. Sheets of rain drummed against the slick marble steps leading down into the crypt, the guards stationed outside soaked through. They shared a confused glance as they parted to allow us past.

  The spymaster threw open the doors, his curly hair slick against his head, the lantern in his hand smoking profusely. Out of the rain, the tiny flame grew bigger and brighter. He strode for the marble sarcophagus in the center of the room, its shadow across the tiled floor leading away from us.

  He peered behind it and cursed. “They’re gone.”

  “There was no way we could have gotten here before the spirit.” Kassim’s fists were clenched at his side. “Not when he can materialize at will.”

  “So now the djinni has the other spirits.” Elian turned his grim face to me. “How well do you know thi
s djinni, Zadie? What do you think he’ll do with them?”

  “Free them perhaps?” Namir guessed. “If it were an independent rescue mission, he might want to help them return to their realm.”

  I shook my head. “No way. Tarak is the reason those spirits were trapped in the first place. And, in turn, they cursed him. He’d never release them unless he was forced to…not unless he had a death wish.” Or someone else struck a deal to offer him protection.

  Elian’s frown deepened as he echoed my thoughts. “Then he stole them for someone else.”

  “I just can’t believe Tarak would do this.” Lalana’s wide eyes glistened in the lantern light. “He was our friend.”

  The painful clutching sensation twisted in my chest again.

  I spun to face my sister, my words coming out in a rush. “He was our slave, Lana. Right up to the moment you freed him. Who knows how he really felt about us? What we do know is that since he’s no longer bound to the ring, he’ll have his full powers back.”

  “He could never hurt us. He wouldn’t.” Lalana’s voice was hard.

  I couldn’t let Lalana be blinded by her soft spot for the djinni. I had liked Tarak, too. But he was dangerous now. “Lana, he can and he will hurt us if we stand in his way. Tarak is no longer our friend. He’s a powerful spirit who’s working against us.”

  I tried my hardest to ignore the hurt thrumming in my chest. The knowledge that Tarak had turned against us the moment he’d been set free was painful, making my breath catch in my throat.

  Had I been stupid not to see it coming? Tarak had only worked with me in the first place because of the deal we’d struck.

  But to turn against us so ruthlessly...

  Kassim moved closer into the small pool of light surrounding us, his wet hair glistening like oil, droplets clinging to the sharp lines of his jaw. “There’s a strong chance he’s working with Hepzibah, or the Phoenites. Or maybe just the highest bidder. Whoever it is, they now possess the power of all the trapped spirits.”