“Zahra...” He closes his hand over the ring. “I can’t do it.”
My mind freezes. I open my mouth but cannot even form a thought to speak.
Aladdin turns around and draws a deep breath, lifting his chin. “I’m sorry, Princess. But this has to stop.”
The crowd breaks out into whispers, while Aladdin and theprincess stare at one another with equal regret and relief. The priests exchange baffled looks.
“Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?” one asks.
Aladdin draws himself up bracingly. “Princess Caspida, I have nothing but respect and admiration for you. Truly you will be the queen this city needs. But I can’t marry you.”
The princess stands still as stone, her face unreadable. “Why not, Prince Rahzad?”
“I am sorry,” he replies. “The truth is, I am in love, but not with you.”
He turns to me, and my spirit takes flight like a flock of doves, startled and erratic. I cannot move, cannot speak, as he takes my hands in his and looks me earnestly in the eye. He presses the ring into my palm, and the gold feels as if it burns my skin.
“This belongs to you, and you alone. I’ve been so blind, Zahra. So caught up in the past that I’ve failed to see what’s happening in front of me. I’ve been such an idiot, I don’t know how I can expect anything from you. But I have to try. I have to tell the truth, and the truth is... I loveyou.”
“No,” I whisper. “Youcan’t.”
“I don’t care if you’re a...”—he pauses to clear his throat—“a servant. You’re beautiful and wild and kind, and I can’t stop thinking about you.” A sunny, foolish smile breaks across his face. “It’s wrong and stupid and wonderful, Zahra. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but here I am. I love you.”
Silence settles like a chill across the room, and we are surrounded by a sea of astonished faces. A few priests whisper to each other, looking panicked. Someone slips out the back door, perhaps to find Sulifer and tell him what has happened. Captain Pasha andhis men grip their weapons and look from the princess to my master as if unsure whether they should arrest him or not.
Aladdin seems to notice none of this. He stares at me deeply, imploringly, waiting for me to speak. But I can’t. I am rigid with shock and fear and... if I am entirely honest, a tiny flicker of hope. My hand closes over the ring.
“Far be it from me,” says Caspida in a frosty tone, breaking the silence at last, “to stand in the way of such love. This wedding is over.” She turns to the crowd. “There will still be a feast later and dancing through the night. Priests, thank you for your service, but I believe we’re done here.”
She seems indifferent as the moon. But I can see deeper than the skin and sense she is bewildered and embarrassed, eager to get away. Her Watchmaidens flock to her, pulling her aside with murmurs of concern.
Aladdin watches only me. “I know you must think I’m an idiot,” he whispers, “but will you give me a chance? Will you let me start over?”
I back away, pulling my hands from his.
“Zahra, what’s wrong?”
“I ampoison.”
His brow creases. “I don’t believe that.”
I back up until I’m on the edge of the dais, feeling like a cornered animal. He doesn’t understand, just like you didn’t understand, Habiba. Why do you humans insist upon courting destruction? Aladdin’s eyes are hurt, waiting for me to respond, but my voice sticks in my throat.
“Zahra,” he says softly, “do you love me?”
“I—” I shouldn’t. It’s wrong, it’s dangerous, it’s forbidden.
He stares pleadingly, waiting. “Zahra?”
“What of your vengeance?” I whisper, my words unheard in the noise rising from the crowd. “What of your parents? All your life you have lived for this moment.”
He shakes his head. “I’m tired of living for the dead. I want to live foryou.”
“Aladdin, wecan’t. You must not say such things!” I look around wildly, wondering who can hear us. If Nardukha heard these forbidden words, the price would be catastrophic. “The risk—”
“You are wortheveryrisk. I know what I want, Zahra. Do you?”
“I—”
