The easiest thing to prey on. But it was more than that. Darbaran preyed on the weak, taking advantage of women and girls and abusing his position to feel powerful. I wanted to make him feel helpless instead.
“We greased his palms well enough when he got Casildo out of the city before the emperor got wind of it. They say he’ll do anything unsavory for money. Basral’s city guard is so corrupt all you need is gold. And I thought it was Mazin who controlled this city. Turns out it’s actually Darbaran.”
Noor inclined her head. “From what I can glean, Mazin attempts to crack down on the corruption. But Darbaran has done quite well since your arrest.”
“He solidified his loyalty by framing me for murder.” I thought back to his weaselly face when he was dragging me away, and that smug smile as he pocketed the glass poison vial beside the body of the dead chief I had supposedly killed. “I’m the one who made him his fortune.”
“Fitting, then, that you will be the one to take it away.” Noor smiled in his direction and took a bite of a rose water pastry ball sprinkled with pistachios.
I lifted my cup to my lips, savoring the last drops of chai at the bottom of the glass. This one had crushed almonds, and it tasted sweet and earthy.
“His own greed will be his downfall.”
I placed the glass on the table and flexed my hand. “Let’s put on a show for our dear captain.”
The feast was the most extravagant one I’d ever been to, and I couldn’t believe I was the one hosting it. Tonight, I’d be adding another brick in the tomb of Darbaran.
“Sanaya, your home is amazing.”
I held my arms out to Anam as she entered through the double front doors. Her heels clicked across the front marble, her kameez shimmering moonlight. My throat constricted when I saw who was coming in behind her, stepping through the front doors, his dark coat immaculate, the gold embroidery gleaming.
“A pleasure to see you here, Mazin.”
“I couldn’t very well let my sister attend these festivities alone.” His gaze swept the entrance, and then landed on me. I knew what he saw—my glossy mahogany hair coiffed to perfection, a maroon shalwar kameez setting off my complexion, black kajal lining my eyes, and bejeweled bangles adorning my wrists. I spared absolutely no adornment and no expense. I looked like a bride, which was exactly what I wanted Mazin to think of when he saw me.
His bride. A girl he could marry, fall in love with.
A girl who would devour his heart.
He inclined his head. “Thank you for inviting us this evening.” His eyes roved over me, touching on my shoulders, my wrists, my hips. “You look magnificent.” His voice was low but confident, not self-deprecating as he would have been when I knew him. As if he said this sort of thing to girls all the time. Once again, I was struck by how much he had changed, how commanding he had become.
I gave him a small smile and lowered my lashes. I was happy to play the part of the simpering fool if that’s what he needed to prop up his ego.
“Are there black swans in your pond, Sanaya?” Anam interrupted us with a squeal and pointed to the courtyard where a glimmer of the large fountain outside could be seen.
“Yes, we acquired them last week. Go take a look for yourself. I adore them, but they will snap your fingers off if you get too close.”
“I’ll take you, sahiba.” Noor gave Anam a small bow and led her outside. Which gave me the chance to be with Mazin alone.
“I’m sure you will be busy welcoming your other guests,” he said smoothly, though he didn’t take his eyes off me.
“Not at all,” I responded, making my voice flustered, as if I couldn’t catch my breath around him. It wasn’t difficult given that my heart was slamming against my rib cage. “There are plenty of diversions throughout the house that will entertain them. I couldn’t wait to meet more of the emperor’s court, and I thought what better way to do so than have my own party?” I gave a small laugh.
“You’ve certainly made an impression on the city already,” he commented, walking alongside me as we moved through the house. We paused every now and then to watch the fire-breathers or street performers that Noor had recruited for the evening.
“Basral has been good to me,” I said simply, gesturing to the throngs of people surrounding us.
“I’m sure if we were to venture to your home in the mountains, we would receive the same welcome?”
I paused, because the words were not a statement but a question. And I was again faced with the sense that I was being interrogated.
So, he didn’t quite trust me yet.
I laughed, a rich, throaty sound. He stared at me, something flashing through his expression that replaced the calm, confident mask he usually wore. But figuring out what he was thinking was like trying to hold water with my fingertips.
Then he smiled in return, a rare dimple popping in his cheek, the one I used to try to make appear when I joked with him during training.
“I’ve never heard you laugh like that,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. “Was what I said funny?” He inclined his head.
