Jalal shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Stop it!” she said. “Where is she?”
His eyebrows arched smoothly. Too smoothly. “I’m sure she’s fine. Probably just—”
She grabbed his arm and hauled him closer. “Enough of these childish games. Please go find her. I’m worried sick, and I suspect you are as well.”
He tensed, his features tight as his eyes flicked across her face. “Again, I’m sure—”
Another boom of thunder cracked through the air, causing the marble at their feet to quake and the wooden screens to unhinge.
“I order you to leave and go find her.”
“And I would, my lady. But your order defies that of the king. I’d rather not explain to Khalid why—”
“She’s pregnant!”
He stiffened and grasped her by the shoulders. “What did you say?”
I’m sorry, Despina.
“She’s pregnant. Please go find her before something happens.”
Jalal blinked hard before uttering a colorful string of oaths, many of them directed at Shahrzad.
“Be angry with me later,” she insisted. “Just go find her. I’ll stay here.”
With a wild-eyed glare, he proceeded to hurl commands over his shoulder as he strode toward the entrance.
He stopped just before the threshold. “Shazi?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.” He disappeared down the corridor without waiting for a response.
Shahrzad returned to the foot of her bed, while the Rajput and the two remaining guards stood watch. Again, she fidgeted with the ring on her right hand as the sound and light continued raging outside, making her skin feel hot and cold all at once.
It’s raining. The curse has weakened.
This is just a terrible storm. Nothing more.
At the next earsplitting crack of thunder, the unhinged screens to the terrace flew open, exposing the chamber to the elements. Desperate for something to do, Shahrzad moved to latch them shut, but the Rajput held out his arm to stop her. With a brisk nod, he directed one of the guards toward the terrace.
Before the guard had a chance to shutter the screens, he was struck in the chest by an arrow. He staggered to his knees and fell to the floor.
The Rajput seized Shahrzad by the wrist and hauled her behind him. He withdrew his talwar from its scabbard with the shrill grate of metal on metal.
Two hooded silhouettes materialized from the terrace.
It took Shahrzad only a moment to recognize the one clutching a recurve bow.
“No!” she cried as Tariq nocked another arrow and fired it at the Rajput. Shahrzad yanked her bodyguard back, and the arrow embedded in his shoulder, just above its intended target. The Rajput did not even flinch.
The other soldier unsheathed his scimitar, and Tariq took him down with a single shot. Then he fitted an arrow to the string and raised it beside his ear, continuing his slow stalk forward.
The Rajput grunted in fury and flourished his weapon.
“Step aside,” Tariq demanded in a harsh voice.
Instead, the Rajput eased low into a fighting stance.
“Stop it!” Shahrzad’s chest rose and fell in a panic.
Another clap of thunder shook the walls of the palace.
“This is your last chance.” Tariq’s silver eyes shone in the darkness.
The Rajput laughed with mirthless humor. He raised his sword across his body and stepped toward Tariq.
“Vikram!” Shahrzad pleaded. “Don’t do this!”
The Rajput ignored her and leveled the talwar at Tariq, preparing to attack.
Tariq loosed the arrow without hesitation. It struck the Rajput in the center of the chest.
“Tariq!” Shahrzad screamed. “Please!”
The Rajput lurched around, his features twisted in disbelief.
Then Tariq brought the wood of his bow down hard across the back of the Rajput’s head, and he collapsed to the floor.
Shahrzad stifled a sob.
Tariq regarded her with grim wariness. “Shahrzad—”
“How could you?” It was a choked whisper.
His eyebrows flattened. “He would have killed me.”
He was right. But she did not know what to say to her past for destroying all hope of a future.
“Shazi?” Rahim’s tone was quiet, his head tilted askew.
“What are you doing here?” Shahrzad’s eyes were fixed on her first love.
“I came to take you home,” Tariq said.
“You didn’t need to come. I—”
His gaze hardened. “I’m not leaving without you.”
A flash of lightning struck close by, and a dark fissure erupted on the ceiling, exacerbated by the ensuing thunder.
“This entire palace is about to fall down around our heads,” Rahim announced. “We have to get out of here and find Jahandar-effendi.”
“Baba?” Shahrzad’s forehead creased. “Why is my father here?”
Rahim rubbed his palm across the back of his neck. “It’s a long story.”
A barrage of footsteps echoed in the corridor outside her chamber, and Tariq snatched another arrow from his quiver before taking position between her and the doors. He stood at the ready until the sounds faded away.
“Let’s go,” Rahim directed.
Shahrzad took a deep breath. “Tariq—”
“I’m not leaving without you!” He spun around and pulled her against him. “This is not your fight! It never should have been your fight!”