“I should hope not since she’s betrothed to me,” Rek said.
“What?” Nyla’s shocked exclamation echoed through the room, reminding me she was still present, over by the window where she’d been watching her rival carted off by the guards.
“Rek!” I glared at him before turning to Ali. “It’s not official or anything.”
“But it will be as soon as I speak to my father.” Rek sounded determined.
I eyed him uneasily, but he refused to back down.
“Ali has the right idea,” he said. “What you’ve done for the kingdom is worthy of a great reward. Even Father can’t deny it now.”
“I think we might find he can,” I murmured.
Rek must know his father wouldn’t be easily swayed. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have been so interested in what Layla had discovered about the cave.
But to my surprise, a grin was growing across Rek’s face.
“Actually, he can’t,” he said. “You heard what he said. For your dowry he requires a treasure cave’s worth of valuables—or a trade treaty with the Four Kingdoms. Thanks to you, we’ve now identified and arrested the traitor and arrested every member of the gang who attacked the delegation. The way is now clear for our treaty. And we wouldn’t have succeeded at any of it without you.”
Hope blossomed in my chest and spread outward. “Do you really think…It’s not what he meant.”
“Mother was there,” he said with a satisfied smile. “She’ll make him stick to his words.”
“Let me be the first to congratulate you both,” Navid said, sounding more relieved than congratulatory.
I sent him a teasing smile. “Do you have someone else in mind for yourself, Navid?”
But Rek gave me a disapproving look, and I subsided. Navid had helped us, but Rek was right. If the sultan was going to be forced into agreeing to our marriage, he was likely to turn his hopes for a marriage alliance to Adara.
A cloud passed over my happiness. How could I be happy when my friends were denied the same joy?
But Rek’s arm slipped around my waist, and I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. The day hadn’t been without its grief and pain, but that didn’t erase the joy that came alongside it.
My father had died serving Kuralan. And now I hoped to serve it as he once had. Back at the palace, with Rek at my side, the part of me my father had nurtured could live once more. Nothing would bring him back, but his legacy would live on and bless the kingdom and people he loved for years to come—many years, I hoped.
Rek pulled me around to stand against him, encircled in his arms despite our audience.
“You are incredible, Zaria,” he murmured. “Thanks to you, our people are safe again.”
“Not just me.” I looked down, feeling the flush stealing up my cheeks. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Exactly.” The smile in his voice made me look up again, the flush bursting into hot flame at the look in his eyes. “I think we make a good team. Don’t you agree?”
I nodded wordlessly, and he pressed his lips gently against mine. Pulling back slightly, he left just enough room between us for him to speak, his lips brushing mine as he did.
“Be warned. I’m just as determined as the youngest brother to keep hold of my treasure. I’m not letting anyone carry you off again.”
I smiled, even that small movement turning his words back into a kiss. But this time I was the one to pull back.
He looked down at me quizzically.
“I’ve just had an idea,” I said breathlessly. “I might be wrong, but—” I stopped and looked up at him. “Sorry!”
He laughed. “Never apologize for being you. I love that mind of yours that moves at twice the speed of anyone else’s.”
“Actually,” I lifted my face toward his again, “I think one more kiss should be sufficient.”
“Sufficient for what?” he asked on a chuckle, already leaning down toward me.