Status Updates From These Infinite Threads (Thi...

"Marry me, When I'm finally free, I give you leave to kill me at your leisure and take Tulan for yourself."

Alizeh stiffened, disbelief roaring through her, even as the nosta burned hot against her chest.

"You can't be serious," she breathed.

"My kingdom," he said softly. "For your hand."

"what if I made it worth your while?"

"What? How?"

"My mother offered you a deal, which you accepted," he said. I'll offer you a better one."

"Marry me," Cyrus said, a spark of heat in his eyes. "Become my queen just long enough to sate the devil's demands. Once he' satisfied, he'll discharge me of a tremendous debt. When I'm finally free, I give you leave to kill me at your leisure and take Tulan for yourself"

"Cyrus," she said suddenly.

He halted at once, meeting her eyes.

Why, exactly, did you make a deal with the devil?"

Cyrus blinked slowly, visibly thrown by her question. "I thought you didn't care," he said. "I thought you said I was no doubt suffering the consequences of my own sins."

"And are you not?"

"I was desperate. And stupid."

"And I'm not sorry," she added bitterly, turning to face him. "I'm not sorry I made a deal with your mother to murder you."

Cyrus’s lips twitched, his eyes flashing. "I'm not sorry I throwing you off a cliff."

"Excellent," she said, matching his anger.

He only smiled in response.

Still, a degree of tension seemed to leave his body, relief prompting him to finally step back. Cyrus looked shaken as he turned away, staring at the wall, the ceiling, the floor - anywhere but at her face.

When he met her eyes again, his were bright with unvarnished feeling.

"I need you," he said roughly. "Don't run away from me."

Cyrus was still breathing hard, his chest heaving between them. "But I'm not going to hurt you."

Again the nosta verified his words, and Alizeh felt some of the pressure ease in her lungs.

"Do you believe me?" he asked.

Alizeh nodded.

"I hate you," he whispered.

Alizeh blinked, her heart pounding too hard in her chest.

"I know."

He leaned in then, his gaze fixed entirely on her mouth. "I hate everything about you. Your eyes. Your lips. Your smile." His words grazed her skin when he said, softly, "I find your presence insufferable." The nosta flared hot against her sternum.

"Okay," she said again, her pulse skyrocketing. That's okay."

Cyrus had lowered his eyes, nailing her in place with a look that liquefied her bones.


She watched him swallow as he slowly drew away, his hands sliding off the wall where he'd planted them.

He moved back, but not nearly enough.

Cyrus abruptly crashed into her, sending them both hurtling before they finally slammed together, him pinning ber to the wall so hard she gasped, air leaving her lungs in a rush.

Alizeh froze.

She was trapped under the unexpected weight of him, the crush of his hard body, the column of his throat a mere inch from her mouth. His closeness was so overpowering it dulled her senses, slowed her mind.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Cyrus called out, frustrated.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I can't kill you before you actually believe me?"

Kamran'd wanted to unravel her slowly, strip her down to nothing, press his face to her heated skin and live there, devour her. He'd never admit aloud that he'd done as much in his dreams, losing himself in her over and over, only to wake in a fevered, painful state of frustration. She had gouged a hole in him from which he feared he’d never recover.

Kamran refused to remember the softness of her lips; refused to recall the way she'd surrendered to his touch, the sound she'd made when he'd kissed her. She'd looked into his eyes like he was worth something, had touched him like he might be precious. Her soft curves had fit perfectly in his hands, against his body.

Kamran felt silent, recalling the way he still felt when he thought of her- the way some chamber of his heart thrashed against his better judgement, demanding to see her, to speak with her despite everything - and could not help but agree.

He took a sharp breath. There was no use in thinking of their time together. If he thought too long about the tears she’d shed in his presence, the fears she’d exposed

“You and I are meant to save the Ardunian empire all alone, then? And where is the child who stole my job”

“The child is occupied”

“With what?”

“Bringing me witnesses”

“What for, you exasperating halfwit?” Hazan threw up his hands.

He’d come to the stunning realization that he’d rather be falling apart with friends, then living a decadent life of isolation

"Zahhak told you this?"

Kamran's eyes narrowed. "Zahhak wouldn't tell me if a sword were inches from my throat. He still thinks me an ignorant child unworthy of my father's throne."

"A shame, isn't it? That you've never given him reason to think otherwise."

"Shut up, Hazan."

Hazan only smiled.

“YOU GAVE MY JOB TO the child?”

“Omid saved my life”

“Yes, so you said. Though I’d not realized he’d relieved you of your good sense in the process. You hired an uneducated 12 year old to succeed me, and you expect me not to take offense? As if my job were so simple - and I so easily replaced?”

OMG HAZAN 😭

Cyrus touched her then, shocking her with a tenderness se wasn't expecting, tracing the line of her jaw so lightly her lip parted on a sudden breath.
She couldn't seem to move.

Her body had betrayed her. Her body had betrayed ha, even as her mind screamed

"Wicked girl," he whispered. "You've been making deal with my mother."

"No?" he said, still smiling.

Not trusting herself to speak, she shook her head.
"God, you're so beautiful," he said, his smile vanishing.
"Even when you lie to me."

His admission awoke a flare of heat in her veins, a reaction she didn't understand and was afraid to analyze. She knew not why he'd say such a thing to her, nor why his words had made any impact, and she didn't want to think on it.

"Alizeh," he said softly. "Have you been a wicked girl?"

"No," she said too quickly

Never averting his eyes, Cyrus mirrored her earlier movements. He dropped an elbow onto the table, his cheek into his hand, and blinded her with a smile so sincere it unsettled her, inciting an unexpected, detestable flutter of feeling in her chest.

He looked at her then with a focus so complete she felt she might buckle under its weight, and tried not to think about why her breaths seemed to come a bit faster, her heart pounding a bit harder when his lashes lowered, his gaze falling to her lips for a moment too long.

She felt trapped.

She thought he might look away from her unbridled smile; instead he studied her with visible fascination, turning fully in his seat to face her. He said nothing even as his eyes fairly glimmered with mirth, watching her for so long she nearly gave up the effort, all the while ignoring the way her heart reacted to the full force of his attentions.

So she smiled.

She sat back down in her wet dress, dropped an elbow onto the table, her cheek into her hand, and smiled. She put a great deal into the effort, too, recalling her happiest memories until the smile was no longer forced, but genuine.

"No," she said politely, all trace of anger gone from her voice. "I do not intend to make it a habit. And I'm glad you've come. There's a great deal we must discuss."

Too, Cyrus did not strike her then as truly monstrous, which should've been alarming in and of itself, but it was hard to maintain such a position when she failed to feel fear in his presence. None of this made sense, of course - for when she listed his evils in her head, he cut a truly despicable character.

"Forgive me” said Cyrus quietly, "but do you intend to make it a habit of wearing transparent garments in my presence? Do tell me now, I beg you, so that I might blind myself in anticipation."

Alizeh opened her eyes, a quiet rage building in her chest she blush. "How dare you”

"It's only that I can see straight through the front of your dress. And I'm beginning to see that this is a pattern with you."

Cyrus was infuriatingly beautiful and she nearly threw her teacup at him

What was uncomplicated happiness?

She dearly wished to know

the easiest path to a man's murder was not forged with a weapon, but with unimpeachable kindness.

"Be warned, Kamran. The terms of our agreement are nonnegotiable. Lift a finger against her prematurely and I won't hesitate to kill you myself."

DAMN HAZANNNNNN MY MAN