Allah, he loved this female. It wasn’t even a question anymore. And it didn’t matter that she was Ghul and he was Marid or that they’d only known each other a few days. He loved her more than he’d ever loved anyone before. And he knew, without a doubt, that he was making the right choice. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“What?” she asked quietly.
He drew a deep breath, one he hoped would give him strength, but realized in the silence between them he didn’t need. He already had it, because of her. “If something were to happen to me, Malik will take possession of the fire opal. Whatever happens then, do as he says.”
“I don’t understand.”
No, of course she wouldn’t. And he couldn’t tell her. Because if she knew, she’d try to stop him. He tightened his hands around hers. “Just promise me you’ll do as he says.”
“Nasir—”
Footsteps echoed out in the hall, followed by voices. Several.
Nasir’s pulse sped up. He was running out of time. The one commodity he’d had more than enough of up until now.
He leaned in, kissed her when her frightened eyes darted toward the door, then rested his forehead against hers. “You were right, I hate the fighting. More than anything about this place. But I’ll do it for you. I’d do anything for you. I can’t ever thank you enough for bringing me back from the brink.”
Tears welled in her eyes as the voices grew louder outside. She ran her hand down his cheek. “Oh, Nasir. I—”
He didn’t let her finish. He closed his mouth over hers as keys rattled in the door and kissed her one last time. Drew her deep into his mind and heart and soul where she’d live forever. Then gathered every ounce of strength he had left and pushed from the bed to cross to the far side of the room. Away from her. Away from probing eyes he didn’t want to witness their last moment together.
He watched as she swiped the tears from her cheeks, then squared her shoulders and stared at the door in silence. And he remembered what she’d told him last night. How she’d sacrificed herself for the slave girl that son of a bitch highborn had threatened.
She was stronger than he’d given her credit for that first day. In so many ways—in all the ways that mattered—tougher than him, because he knew whatever happened, she wouldn’t lose herself the way he had. Awe rippled through him. Awe and wonder and pride that curled one side of his lips. He had nothing to offer her, and she had no reason to want him, but she did. And he was the luckiest son of a bitch for having known her.
The door pushed open, killing his smile. The guard moved out of the way, then bodies filled the space. His mu’allim. The slave girl who’d repeatedly come for Kavin. And finally, the piece-of-shit highborn who owned her.
The highborn’s hard gaze snapped from Nasir, leaning against the wall near the bath, to Kavin. And when he took in her rumpled hair and the indent on her cheek from a fold on the sheet, a malicious grin spread across his disgusting face.
“Take her back to the harem,” he said to the slave girl.
Kavin didn’t speak as the girl slowly approached the bed. But their eyes met. And something Nasir couldn’t read passed between them.
She pushed up on shaky legs. Every instinct said to reach out for her, but Nasir held his ground and resisted. Because if this didn’t go as he hoped, he didn’t want to do anything to give the highborn any more reason to punish her.
Please, please, please let him take the bait.
The highborn watched her leave the room, and when he looked back at Nasir, victory flashed in his dark eyes. A victory Nasir wanted to smash to ruin with his fists.
The highborn smirked. “It doesn’t look like I need to ask if she finally completed her test. Tell me, was she good? All that fire inside her, I bet once you finally got a piece of her, she was a mighty fine fuck.”
At his side, Malik shifted his feet, clasped his hands behind his back in clear discomfort, but didn’t so much as utter a sound.
Nasir ground his teeth to keep from popping the dickhead right between the eyeballs. He could take this fucker out in ten seconds, snap his neck, save their realm from his torment, but if he did, he’d be condemning Kavin. And nothing was worth that. “I’m willing to make you a deal.”
The highborn snorted and turned for the door. “I don’t make deals with slaves.”
“You’ll deal with this slave. I’m offering you the opal.”
The highborn paused at the threshold, glanced back over his shoulder with curious eyes. “What kind of deal?”
He had him. Relief filled Nasir’s chest. Now he just had to hope Malik backed him up. “I’m scheduled to fight the Shaitan today. The one that arrived last week. If you can arrange it so I fight your Infrit instead, I’ll guarantee your sahad’s victory.”
“Sahad,” Malik muttered in warning. But Nasir and the highborn both ignored him.
Interest flared in the highborn’s eyes as he turned back to fully face Nasir. “Why is the great champion suddenly suicidal? What’s in it for you besides death?”
“Peace of mind.”
The highborn’s eyes narrowed. “How so?”
“If you arrange it, the fight is yours. And the opal. But only if you grant the jarriah’s freedom upon my death.”
“By Allah…” Malik muttered.
The highborn stared at him so long Nasir wasn’t sure what he was thinking, then a slow, shameless smile spread across his face. “She got to you. I knew she was of great value the first time I laid eyes on her. You did too, obviously.”
Nasir wasn’t about to discuss Kavin with this prick. He clenched his jaw without answering.
Take the deal. Take the deal. Take the fucking deal…
The highborn rubbed a hand across his chin. “What guarantee do you have that I’ll hold to my half of the bargain? Once you’re dead, the opal belongs to me anyway.”
“Not exactly. My master is one of great power. In her stead, my mu’allim has the final say in all matters pertaining to me. The opal’s bound to me by magic—and only he has the power to give it to you once I’m dead. As soon as he has confirmation the jarriah is free of you and this city, he’ll hand it over to you.”
The highborn turned to Malik. “Is this true?”
Malik’s jaw clenched. And anger brewed in his gaze as his eyes held Nasir’s. “Yes,” he said without turning toward the highborn. “It is true.”
The highborn didn’t look pleased when he faced Nasir again. “So I arrange the change to the fights, you die in the arena, then I free the jarriah, and the opal is mine.”
“And the glory for taking out the great champion,” Nasir added, knowing that would seal the deal. “Imagine the envy you’ll be amongst the other highborns.”
He hadn’t meant to sound as if he was mocking the son of a bitch, but he was, and the highborn knew it. His eyes narrowed and filled with contempt.
Take the deal. Take the damn deal…
Seconds drew out in silence. Long, agonizing seconds in which Nasir held his breath and waited. And hoped. And prayed.
Finally, the highborn said, “Fine. You have a deal. Just make your death look good. If you go down without a fight, our deal is broken. Die like the champion you are, or I’ll fuck that bitch a hundred ways to sundown.”
He turned for the door.
“Don’t touch her,” Nasir said in a hard voice. One that stopped the highborn’s feet. “If you or anyone else does before I’m dead, the deal is off. And I’ll find you from the grave. I guarantee it, you prick.”
The highborn didn’t turn. Didn’t look Nasir’s way. But the tightening of his shoulders told Nasir he’d heard the threat loud and clear. He stomped out of the room without another word.