Renée Ahdieh

The rose & the dagger

Shahrzad lifted her hand into a stream of light. The ring of muted gold flashed twice, as if to remind her of its mate, far across the Sea of Sand. 

 He felt nothing. He only saw it. Because nothing hurt like missing her. 

"Now is easy. It’s easy to say what you want in a passing moment."

"Then what is the right answer, sayyidi? What should I have said?” Jalal called out to the sky in exasperation.

“And don’t speak to me of this again until it is!”

"Don’t compare yourself to Khalid. It’s childish and beneath you.” 

Tariq winced, but stood his ground. “Answer me, Shazi. Would you tell him it wasn’t his place to rage against this boy for what he did to you?” 

“And he would listen to you?” His brows gathered in disbelief.

“Despite all, I find I . . . miss the little troublemaker. And how she made you smile.”

 As did Khalid. More than he cared to admit to anyone