Shafiq smiled softly and let his hand fall away. "Lie here with me for a little while?"
"I would be honored, my king."
Shafiq lay back down on the lounger, much as he had been when Nadir arrived, and motioned for Nadir to lay across the empty half.
Instead, Nadir squashed every nerve telling himdon'tand lay right up against Shafiq's side, resting his head on Shafiq's chest so he could listen to his heartbeat while enjoying the cool night air, the warmth of Shafiq's body, the rustling breeze and buzzing insects.
The only way it could possibly be better was if he didn't have to eventually leave.
Someday, though. A few more weeks, months at the most, and the nightmare of his old life would be over.
For now, this was enough.
Nadir remained where he was until he felt the shift in Shafiq—the way his body settled, the change in his breathing. Slowly, carefully, he drew away and sat up, loath to go but evenmore loath to get Shafiq in trouble for such an egregious breach of conduct by staying too long.
Beyond the gauzy curtains, Vamri waited with a faint smile. "Come, I'll take you to the door."
"Thank you," Nadir said, and the widening of Vamri's smile said he understood all that he was being thanked for.
They walked in silence, and bid each other goodnight with nods at the door. Nadir continued on alone back to his room, unable to resist smiling, feeling almost like he was floating.
In his room, he dressed quickly for bed and then sat down at his desk to put all the thoughts and feelings tumbling around in his head into words. The poems were quick and messy, but he'd have something to work with in the morning.
Still smiling, he climbed into bed and fell quickly asleep.
*~*~*
Come morning, Nadir's happiness had not faded in the slightest, anticipation making him restless, hope making him nearly giddy. All he had to do was get through the remaining nightmare caused by his worthless parents.
At least he wouldn't have to see them today. No, today he was visiting his sisters. Who weren't really his sisters at all, not legally. How strange to think that if the people they should have been able to trust had not betrayed them, they'd never have met.
He couldn't imagine life without knowing them. He loved his sisters, loved them dearly, even if he hated the way their parents had always favored them heavily over him.
Sighing, he climbed out of bed and dressed for the day, then ate the breakfast that had been left for him. He set the tray outside the door on his way out, pulling up a wrap around his head to protect against the sun as he left the palace and headed into the city.
The day was hot, as ever, but not unbearably so. The journey would be a lot easier if he had a horse, but those had been confiscated along with everything else.
His heart sped as he realized that in a few months, he'd never need a horse again. Concubines were forbidden to leave the palace, just like the monarch they devoted themselves too.
Last night still felt like a dream. Had he truly shared wine with Shafiq? Cozied up with him in a garden until he fell asleep? It was all so hard to believe, but he could remember Shafiq's warmth, the taste of the wine, the scent of flowers and fresh water all around them. The promise of a question.
He tried to think of other things as he reached the city gate and joined the milling throngs. Guards watched over the comings and goings, occasionally wading into the fray to sort out a problem or potential problem.
When he finally stepped into the city proper, the first thing he did was look around for a food cart, his stomach grumbling, despite the breakfast he'd had before leaving.
He settled on some sticky-sweet dumplings on a stick, nibbling happily as he made his way through the bustling city to the area where the wealthy lived on a hill that overlooked the ocean and part of the city.
Eventually, he came to a halt in front of a beautiful white and teal house with a colorful mosaic fountain in front. Guards stood at the gates, and Nadir bowed in greeting. "Hello, I'm here to visit my sisters. They invited me." He offered the slip of paper from them, but the guards only opened the gate and motioned him on through.
A servant was waiting in the entryway, and bowed to him. "Good day, Lord Nadir, you are expected. This way, please." He led Nadir through the beautiful, ornate house, and it was nice to once more be back in the cool indoors.
At the back of the house they finally came to a stop on a beautiful porch shaded by a pergola covered in ivy and flowers. Still more fountains helped to keep the area cool.
His sisters, just twelve and ten respectively, brightened where they'd been sitting quietly, nervously. "Nadir!" cried Ghada, the elder of the two. "You're here! You're here!" She pushed to her feet and ran to hug him, followed immediately by Aida.
"Are you two all right? Where are your caretakers?"
"Mistress Habiba said she'd be along shortly; she's dealing with a wine order that was delivered and is all wrong."
