Page 44 of The Moon's Fury

“My fingers were tingling when I met with Nizam. I hid my hands under the table, but…”

Zarian sighed, shaking his head. “One of them informed the elders, but it doesn’t matter now. Our situation remains the same. I told Jamil to meet us in Sendouk. I have another safehouse there.” He paused, weighing his next words. “Do you … want to return to Alzahra?”

“I don’t know,” she said truthfully. “I don’t want the crown if it means losing you. But we can’t let the Medjai get away with this. I never realized how deep their hold on the continent runs. Is there any way to stop them?”

“Not on our own. There are too many. Even if we took out the elders, others would just rise to replace them.”

He paused, then met her gaze.

“But … they fear you. What you could become. That kind of power could shift the balance.”

She mulled over his words, the implications.

“If I can learn to control the light, do you think we have a chance at stopping them?”

“I think you could do anything.” He inhaled deeply, his expression almost pained. “If you wanted to.”

She worried her lip between her teeth. “You once told me that the Medjai spread their knowledge across the continent. Are there hidden libraries in other kingdoms?”

“Yes,” he said slowly. “The one in Thessan, beneath the Grand Libraries, is the largest. But—”

“Maybe there’s something there that can help me harness my light. We should gotherefirst, not Sendouk. Until I can control my powers, I’m a danger to everyone. I can feel it thrumming beneath my skin, always restless. It’s bearable when I’m near you, but when I’m angry, upset, or agitated… I—I don’t want to hurt anyone else.”

Zarian drummed his fingers on the table. “Thessan is risky. They’ll be expecting us.” He traced a map onto her thigh, explaining, “We’d have to go around the Mountains, cross Navrastan into Sendouk, then head north through Shahbaad.” He grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. “We’d have to pass Sendouk anyway to get to Thessan. Don’t let fear keep you from your family.”

“Why can’t we go directly through the Mountains?”

“It’s an unforgiving trek, one I’d only take as a last resort. At best, we’d save a few days, maybe a week at most.”

Layna contemplated his words. “When do we leave?”

“Tonight.”

20

Thehigh-backedthronewasstiff and unyielding, sending a dull ache shooting through Zanjeel’s spine.How had Tahriq managed to sit in this flaming thing for hours?The adviser before him droned on about trivial matters—plans to bolster the Oasis’s economy, minor treaties, and the progress of some agricultural project. Zanjeel didn’t bother suppressing his yawn. No wonder the Medjai elders of old fell into the practice of instating a monarch to handle day-to-day ruling matters.

It was a shame Tahriq was no longer fit for the task.

“—the Gundaari will be sending another fifty boys. We are making space in the training barracks now—” Zanjeel waved impatiently, urging him to hasten his report. “The unrest in Shahbaad is progressing well. Just a few missing palace guards, and now rumors have spread that Dharaid was executing them for sport. Many have resigned.”

“Excellent. What about Valtisaan? Are more laborers needed?” Zanjeel asked. His lips twisted with displeasure at the thought of the rogue kingdom. Tamzin had grown too bold,agreeing to a war with Alzahra against the Medjai’s wishes. He would need to be handled.

“Yes, sire. A new group was scheduled to arrive, but they never made it. We are investigating. And we’ve already dispatched more recruiters across the kingdoms for the next ... phase of the project.”

“And the orb?” Zanjeel asked, his voice quiet. “Have we managed to repair it?”

“No, sire. It was shattered the day of the eclipse. We have the shards, but…”

Zanjeel hummed, stroking his long, white beard. The orb wielded tremendous power over the Daughter of the Moon—and somehow, the bitch had destroyed it.

No matter.

They would find her.

And one way or another, they would erase her chaos from the world.

“And, sire,” the adviser added cautiously, “another three Medjai did not return from their missions.”