The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

Author:Chelsea Abdullah
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2022-05-17T00:00:00+00:00

33

MAZEN

Mazen was listening for his shadow’s heartbeat when Aisha burst into his room like a storm cloud. He flinched back at the glare on her face. Though he’d mentally steeled himself for her rage, he was not prepared for the shame that suddenly overwhelmed him.

Yesterday, he’d been too mortified to admit to her that he’d forgotten the relic in Ahmed’s diwan. And after the battle, he’d been so alarmed by the sight of the black blood oozing from his skin that he’d fled to treat his wound in private. The doctors hadn’t batted a lash when he’d stolen some of their bandages—they’d been too busy dealing with potentially fatal injuries.

He’d managed to avoid Aisha last night, but he couldn’t ignore her penetrating gaze now.

“You gave away a priceless relic yesterday,” she snapped.

“It was never ours.”

“You found it—”

“And I gave it away to the merchant. I would rather not be possessed by a vengeful jinn, shukran.”

“You’re a coward.”

The accusation startled him. It hardly mattered that it was the truth. “You weren’t there when the wali was first possessed. Not even a sliver of his consciousness remained. You would risk that danger?”

“Yes.” Her response was so immediate and sure it shocked him into silence. “I am one of the forty thieves. It’s my job to collect relics for my king.”

King. Mazen hated that title. It gave his brother an authority he did not deserve. He glanced at his shadow and thought of the dream that had plagued him since the shadow jinn’s demise, the one he now recognized as her memory. His brother had killed her—ruthlessly. And the part of her that remained had somehow attached itself to his shadow. Had somehow changed it into a relic.

After witnessing the shadow jinn’s memory and hearing the Queen of Dunes’ words, he had no doubts. He didn’t know how jinn magic worked beyond the miracle of their blood, but this at least explained his new power. He’d briefly contemplated telling Aisha about the shadow, but now he reconsidered.

If she knew it existed, she would try to steal it. Never mind the impossibility of the act. If anyone could find a way to steal a shadow, it was Aisha bint Louas.

He looked at her now, trying to gauge her awareness. “Do you know what they are? The relics you’re collecting for my brother?”

“Speak plainly, Prince.”

Haltingly, he told her about what he’d realized in the diwan. Aisha was completely unfazed by his explanation, which meant she thought he was lying, or…

“So you know,” he said softly.

“Of course I know.” She rolled her shoulders in a shrug. “Our king is the most accomplished hunter in the desert. Do you know how many relics he’s stolen off corpses? He surmised there were souls in them long ago.”

Mazen stared at her, horrified. “Do all hunters know?”

“None that I’ve met. But a wise one would know to check a corpse for magic regardless.”

He must have been wearing a gloomy expression, because she sniffed and said, “Wipe that sour look off your face.

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