The Tiger at Midnight (The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #1)(96)

Something like triumph passed across Harun’s face, and Kunal’s gaze shot up, angry.

“How is that any business of yours?” Kunal said, his voice taut.

He kept a tight leash on his temper and his control, not wanting even a hint of turning in front of the prince.

In a second, Harun was close enough that Kunal could hear the prince’s deep breath. “Anything that goes on here is my business.” The fury leached from Harun’s eyes and he adopted a wry smile. “Consider it a helpful warning. From a friend.”

Before he could respond, Harun swept away down the hall, vanishing into the darkness.

Kunal’s hands immediately went to his eyes, rubbing the growing tension between his eyebrows away. He had started to consider the alternative to escaping—that he might be able to train, adjust to a new life, and let go of his duties as a soldier for Jansa.

But that wasn’t the worry blooming in his heart like a weed. Harun’s words had started to slither into his already tattered brain, clawing hooks into his thoughts.

Could he let go of all he’d known for a new future—for Esha?





Chapter 60


Esha looked everywhere for Harun, only to find him in the peacock gardens, trying to get one to eat from his hand. It kept nipping his fingers instead.

“Having fun?” Esha asked.

He jumped up at her voice and cleared his throat, a faint blush covering his cheeks. Harun, blushing? The world was really on its side these past few weeks.

“I was waiting for you and got bored.”

“You could’ve joined us for dinner, instead of sending me a cryptic message.”

“I would’ve, but there’s a reason I’m dressed up like this,” he said. “We just received a messenger from Jansa, who delivered this.”

He thrust a small scroll into her hands. Esha unraveled the scroll and read quickly.

“An invitation. To the Sun Mela. ‘To honor our shared ancestors’ before the peace summit.” She frowned. “Dharka hasn’t been invited to the games since the war started.”

Esha snapped it closed and looked up at Harun.

“It’s a trap. Especially after what we discovered from the whip,” she said.

Harun nodded, closing the distance between them to take the scroll back. “Those were my first thoughts.”

Esha paused, looking between the scroll with the royal seal and Harun.

“Why are you receiving messengers, opening mail? That’s for your father.”

“Father is . . . not well.” Harun shifted uncomfortably.

“The night terrors?”

“The night terrors are not real; I couldn’t say much else in front of everyone else. The drought is still concentrated in Jansa but Esha, it’s moving. Father’s been experimenting with the university scholars, using his blood to see if there’s any way to slow the drought from spreading. He’s growing weak. If there’s a chance Vardaan or his scholars will work with us to find a solution, then we have to go to the Sun Mela. The last ritual is only four moons away.”

“No,” Esha said immediately. “You can’t trust him. Invite them here to Mathur for the summit. We can keep a better eye on them. Don’t let the king go.”

She grabbed his elbow, shaking it, as if that would show how against this she was. Her worry for his father, especially after knowing the toll of trying to maintain the janma bond, was as strong as his. But this?

“My father won’t be going. I will be.”

“What? No. That is reckless and stupid.”

“I know—”

“—And dangerous and stupid.”

Harun placed his hands on her shoulders. “Esha, I know. But that’s why I’m sending you on this mission. I’d rather go into that traitor’s den with some knowledge of what’s happening.”

“I can’t convince you not to go?” He began to shake his head. “Then I’m coming too, to Gwali.”

Harun looked like he was about to protest but then bowed his head.

“I expected as much. Go to your meet, pack light. We’ll be traveling with the court, which means you’ll have plenty of time to gather information and meet up with us on the road. I’ll have the rest of your belongings packed and brought along.”

He tugged out another scroll from his waist sash and handed it to her. “Here are more details on the meet. Our contact will be dressed as a beggar but with a large green hat.”

“Hat?”

“Don’t ask me,” Harun said, sighing. “I don’t set the terms for these meets. I’m just happy the Yellow Squad found someone willing to talk. Any information will be valuable. I’m worried about Vardaan’s silence on the general’s murder, Esha. We need to know more.”

Esha nodded, tucking the scroll into her pack and turning back to him.

“No excursions this time.” He raised an eyebrow at her and she laughed. The last time she had gone to a meeting with a source, she had ended up running into, and breaking through, a Jansan blockade. That port city still spoke of the Viper with awe. “I’m serious. Stay safe. I’ll lose my mind if something happens to you.”

“Oh, no Viper to clean up your messes then?” she joked.