Blink—
And he was back.
Sitting at the same damn table.
Empty goblet in hand... Ah, empty goblet in hand.
Cyrus was done with his speech, smiling wide, downing his own drink.
The laughter, the silk-robed nobles, the clinking glasses—it was all here again.
Malik froze.
Heart slamming. Head buzzing. Palms sweating.
Not from the poison. Not yet.
But from the realization.
It happened again.
He was back...
Back just before death.
He looked down once more.
The goblet was...
It was truly empty.
He wasn't hallucinating.
No dark, syrupy swirl of poison awaited him.
His reflection didn't stare back at him.
His dead, hollow eyes weren't there.
He was back in a loop.
Crreeeank!
His hands clenched the goblet.
He bent it into itself.
His head slowly turned.
And he saw her.
Huda.
Smiling.
Sitting at the main table, just a few chairs down with her groom-to-be.
The one who'd smiled at his collapse like he was watching a damn comedy play.
