The stranger pulled Nadira into a nearby garden, the scent of jasmine and rosewater enveloping them. The guards' footsteps faded into the distance as they paused, hidden behind a trellis.
"Who are you?" Nadira demanded, her voice barely above a whisper.
The stranger's grip on her arm loosened, but he didn't let go. "Someone who knows the price of secrets," he replied, his eyes glinting in the moonlight.
Nadira's heart pounded against her chest. "What do you want from me?"
The stranger's gaze drifted to her lips, and for a moment, Nadira thought he might kiss her. Instead, he released her arm and stepped back, his movements fluid and controlled.
"My name is Arash," he said, his voice low and husky. "And you, Princess, are in grave danger."
Nadira's instincts screamed warning, but her heart refused to listen. "What kind of danger?" she asked, her voice firm.
Arash's expression turned serious. "The kind that comes with being a member of the royal family. You're not safe, Nadira. Not even within these palace walls."
As he spoke, the sound of rustling leaves echoed through the garden, and Nadira felt a shiver run down her spine. What secrets was Arash hiding? And what danger lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike?