Page 25 of Heart of Night and Fire

“I’ll take your silence for a yes.” She let go of his hair, and Aarav’s head fell to the ground.

She dusted her hands, satisfied he’d finally gotten the message.

When she looked up, four sets of eyes watched her. Vikram’s were wide, while the corners of Yasen’s were wrinkled in amusement. Suvanna crossed her arms, scrutinizing Zarya with something akin to respect, and Apsara let out a breath of exasperation.

“So, Row is missing,” Suvanna said, brushing past their confrontation, her stormy blue eyes growing darker. “For how long?”

Zarya glanced at Aarav, who was struggling to get back up. “Three days.”

Apsara and Suvanna exchanged a look.

“And you have no idea where he is?” Apsara asked.

Zarya shook her head. “His magic—whatever prevented me from leaving the house—was gone.” She worried her bottom lip as they all pondered the implications of that information.

“And he’s kept you against your will all this time?” Vikram asked, his tone sharp. “That is monstrous.”

Zarya nodded, that familiar cluster of emotions—rage, confusion, sadness—squeezing in her chest.

“So, you were the one he was always buying dresses for,” Apsara said with a snort. “And we were all placing bets that he had a secret lover.”

Everyone else burst out laughing, and Zarya turned red, lifting her chin.

“There was no reason I had to look like a prisoner.”

“Indeed,” Apsara said, mirth dancing in her eyes. “But why? And why did none of us know of your existence?”

“I wish I knew. And now I fear I may never find out.”

“And you know nothing?” Apsara addressed Aarav. “You’ve checked his haveli?”

Eyes narrowing, Aarav nodded. “Of course I did. I was there earlier. I didn’t find any evidence that he’d been there since our last visit to the city.”

“Typical Row,” Suvanna said as she folded her arms. “Stubborn as a goat. More secrets than a labyrinth.”

The two women analyzed Zarya, causing her insides to squirm with discomfort. Her plan to run away had been reckless, but she also didn’t see how she’d had any other choice in the matter. Her senses prickled with uneasiness, thinking about how livid Row would be when he found her. She had no doubt that no matter where she tried to hide, eventually, he would.

“Now that’s out of the way, perhaps we should focus on more pressing matters?” Vikram interrupted, gesturing to the surrounding damage. “What caused this? And how do we protect the queen? Without her magic, the city will surely fall.”

Zarya’s shoulders relaxed, grateful for the change of subject and shift in focus away from her dubious upbringing.

“It is the darkness,” Suvanna said, her fists planted on her hips. “I’ve said this. Only dark magic could work this way. It’s why it continues to resist all our efforts.” Her blue-green hair seemed to float on the waves of her agitation.

“There is no dark magic left,” Koura said, coming up behind them, wiping his hands with a cloth before taking it to the sweat on his brow. “You know that, Suvanna. Do not call forth with your heresy things long since buried.”

She shrugged as if to say she didn’t believe that, nor was she bothered by his accusation.

“Koura is right,” Apsara added. “It isn’t possible.”

“What do you mean by darkness?” Zarya asked, the question slipping out. She’d never heard of such a thing. Likely due to how frustratingly tight-lipped Row had always been. While he was content to bring her all the fantasies she could consume, he’d kept her in the dark about anything too grounded in reality.

Apsara’s response was another suspicious look, but whatever she saw in Zarya’s face convinced her to continue.

“The darkness is magic that was eradicated from Rahajhan centuries ago. The northern kingdom of Andhera was once the most powerful in the continent, thanks to dark magic. Surely, Row told you the stories of the Aazheri brothers who ruled there. The Ashvin twins. Their mother claimed they were born together, and so they ruled as one.”

“He didn’t,” Zarya admitted, feeling foolish as everyone else nodded, clearly familiar with the tale. “What did they do?”

Apsara sighed. “As the Ashvin’s magic grew, so did their ambition to rule all of Rahajhan. During the Hanera Wars, they used their power to unleash the foulest of demons, enslaving citizens across the continent. Darkness spread, finding its way into every corner. Many have been told these stories since they were children, mostly to frighten them into shunning the vanshaj.” Apsara’s mouth flattened at that.