Page 39 of Heart of Night and Fire

“Someone alert the queen that her enchantment has been breached!” he shouted at a soldier who tipped his chin and ran off.

Zarya scanned the sky. For now, it was empty, but who knew when these monsters might return?

“Let’s get you looked at,” Vikram said, placing his hand on the small of her back and leading her towards the palace. Zarya caught sight of the eggs littering the ground, that same strange heartbeat still thudding in the back of her head.

“Don’t let anyone touch them,” she said to Vikram, grabbing him by the arm. He nodded and continued firing off instructions as they walked.

“I’ll be fine,” she finally said after he’d been stopped by yet another soldier in the throes of an emergency request. “You deal with this.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. Please. You have people who need you.”

“Okay, I’ll find you once things are under control here.”

“Of course.” She squeezed his hand once more, then made her way to the infirmary. Dozens of people already filled the cots, the injuries ranging from minor scrapes and bruises to broken limbs. Koura was moving amongst them, healing them with his warm yellow light.

“Oh my!” came a high voice that pulled Zarya’s attention. “Let’s get you looked at.”

She found Princess Amrita standing in front of her, wearing a simple white kurta. Her black curls were piled on her head, and her cheeks were flushed with a sheen of sweat.

“This way,” she said. “I’m Amrita.”

She sat Zarya in a chair and began unwrapping the fabric tied around her head.

“I’m Zarya,” she answered.

“I know. I remember when you arrived with Vik and Yasen. What happened to you?”

Zarya winced as Amrita pulled away the cloth. “I was out in the forest with Vikram when those birds attacked us.”

A line formed between the princess’s brows, and she looked into Zarya’s eyes for a moment.

“Do you work in the infirmary a lot?” Zarya asked, and Amrita shook her head.

“Sometimes. I enjoy working with people, and it seemed like they could use a few extra hands,” Amrita said with a smile before she stood up. “Let me get some supplies. I’ll be right back.”

The princess moved to a table covered in bandages and various jars and bottles. Just then, Vikram and Yasen walked in and approached Amrita, conversing with her for a few moments. Vikram glanced over at Zarya and spoke with another healer, who then walked over to clean and dress her wound.

As the healer worked, Vikram pulled up a chair next to her.

“How are you feeling?” he asked as Yasen joined them.

“I’m okay.”

Vikram squeezed her hand. His skin was warm and welcoming, and her stomach melted into that same liquidy feeling she’d had when he’d kissed her so briefly. She wondered when they’d get a chance to pick up where they’d left off because she definitely wanted more.

“What happened out there?” she asked. “What were those things?”

Vikram ran a hand along the back of his neck. He was clearly under a lot of strain. “Kindle and Suvanna think they’re called kala-hamsa. Another demon born of myth, like the naga and kimpurusha. These monsters should not exist here. Suvanna took a group of soldiers to examine the unhatched eggs, particularly the one that nearly crushed us. It’s at least twice the size of any of the others. We wanted to make sure you were okay before we joined them.”

“How many people were hurt?” Zarya asked, scanning the infirmary.

“Too many,” he said. “A large section of the city is practically dust, and several people were killed. Many others injured.”

“So much for it being safe on the north side,” Zarya said to Vikram, her tone dry, though she didn’t blame him for any of it. Of course, this was out of his control.

“You should be more careful where you go for rides,” Yasen said. Fierce grey eyes bored into Vikram, heavy with meaning. Yasen then tugged on the hem of his green jacket, giving Zarya a perfunctory bow.