Page 122 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

On the right, a female Kiraaye Ka charged at Zarya. She ducked, sending the woman flying overhead and landing on the ground on her back, the wind knocked out of her. Zarya plunged a dagger into her heart, and the woman gurgled as her life drained out with her blood.

The first man advanced, his sword lashing out and biting into Zarya’s thigh. Blood blossomed as pain radiated through her leg. Swinging at him, they fought, their swords clashing against the walls, the space too tight for anyone to get in a proper hit.

She didn’t notice the second soldier coming up behind. He’d retrieved his axe and was swinging it wildly. It caught her in the side, its sharp edge slicing through skin as she fell to her knees. She pressed her hand against the gushing wound, trying to stand up as the man with the axe came in for another swing. Zarya closed her eyes. This was it. She was going to die. At least this time, she’d been properly kissed.

“Stop,” a voice called. “She lives. Dhawan just gave the order—she’s to be brought to the courtyard.”

It was the only distraction Zarya needed.

She leaped up, pouncing on the back of the bearded man who had turned away, her dagger slicing across his neck. At the same moment, Zarya blasted wind at the other two Kiraaye Ka, wrapping them together. She squeezed with all her strength until they finally collapsed.

She once again found herself alone.

Stumbling along the path, she fell to her knees and then dropped onto her hands, panting as the ground spun beneath her.

THIRTY-FOUR

The wound in Zarya’s side throbbed as her breath rattled out in gasps. She touched it gingerly, wincing at the blood soaking the leather. She needed help but was surrounded by endless shifting tunnels, silence stretching in every direction.

With a hand pressed to her ribs, she dragged herself along the wall, leaving a trail of blood with every step she took. She resisted the urge to call out for help, worried about bringing attention to herself in a weakened state. She was done if one of the Kiraaye Ka found her like this.

Her side continued dripping blood, pain drilling into her bones with each halting step as black spots burst in her vision, the corners smearing together.

These tunnels were endless, folding in on themselves every time she rounded a corner. This was getting her nowhere. She stopped both to catch her breath and to listen for sounds of the battle but found only a yawning silence.

“Fuck,” she mumbled under her breath as she convinced herself to take a few more steps.

Finally, she turned a corner and stumbled into a large cavern hewn from the rock. Roots had pushed through the stone walls, tendrils forming a pattern almost like a mural hung to admire. Rows of torches lined the space, flames flickering and casting shadows into concealed corners. If she listened, she imagined she could hear the waves of the ocean rolling in the distance. She hoped the torches suggested she was close to an exit.

Taking another moment to catch her breath, she leaned against the wall as her legs gave out, and she slid to the floor. Still clutching her side, blood oozed between her fingers as her eyelids grew heavy. In her hazy thoughts, she wondered where Rabin had ended up and what had become of Yasen.

She sucked in mouthfuls of air, her limbs and lungs shaking with the effort. Her entire side had gone numb, her wound pulsing like it had its own heartbeat. Just another minute, and then she’d get up. She had to find a way out of here and get help. No one would know where to find her, and she was losing too much blood.

Footsteps echoed in the distance, someone running down a different tunnel leading into the cavern. She tensed, scrambling against the wall, attempting to get up. If it were an enemy soldier, she’d have no chance of fighting them off.

When a familiar figure appeared, she choked on a shuddering sob of relief.

“Yasen,” she whispered as he stumbled into the room with blood coating his uniform and his talwar raised. “You’re okay.”

“Zee,” he replied, his voice hoarse and filled with just as much relief.

Yasen ran to her, skidding on his knees as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in for a hug. “I was so worried. Dhawan appeared with his army, claiming you were all dead and that he was taking over the palace. They started killing anyone who tried to stand up to them.”

She clung to his clothing, sobbing into his chest. “It was a trap. Dhawan sent us out there to be slaughtered, but they failed. When we realized we’d been tricked, we came back here as fast as we could. Vik told us what happened to you…” She dissolved into a fresh wave of tears, and Yasen rocked her, running a hand down the back of her head.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’m okay, and you’re going to be okay.”

They sat that way for another few seconds before he asked, “But what’s going on? Why did Dhawan try to kill you, and why is he chopping down the queen?”

Zarya recounted what they’d discovered about Amrita, her role in containing the darkness, and what they all now suspected about Dhawan.

“That bastard,” Yasen said, his jaw tightening. “I’ll kill him.”

“Get in line,” she said and then winced at a stab of pain. “I’m killing him first.”

“Shit,” Yasen said. “You’re bleeding. A lot.”

She nodded, closing her eyes and leaning her head against the wall.