Page 124 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

When she didn’t answer, he gave her a cold, dead smile.

“Seize her,” he said, gesturing to two of the soldiers. “I’ll extract the rest of her secrets in due time.”

The soldiers approached Zarya, grabbing her by the arms and dragging her to Dhawan whose expression dripped with oily satisfaction. Both twice her size, Zarya’s attempts to resist were futile. The other two soldiers seized Yasen, who struggled like a caged wild animal. A soldier drew a khanjar, pressing it against his throat, and Yasen went still as a line of blood trickled down the side of his neck.

Dhawan produced a small vial filled with clear liquid from the folds of his cloak, holding it up to the light.

“Open up, my dear,” he said.

“I am not your dear,” Zarya spat at him.

Dhawan tutted. “To think you were such a nice girl when I met you.”

“I’m not nice.” She hissed the word, not sure why it offended her so much to hear him say that.

He made a fake pout.

“That snarl is quite unbecoming,” he said. “You’re so much lovelier when you smile.”

As Dhawan advanced, Zarya shook her head, trying to back away, but the soldiers held her firmly in their grip. There was nowhere she could go.

Lifting the vial, Dhawan brought it to her lips. Zarya clamped her mouth shut so hard she tasted iron. Dhawan signaled to one of the soldiers, who then smashed a massive fist into her stomach, forcing her knees to buckle as fresh, warm blood leaked down her side.

Suspended between the soldiers, she fought for air as one roughly grabbed her chin and pried her mouth open before Dhawan tipped in the contents of the vial. She gagged on the invasion, trying to spit it out, but a guard fisted her hair and wrenched her head back before the other slammed her chin with such force she felt her teeth rattle. She sputtered as it went down before the guard released her chin.

Instantly, Zarya felt the effects of the potion. The flame inside her heart withered, shrinking to a point of nothing. The bright and glittering presence that had become her constant companion winked out. Her magic was gone.

Zarya’s heart stuttered in panic, especially at the sight of Dhawan’s cold, benevolent smile. It set every hair on her body at attention.

“Trust me when I say this is for your own good, Zarya.”

Dhawan pulled out two more vials and handed them to one of the soldiers.

“That should hold her until you reach Andhera—I gave her a strong dose—but keep these with you. Give her another in seven days’ time, regardless. I don’t know the limits of her ability yet. She has been lying to everyone about her power, haven’t you, my darling Zarya?”

Zarya’s sense of self was rapidly draining away, but she summoned a look so scathing it could melt through steel. “What do you want from me?”

“You will find out soon enough. Once I finally deliver you home.”

“Home? What are you talking about?”

Home. Andhera.

Lingering on a tenuous edge of consciousness, something important wedged itself into the smoke of her thoughts, but she couldn’t focus on it. It hung there like a carrot on a string, just barely out of her reach.

“What about this one?” asked the guard holding the dagger at Yasen’s throat.

With a cold gleam in his eyes, Dhawan glanced at Zarya as her stomach plunged to her feet.

“He means a lot to you,” Dhawan said with a concerned furrow of his brows, but she heard the implied threat.

“Please,” she begged. “I’ll go with you. Don’t hurt him.”

“Zarya, no!” Yasen said, growling at her.

Dhawan rolled his neck and then flicked a hand.

“I have no use for the bastard,” Dhawan said. “Let the ajakava deal with him.”