Page 149 of Storm of Ink and Blood

Dishani circled her with slow steps as Zarya tried to scoot around, attempting to keep her sister in her line of sight. She was like a fish trapped on the beach, out of its environment, gasping for air on the scorching sand with no rescue in sight.

“Who are you?” Dishani asked again as she continued walking with her hands clasped at her waist, her pointed shoes kicking up the hem of her skirt. “Why do you wear my mother’s necklace? Why do you possess nightfire?”

“She was my mother, too,” Zarya finally choked out.

“Liar!” Dishani screamed.

Zarya shook her head as tears of frustration leaked from the corner of her eyes. “I’m not lying. You know I’m not.”

Her sister crouched on her heels, her teeth bared and her gaze sparking with fire. “Understand this, you little worm—you will never use that power ever again. I will kill everyone who knows. You will not get away with this.”

Zarya struggled against her restraints as she met her sister’s glare. She would not be cowed by this spineless princess.

“You came to Ishaan to incite this rebellion against me? I want the names of every member of the Rising Phoenix. I want to know where you operate from. I want to know every one of your plans.”

“I will tell you nothing,” Zarya said.

Dishani raised an eyebrow, her gaze turning from fiery rage to ice-cold pellets. She lifted a hand and sent out a tendril of magic. Zarya tried to get a sense of what was about to happen, noting the ribbon of spirit twisting with earth as it wrapped around her body and tightened.

Zarya screamed as acid lashes of pain ricocheted down her spine, her back arching and her feet scrambling against the smooth tiles. She screamed and screamed as her voice cracked, but Dishani never relented. Zarya felt like her organs were being squeezed, her bones crushed, and her skull compressed until her vision began to smear at the corners, the world tipping out from under her.

After what felt like an eternity, it stopped. Zarya panted heavily, a line of sweat dripping down her cheek and down the side of her throat.

“I will tell you nothing,” Zarya valiantly gasped out once more. “Torture me all you want.”

“Oh, we will see about that,” Dishani said softly.

The venom in her sister’s voice was the most chilling thing Zarya had ever heard.

FIFTY-TWO

“Where are you going?” Yasen called after Rabin as they shoved through the seething crowd out of the plaza and into the streets, where they found a little more breathing room.

Even if it was still a sight of chaos.

All their somewhat tenuous plans had fallen apart. But they hadn’t lost everything yet.

The rain pelted them from above, rendering the world into grey, which felt ominously appropriate.

“We finish the plan,” Rabin said, his fist curled and his frame hunched. “That’s what she would want.”

“And then what?” Yasen asked, jogging after him.

Rabin came to a stop and peered over his shoulder, heavy, angry breaths swirling in his chest. “And then I’m going to tear apart this fucking palace to find her.”

Yasen nodded, and Rabin turned and continued walking until he found an open plaza.

“You have the papers?” Rabin asked, and Yasen nodded. They’d planned to distribute them once the prisoners had been freed, but this would have to do. “Then get on.”

Without further warning, Rabin dissolved into a puff of smoke, transforming into his dragon. Everyone within the area began screaming and running away. Rabin shook his head as his wings flapped, crushing the silver astrolabe at the center of the plaza. He lifted his head to the sky as cool rainwater sluiced over his scales.

Yasen ran and leaped onto his back before Rabin’s wings flapped. He took a step, followed by another, and then launched himself into the sky. They soared over the city, circling over the palace courtyard, where the seething mass of bodies churned like waves.

He roared, drawing everyone’s attention up. Maybe this would help snap everyone from their panic. Then he felt Yasen moving before thousands of pieces of paper floated over the air, littering Ishaan with the truth.

More screams rose up as thunder crashed overhead and lightning flashed across the sky.

The pages fluttered on the breeze like ashes scattering off a burning stake.