Page 109 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“Did you feel it earlier?” she asked. “I was trying to reach you. I think I might be able to break through his magic.”

His brow furrowed. “While we were walking?”

“Yes! You felt something?”

He nodded slowly. “I think so.”

She almost squealed with joy. “Maybe you need to reciprocate⁠—”

Just then, footsteps sounded down the tunnel, and she cut off. Ekaja appeared in the doorway. Zarya and Rabin slowly pulled apart as she scanned them up and down, her expression giving away nothing.

Had she heard them talking?

A moment later, more footsteps preceded the entrance of Abishek and Kishore. The king didn’t seem bothered by the tension in the room as he swept towards the center, swinging his cloak and planting himself in front of the fire.

He rubbed his hands and held them to the heat. “Well, come and get warm,” he said. “We’ll sleep for a few hours and then continue our trek. I don’t wish to delay for long.”

Kishore moved into the circle, and then slowly, Zarya, Rabin, and Ekaja followed.

Zarya sat across from the king, her gaze never leaving him. When he glanced up, he noted her stare, returning it as they beheld one another.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said. “All you had to do was cooperate.”

“Why are you doing this?”

He peered at her, his brow furrowing. “You are young and don’t yet understand the importance of one’s legacy. The Aazheri are dying out. Thousands once roamed this continent, and barely hundreds remain. If this keeps up, then we will soon be gone forever.”

Zarya blinked. “There are thousands of Aazheri in Rahajhan,” she bit out. “The vanshaj. You could get what you want without bloodshed.”

Abishek’s assessing gaze traveled over her face. “Vanshaj,” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “This is your solution?”

“Why not?”

He shook his head. “You were working behind my back,” he snarled. “Breaking collars in the city, believing you were hiding it from me?”

Her breath caught.

“I know all about their little ‘resistance.’ I only allow them to exist to give them hope. They think they’re defying me, but I know every move they make.”

She didn’t know what to say.

“I’ll deal with every single one after we’re done here. End them for good.”

“You said you believed in their cause,” she whispered. Gods, she’d been so stupid. She’d wanted to believe him so much.

Abishek shook his head. “I truly didn’t think my own flesh and blood could be this dense. I don’t want the vanshaj. I want real Aazheri.”

She thought about the story Yasen had told her about the king of Andhera killing thousands of vanshaj and Rabin claiming it had been a lie. But it was just another falsehood the king had used to earn his trust.

She opened her mouth with a small breath. This was no use. This argument wouldn’t get them anywhere. What she needed was to understand his plans. She had to survive whatever was coming. She had to protect the vanshaj from his cruelty.

The mountain men rose from the corner where they’d been preparing food, both bearing wooden plates. They handed them out and passed around warm drinks while everyone fell silent, stewing in their thoughts.

“Where are you taking us?” Rabin finally asked after they’d been quiet for several minutes. “Surely you can tell us now.”

Abishek gave him a piercing look and then set his plate on the ground by his feet. Wiping his mouth, he sat forward with his elbows braced on his knees.

“I’m sending you to the lost city of Taaranas,” he said. “To find the seal that will release the darkness.”