Page 133 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

He would try to talk her out of it—not for his life, but for hers. She already knew that. He would beg her not to do it, but how could they fight off an army of demons on their own? What choice did she have?

Maybe the bond could save them… he’d brought her back from near death once.

She shook the thought aside because near death wouldn’t be enough.

Could their bond overcome a true death?

It seemed impossible.

But for Rabin to even try, he’d first have to break out of Kishore’s curse.

She touched the ground and watched the surface ripple to reveal the colorful tiles.

A deep sense of premonition told her this was the end.

She felt it calling to her. Reaching out and begging her to find it.

Another rumble shook the cavern, and she focused ahead, picking up her pace as she ran through the tunnel.

Knowing it was close, she wanted to… get this over with. Waiting would only delay the inevitable.

The temperature began to climb as the path sloped up. She slowed as sweat dripped down her forehead and into her eyes. After wiping it away with the back of her arm, she noticed a bright glow at the end of the tunnel.

Slowly, she approached, one hand pressed against the wall as chalky white turned to grey stone. At the end of the tunnel, she found a road leading her into another high cavern. In the distance, a massive fortress stood surrounded by a high fence.

Everything was made of the same white material, and more of Amrita’s roots crowned the roof soaring above her shimmering with a riot of rainbow colors, as if her magic were struggling to contain the evil trying to escape.

This was it.

On careful steps, she walked down the road, one foot in front of the other, while the never-ending silence sent a chill down her back.

She approached a tall gate standing many stories over her head. She looked up to another star—this one rendered into glittering black—hovering over the fortress, spinning slowly in the air. She swallowed thickly.

Crouching down, she placed her hand on the ground and watched as white gave way to more colorful tiles, only this time, the transformation didn’t stop. It rippled, spreading out and climbing across the floor, up the gates, and over the fortress.

A minute later, she stood before silver gates and black stone looming over her like a demon.

Licking her dry lips, she pressed a hand to the gate. It gave under her touch, opening on silent hinges. She inhaled a fortifying breath and then pushed. A stone path led to the entrance, and it took all her willpower to keep moving.

The air echoed with each step as she slowly approached.

Tall open arches framed the entrance, and she passed into a hollow space of rough black stone. The walls stretched for what felt like miles, and her breath condensed in soft puffs of white.

A pillar stretching to the ceiling stood at the far end surrounded by swirls of black smoke.

The seal.

And the magic leaking out.

As she moved closer, her mouth parted with a small gasp. She could feel the power shimmering from the seal, the darkness pressing in on her from every side, and that same voice calling her.

She remembered this feeling. In the swamps when the darkness had spoken to her. When Dhawan had nearly convinced her to embrace it. She’d rejected the sinister side of darkness then, and she would do it again. There would be no glory in accepting this fate. There would only be death and destruction. There would be only the loss of herself and everything she stood for. She’d rather be dead.

The darkness wasn’t inherently evil, but the Ashvins and the nairatta had poisoned it.

She didn’t realize she was crying until she touched her cheek to find the tips of her fingers were wet.

Continuing her journey across the cavernous space on careful steps, she became lightheaded from holding her breath. Finally, she stood before the seal. The material was smooth and featureless, except for an etched image of a flower with six petals, each decorated with the essence of the six anchors.