Page 139 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

Rabin stared at Zarya as panic swirled in his gut. His entire body ached, and the remnants of Kishore’s enchantment clouded his head. He could still see the burning red haze taking over his vision. Taste the rage in his mouth. Feel the twitch in his bones when he’d wanted nothing more than to find Zarya and tear her apart.

Gods, he would hear her panicked screams and see the terror in her eyes for the rest of his life. How could he have let himself be so used?

And now she was sitting here calmly telling them they would have to kill her?

He’d never forgive himself for any of this. He’d fallen for Abishek’s lies and then ushered Zarya straight into his arms. What a fucking fool.

“No,” Rabin said. “Absolutely not.”

She laid a hand on his arm. “We’ll discuss it when we’re all together.”

“Zarya.”

“I know, but we should get out of here first.”

He wanted to protest, but she gave him a pleading look that silenced him. For now.

She was terrified, even if she was putting on a good show.

Finally, they all remembered Ekaja. Rabin looked over to find her staring at him. She stood awkwardly, her hands balled into fists as if afraid of getting too close.

He turned away as Row and Yasen helped them to their feet. Zarya leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders before placing a kiss on her temple. He would never let her go again.

“I’m… sorry,” Ekaja said in a small, unsure voice that was nothing like her at all. “I had no choice.”

Rabin scanned her from head to toe and huffed.

“I don’t want to hear it right now. I don’t even want to look at you.”

He turned to face Row and Yasen and heard her shuffle as she moved closer.

“I deserve that,” she said to his back. “But let me help you fix this.”

Rabin peered over his shoulder. Two people he’d trusted most in the world had betrayed him this week. He’d truly thought Andhera was his home, but all of it had been a lie.

He looked at Zarya, who was watching them both and raised an eyebrow in question.

“It’s up to you,” she said. “We could probably use all the help we can get.”

He grunted and then eyed Ekaja up and down. “If you follow, I won’t stop you.”

They all headed towards the softly glowing portal.

“This is the way back?” Yasen asked, eyeing it dubiously.

“Let’s hope,” Zarya said, dropping her hold on Rabin and then stepping forward, pausing for a moment before entering the glowing door. She disappeared into the light a moment later.

Rabin followed her immediately. He stepped through the opening and found himself at the top of a mountain, wind and snow battering him from every side.

Zarya shivered with her arms wrapped around herself.

“Where are we?” she shouted into the wind as Rabin spun around and took stock of their surroundings. A moment later, Row, Ekaja, and Yasen all appeared. Row slid off his coat and draped it over Zarya’s shoulders.

“Can you get us out of here?” Yasen asked, and Rabin nodded.

“Give me some space.”

They all shuffled back, and Rabin transformed, his magic suspending inside nothing as he dissolved into his dragon. Once he was finished, he was warmer, his hide protecting him from the harsh elements. He lowered himself so everyone could scramble on, then took a few steps and launched himself into the air.