Page 147 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“We’re okay,” she said, even though that wasn’t really true.

He greeted Row and Rabin before Farida, Rania, Suvanna, and Apsara also appeared.

“The tattoos,” Vikas said, gesturing to several people watching their reunion. “We were training, and suddenly, they all just… disappeared. Do you know what happened?”

Zarya nodded and quickly explained everything except for the whole killing her thing because she didn’t have the energy to argue with anyone else. She could feel Rabin’s furious gaze burning up the back of her neck.

“An army of nairatta are headed this way?” Ajay asked as the blood drained from his cheeks.

She nodded. “We’ve alerted the palace, and they’re readying themselves.”

“This is what we’ve been preparing for,” Farida said. “It’s not the enemy we predicted, but the Army of Ashes hasn’t been idle during these weeks.”

“We have hundreds more Aazheri, freed from the collars,” Vikas said. “Surely, that gives us an advantage.”

“It might be dangerous using brand-new Taara Aazheri,” Row cautioned.

“Rabin will lead them,” Vikas said. “It will be fine.”

“No,” Zarya said. “He can’t. He’s needed elsewhere.”

She reached out and grabbed Vikas’s hand. “You became the face of this movement. You were the first to show them what was possible. And now you’ll have to do this next part on your own.”

They finished discussing their plans while they filled in the others on what it had been like to battle the demons. They might have no choice but to rely on the Taara Aazheri’s new magic.

“Are people safe here?” Rabin asked. “The children—anyone who can’t fight.”

Farida exchanged a look with Vikas.

“We’ll do everything we can to protect them,” she said.

“Good,” Zarya said before turning to Suvanna and Apsara. “We need your help.”

“Of course,” Apsara said.

“Then let’s go somewhere and talk.”

After saying goodbye and sharing their hopes of seeing one another alive on the other side, they headed for Zarya and Yasen’s flat in the city.

Her heart squeezed when they entered the quiet space. She’d been so happy here with him. She’d wanted to see the world so badly, and it had been even better with her best friend at her side.

She’d found the Rising Phoenix, and she’d made a difference. She’d forgiven Rabin, and they were married, and she loved him more than she could put into words.

But she was about to lose him.

She was about to lose all of this.

“Tell us what’s going on,” Suvanna said, wasting no time.

Zarya nodded and twisted her fingers together in nervousness.

“Zarya, please,” Apsara said. “You’re worrying me.”

She then explained the rest of Abishek’s deception and how Loka had visited her in her dreams. She avoided meeting Rabin’s gaze while she talked, knowing she couldn’t bear what she’d read on his face.

“You want us to kill you?” Suvanna said after Zarya was done talking, her expression hard. “No. Absolutely not.”

“There’s no other way,” Zarya said. Finally, she ventured a look in Rabin’s direction. A muscle feathered in his jaw, and his eyes were as dark as midnight.