Page 152 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“Thank you,” she said. “You all helped me on this journey more than you can ever understand. When I came to Dharati, I was so lost and bewildered. You showed me kindness and taught me what honor looks like.”

Her voice cracked as Apsara, Kindle, and Koura all swept in for a hug, wrapping their arms around her. They embraced for a long minute before pulling away. Suvanna watched them with a serious expression.

She tipped her head and scanned Zarya from head to toe. “When I first met you, I thought you were just a silly little girl,” she said. “I’m sorry I called you that, and Rahajhan is lucky to have you.”

Zarya stared at her for several seconds and then barked out a laugh. She was truly on the very edge of breaking down completely. “Thanks,” she said.

Finally, she willed herself to face Rabin, and her heart split in half.

She walked over and laid a hand against his cheek.

“I’ll find you in another life,” he whispered. “No matter where the winds scatter us, I will search across continents and swim through oceans, and I will find you again.”

She nodded. “I know.”

Then she tipped her head forward, pressing it against his chest as she inhaled a deep shuddering breath. Everyone gave them another moment before she forced herself to back away.

They all surrounded her in a circle, looking at each other.

“So…” Kindle said. “What was the plan here?”

“I’m not killing her,” Row said.

“Me neither,” Apsara and Koura chimed in.

“Well, I don’t want to do it,” Kindle argued.

Everyone then looked at Suvanna. She blinked. “What? I don’t want to kill her, either.”

“Well, it can’t be Rabin,” Row said.

Zarya listened to them argue, strangely touched.

But she had anticipated this.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the vial Thriti had given her last night. The mystic hadn’t argued—simply offered what Zarya asked.

Zarya unstoppered the bottle while they were all debating, and her gaze met Rabin’s, who watched on in silence. She lifted the bottle as his eyes widened, and then before anyone could stop her, she tipped the contents into her mouth and swallowed.

“Zarya!” he roared as everyone’s attention swung towards her.

Her vision swam, her mind floating away.

She saw them.

These people who had become her family.

Her father.

And her husband. The love of her life.

Gods, how she hoped she’d see him again.

Then she collapsed, and everything went dark.

FIFTY-THREE

Yasen stood shoulder-to-shoulder between Miraan and Vikas, facing northeast as they waited for the nairatta to appear.