Page 156 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

Memories rushed towards her. The seaside cottage. The day she finally escaped. Meeting Vik and Yasen. Her first kiss. Then Rabin. Everything he’d meant to her. His betrayal and her forgiveness. Falling in love and marrying the only man she’d ever truly want. She craved this life so much. She wanted everything that came next.

So, she fought for it. For this beautiful life she’d found and the beautiful people in it.

And then… her breath exhaled with a soft puff as she came back.

She blinked up at the sky as a tear escaped and slid down her temple.

With another blink, she felt a warm body closing around her. She smelled the earth and fresh, green things. She felt his tears coating her throat and how hard he shook.

But what she felt the most was the endless depth of his love.

She peered down to the top of his head, his dark hair gleaming in silver light.

She lifted her hand, almost surprised when it obeyed her command. She stroked him with the barest touch, causing him to look up.

Her gaze met his, and at that moment, she knew he’d done it.

He looked nearly dead himself, but he’d saved her.

“Zarya,” he growled, and then he was on her, his mouth crashing into hers as her arms folded around him. They kissed and kissed. They’d nearly been lost, but he’d done it. His voice cracked as he whispered her name over and over, kissing her nose and her eyes and her cheeks, then her throat and her hands as he ran his palms over her as if to ensure every piece of her was accounted for.

It took another moment for her to realize they were in Ishaan. The sensation felt like waking up from a very long dream. The sky looked wrong. Black fog hung around them, flashes of dark lightning streaking across the horizon.

Finally, Rabin pulled away and tried to help her sit up. He swayed, stumbling back before she reached out to catch him. They sagged against one another trying to settle their breathing. And that’s when Zarya took in their surroundings.

The five other members of the Chiranjivi stood in a circle, magic flowing from their fingertips. Swirls of shadow, lightning, and starlight crashed around the two men hovering in the middle.

The Ashvins weren’t fully corporeal yet—their translucent forms rippled where they hung, but they had full control of their magic. Streams of nightfire burst from their hands, striking into the fortified walls of the Chiranjivi’s power.

Zarya blinked as her head spun.

So much electricity flew through the air that the hairs on her arms stood up.

“We have to help them,” Rabin said, clutching his chest as his breath sawed in and out.

“Right,” Zarya said, trying to move. Her limbs felt like lead as she heaved onto her hands and knees. Her vision tilted as she sucked in sharp breaths. Gods, neither one of them was in any state to help.

They shared a look, and another bright flash drew their attention.

Apsara screamed as one of the twins flung out a hand, knocking her back. Her magic sliced off as she was thrown from her feet. They tossed Koura through the air next while Suvanna, Row, and Kindle drew deeper into their magic with gritted teeth.

Another strike and Kindle went flying.

A bright flash blinded them all, and Suvanna and Row were hurled back. The twins wasted no time, spiraling high into the air, coasting overhead, their arms raised and their chins pointed up.

They spun in a circle, disappearing as a silver line streaked across the sky towards the mountains.

“They’re heading for their army,” Row croaked.

The Chiranjivi spun around to find Zarya and Rabin on the ground.

“Zarya,” Row breathed, falling to his knees to embrace her. “You’re alive. You’re alive.”

He rocked her back and forth as she clung to him, her head still spinning.

She pulled away. “What happened?”

“The Ashvins appeared as soon as you… died,” Row said. “We tried to contain them, but they’re too strong.”