Page 158 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“Loka told me it had to be all of us,” Zarya said. “That we could stop them together. I think we need to join our power like we did when we saved Amrita from the blight.”

Everyone shared an uncertain look.

It seemed like a long shot, but all they could do was try.

Zarya began walking closer to the battle while the others followed a moment later. In the distance, she spied Yasen and Miraan fighting back-to-back against a pair of snarling nairatta.

She limped towards him, clutching her chest, nearly on the verge of collapse. Yasen arced his sword over his head and brought it down, slicing through the demon’s shoulder before it collapsed at his feet.

“Yas!” she called, her voice cracking.

He looked up immediately and started running. “Zee!” he shouted. “What happened?”

She collapsed against him, squeezing his biceps, and pressed her forehead against his chest to catch her breath. When she was steady, she looked up. “I’ll explain everything if we get the chance. I need you to protect us.”

She gestured to the Chiranjivi, and he understood her request immediately.

He began shouting orders to form a circle around Zarya and the others. Everyone shuffled in quickly, weapons ready. Zarya caught sight of Vikas and she lifted a hand to wave as he dipped his chin before he spun around to ward off another demon attack.

She looked back to Row and Rabin and then continued deeper into the battle with the line of Chiranjivi behind her.

As they passed, she could feel the weight of everyone’s stares.

The hope in their eyes.

Gods, she hoped she wouldn’t let them down.

When they’d reached the center of the clearing, she stopped. The Ashvins noticed her immediately, and she held their twin dark glares as she stretched her hands out. Rabin and Row took one on each side, and they formed a chain one by one as her eyes never left the twins.

One cocked his head, studying her carefully as she inhaled a deep breath.

Their army circled them in a barrier of protection, but she knew they couldn’t hold on long.

“Ready?” she asked the others.

“Ready,” they answered back.

For what? She wasn’t sure yet.

Her anchors had weakened. But her magic was the key.

Nightfire.

None of this had been an accident or a coincidence.

All of this had been carefully orchestrated for this moment by the gods. Did she care that they’d manipulated her life? She didn’t. Not when it meant she could save them all. Not only the vanshaj, but now everyone, too.

She turned to Rabin. “I need you,” she whispered.

“Anything, Spitfire,” he rumbled.

Through their paramadhar bond, she felt the surge of his strength flow into her. It pulsed in her chest, bringing her anchors back to life. They spun and sparkled in her heart, and she had only a moment to recall the first time this had happened and knew everything was about to change.

Then she started to glow.

Silver starlight surrounded her before spreading to the six others, casting them all into brightness like a line of brilliant stars.

She watched the Ashvins’ smug expressions drop from their faces as their eyes flashed like inky pools of midnight.