Page 167 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

Despite everything, this was where she belonged.

She was still Gi’ana’s true queen.

Queensguards flanked the doorway, and as Zarya, Row, and Rabin approached, they immediately opened a door to allow them inside.

The room was dim, with the curtains drawn and dozens of servants scattered about. In the center of the room sat a long, curved divan, and on it was a woman—Asha, her mother.

She looked much healthier already; Zarya could only assume Ekaja was responsible for that.

At their entrance, Asha looked up. She was surrounded by her family, who glanced at Row and Zarya and then moved away to allow them a chance to speak with the queen. Zarya nodded a thank you and then turned to her mother.

Her breath caught at the reflection in her dark brown eyes. It felt like she could see lifetimes buried in their depths. Pain and loss and sorrow. But also… hope.

Asha spotted Row first. So many emotions flashed across her expression as she sat up straighter and blinked several times as if willing the sight to be real.

Zarya’s chest squeezed.

So many people had told her how much she looked like Asha, but now she really saw it. Cleaned up without blood and dirt covering her face, Asha truly was Zarya’s near mirror image.

“Row,” Asha whispered on a breath that seemed to echo all the years they’d been separated.

Zarya watched him. This man who’d been her father. He couldn’t seem to move as he stared at Asha like she’d risen from the ashes. In a way, she had.

Asha was crying, tears coating her face. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

Zarya moved closer to Row and gave him a little nudge.

That snapped him back to reality.

“Asha,” he said, his voice cracking. “My love. My heart.”

He crossed the room and fell to his knees, laying his head on her lap and wrapping his arms around her waist. She dropped her head to his, her shoulders trembling.

He was sobbing. She was sobbing. Almost everyone in the room was sobbing.

“I searched for you,” Row gasped. “For twenty years, I looked for you. I almost gave up hope.” They shook as they clung to one another. “I had no idea he had you,” he continued. “I’m so sorry. I should have found you.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” she whispered. “I never gave up hope I’d see you again.”

Zarya met the gazes of the Madans: her half-siblings and Kabir. In amongst the turmoil of the last several months, she’d gained another family, too.

“I did what you asked,” Row said, looking up at Asha. “I protected her. Abishek nearly killed her, but I stopped him. I made so many mistakes, but she’s safe now.”

“I knew you would,” she said, brushing her hand down his face. “There was no one else I could trust.”

Row turned to face Zarya, pride shining in his eyes.

“I’d like to introduce you to your daughter,” he said, almost choking on the words and gesturing towards her.

That’s when Asha’s gaze fell on her, and Zarya felt the ground shift beneath her feet.

“Zarya,” she whispered as tears spilled down her cheeks. She stared at Zarya and shook her head. “You’re so beautiful. Can you ever forgive me?”

Zarya moved closer. “There’s nothing to forgive,” she whispered. “None of this was your fault, any more than mine. Row cared for me, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better. I understand why you had to do it.”

Asha sobbed harder. She could barely catch her breath.

“Please,” Asha said, holding out her arms. “I haven’t held you in twenty years.”