Page 175 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“Who’s getting married?” Vikram asked.

“Some friends we met in Ishaan. Rania and Farida. They’re kind of the reason all this began.”

Vikram gave her a watery smile, and they all turned to Amrita.

Zarya walked over and lay a hand on the bark as the queen blinked.

“She says thank you for saving her child,” Vikram said. “And that she’s happy to see all of you.”

Zarya peered up. “I miss you,” she said. “Thank you for being my friend.”

“She says you are a remarkable person and that she’s grateful you came into her life.”

Zarya’s eyes shone with tears as Rabin walked up and wrapped an arm over her shoulders.

“I am, too. I promise to come back and see you soon.”

Then Zarya, Rabin, and Yasen said their last goodbyes before they entered the courtyard.

Without saying a word, Rabin passed through the gates to stand at the end of a long boulevard stretching into the distance. He inhaled a deep breath, studying the city as Yasen and Zarya walked up behind him.

He’d experienced so much pain in this place, but Gopal was dead, and it was time for a new beginning. One that included Zarya and Yasen and the friends they’d found.

“You okay?” she asked, and he peered down to look at her. Gods, she was so beautiful.

He had to find a way to stop blaming himself for what Abishek had done.

For her, he would try to move on.

“I will be,” he answered. “Let’s go home.”

SIXTY-TWO

ONE YEAR LATER

Zarya and Vikas shoved the heavy double doors open and bounded down the university’s front steps. Their grueling semester had just ended, and they were both looking forward to a few months off.

“Did you get that last question?” Vikas asked. “I almost ran out of time.”

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I think so.”

“I’m sure you did,” he said wryly. “How many hours did you study?”

“A million,” she joked, and they laughed.

With their elbows linked, they headed down the path leading to the gate, where she found a most welcome sight.

Rabin leaned against the fence with his arms crossed and one ankle over the other.

She broke into a run and threw her arms around him as he lifted her up and spun her around.

“How did it go?” he asked as Vikas approached.

“She aced it,” Vikas said, and Zarya grinned.

“Maybe,” she answered with a wrinkle of her nose, and the two men started laughing.

“Come on,” Rabin said, taking her hand. “Everyone will be arriving soon.”