Page 19 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“Why don’t you check out the city?” Zarya suggested. “Take your mind off things?”

“Maybe,” Miraan said.

Yasen offered Zarya an I’ll take care of him look and steered the prince out. She understood why he wanted to return home, but they had to be careful. Dishani undoubtedly had people searching for them, and the princess would have endless reach and resources to draw upon.

Still, Miraan wasn’t without power. Perhaps he could shield the rebellion for long enough to bring Ishaan under control. But could he do that from so far away? And what did control even look like? Zarya was sure this couldn’t end without a complete and total overthrow of everything they’d ever known.

She dressed in a dark blue salwar kameez that Urvi had provided and prepared to meet with her father. When she opened her door, Rabin was already waiting, freshly shaven and showered, wearing a black kurta and leather pants.

“Morning,” she said.

“Spitfire,” he answered in that low, growly voice that did scandalous things to her insides. She wasn’t sure how long she could pretend he meant nothing to her, especially without access to the mind plane.

“Rabin,” she said. “Before we go, I want you to know that I plan to tell the king some things I haven’t shared with you yet. But it’s time you heard them because you have a right to know. Plus, after what happened last night…”

He stared at her briefly, and she wondered if he was hurt or angry that she hadn’t shared all her secrets with him yet. But he dipped his chin. “Then let’s go. The king doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” she quipped with a roll of her eyes as he held out his arm.

With their elbows looped, he led her through the castle and its many black stone corridors. Almost every surface was overlaid with colorful rugs and tapestries, expertly woven with battle scenes and significant moments in Andhera’s history.

She stopped when she noticed one depicting Abishek standing on the dais with hundreds of people surrounding him in his throne room.

“His coronation,” Rabin said, catching the direction of her stare. “His father passed away many centuries ago. He, too, was a very powerful Aazheri.”

His father. Zarya’s grandfather.

She blinked, suddenly feeling the weight of her nameless history. She was connected to an entire network of people she’d never known and never would. Who else was out there waiting to meet her?

“How did he die?” she asked.

“He was much like the king and often experimented with magic. He was found dead in his study, and there was barely any of him left. We can only guess how he met his end, but some say he grew careless and played with forces beyond his grasp.”

Her brow furrowed at the grisly image before she inhaled a deep breath and nodded. “Let’s go.”

They continued their way through the castle, passing numerous vanshaj servants and guards, all dressed in black and stationed at various corners. Their expressions suggested they weren’t entirely sure what to make of either of them.

“Can we see the city before we leave?” she asked Rabin as they passed a window, revealing the busy streets below. She couldn’t bear the thought of missing out on a quick visit.

“Of course,” Rabin said. “Yasen and Miraan are headed down there now. We can join them for lunch in a few hours.”

“They want to return to Ishaan right away,” she said.

“I know. Miraan shared his worries with me. He’s… troubled.”

“I’d say he’s more than that,” she answered as they rounded another corner.

“Do you want to join them?” Rabin asked. “Now that you’re here, how do you feel about staying for a while?”

The question was guarded, almost as if he was probing for a specific answer.

“I do want to return. I want to spend time here, too, but I’m worried about the Phoenix. I promised Miraan we’d leave once I get the answers I need.”

Rabin nodded. “We won’t abandon them. We will return to finish what we started.”

She squeezed his bicep. “We knew our visit was only temporary. I just didn’t count on having to leave so soon.”

Finally, they came to a stop before a set of wide doors flanked by two armed soldiers. After bending at the waist, one opened a door, and Zarya and Rabin entered a long, wide hallway made of black stone and adorned with colorful enamel art, directly contrasting the monotone hues of Andhera’s landscape.