Page 31 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

Zarya assessed Dav from head to toe while he returned the gesture.

“The resistance? Here?” she asked. “You never said anything about this.”

“It’s not as organized or as far along as in Ishaan,” Rabin said. “And I confess I wasn’t sure their fight would ever amount to anything, so I never gave it much weight. But then I saw what you all accomplished in Ishaan, and I thought…”

“Rabin,” Dav said, a warning in his tone. “You can’t tell anyone who we are.”

“It’s okay,” Rabin said. “I promise you have nothing to worry about. Zarya is a key member of the Rising Phoenix… but I shouldn’t speak for her.”

He gestured her way, and she inhaled a breath and nodded.

Abishek wasn’t convinced that helping the vanshaj was the right thing yet. But of course, others were working towards vanshaj freedom. If the king refused to help, she might have to work without his consent.

Once she’d relayed the entire story of the Rising Phoenix and what they’d done, Dav’s jaw hung slack, his face completely white.

“You broke the collars,” he said, obvious shock quivering in his voice. “You freed their magic.”

She nodded, twisting her fingers together in nervousness. No matter how often she revealed this secret, it always felt a bit dangerous.

“Could you do it again? Right now?” he asked, practically stumbling towards her. He didn’t seem at all interested in her revelations about the sixth anchor.

“Yes. I could do it as many times as you need.”

Dav opened his mouth and then closed it. “Give me a moment.”

He flung open the door and began shouting orders at everyone seated in the bar. “We’re closed! Everyone out!”

Zarya and Rabin exchanged worried looks as Dav insisted everyone leave, pushing people up from their chairs as they grumbled under their breaths.

“One free drink on the house tomorrow!” he promised. “As long as you get your asses out of here now!” That had the intended effect, and finally, everyone stirred into action. After another minute, the bar was empty.

“I’ll be right back,” Dav said, bounding up a flight of stairs at the room’s far end. Zarya and Rabin waited in the main area before Dav returned with a vanshaj woman in tow.

“This is Suria,” Dav said. “My wife.”

“Your wife?” Zarya asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“Not my wife legally,” he amended. “But my wife in every way that matters.”

He held Suria’s hand to his chest, his voice so full of passion that Zarya felt her throat knot up. Now she understood why he hadn’t cared about the sixth anchor. He had far more important things to worry about.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Zarya said.

“Is it true?” Suria asked. “You can break it?”

“It’s true.”

Suria immediately stepped forward, pulling on the collar of her shirt to expose her throat. “Then help me.”

“Really? You’re sure?”

“Why?” Dav asked. “Is it dangerous?”

“No. It’s not. I just… usually have to work a little harder to convince people.”

Dav looked at Rabin. “You confirm she is honorable?”

“Of course,” Rabin said.