Page 36 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“I want to stay with you tonight,” she whispered, and she felt him nod. “I know you’re worried about the king…”

“Just try to leave me, Spitfire.”

She exhaled a sigh of relief and snuggled up against him before falling asleep in his arms.

When Zarya awoke, it was still early, with the sun sitting below the horizon. She decided to return to her room to maintain the facade of their platonic relationship. Rabin still wanted to keep this from Abishek, and she’d respect his wish until he was ready.

Rabin was still asleep, so she leaned over and kissed him softly, noting the dark circles under his eyes. Something was definitely wrong. She stared at him with her heart twisting into knots. What would she do without him?

Finally, she dragged herself out of bed and tiptoed back to her room.

After she’d dressed, Urvi arrived with breakfast and a note from the king.

Kishore had been delayed another two days.

As Zarya stared at the king’s writing, she tried not to panic about Rabin or Ishaan. Miraan wouldn’t be placated much longer, particularly with reports about the Jadugara snatching up Taara Aazheri and attempting to re-collar them. No one knew if they’d been successful yet, but they were hell-bent on punishing anyone who’d escaped their barbaric enchantments.

Determined to find out how much longer they’d be waiting, she went to find the king, but his manservant Omar informed her that he wasn’t currently available. In a huff of frustration, she returned to Rabin’s room, where she found him lying on the sofa, his eyes closed and his skin pale with a sheen of sweat.

She stopped and watched him, another flare of dread swelling in her gut. She walked over and laid a hand on his forehead as his lids fluttered open.

“Are you okay?” she asked, and he nodded.

“I’m fine. What’s going on?”

“Kishore’s been delayed again.”

Rabin met her gaze. “Why?”

“I don’t know. I went to find the king, but he’s busy.”

Rabin’s eyes slid closed as he inhaled a short breath to stave off a wave of pain.

“Rabin? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he said, pushing himself up. “Are you heading down to see Dav and Suria soon?”

She nodded as she resisted the urge to argue with him. It was the day she’d agreed to return to free any vanshaj they could gather.

“I’ll come with you.” He pushed himself up.

“You should rest,” she said, and he pinned her with a glare that told her he had no intentions of letting her visit the city alone.

“I’m fine, and I’m coming.”

He wasn’t fine, but she let it lie. He was as stubborn as a mule, but she also suspected he was in denial about his condition.

They entered the city and headed to the inn to find Dav and Suria, who had rounded up several other vanshaj who made up their fledgling resistance.

After Zarya broke their collars, they thanked her profusely, and she urged them to keep it hidden. With Abishek’s continued reluctance, she couldn’t predict his reaction. There was no doubt that going behind his back would cause more problems than it solved, but she couldn’t sit idle if there were vanshaj willing to seek out her help.

The Jadugara did not make a home in Andhera, which meant they wouldn’t be subject to their scrutiny. She’d been informed they only visited a few times a year, towing “fresh” vanshaj in their wake and offering them up for sale to the nobility. Those who weren’t chosen were simply abandoned here to fend for themselves. The more Zarya heard about the Jadugara, the more she wanted to disembowel every single one personally.

When they were done at Dav and Suria’s inn, Zarya and Rabin passed through the city again.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, clinging to his arm.

He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m… I have a headache.”