Page 39 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“Additional forces? Where from?” Rabin asked.

Miraan shook his head. “My brother isn’t sure. Dishani held a meeting two days ago, and despite her very delicate condition, she attended alone. A short while later, she announced that more armies would soon join them. They’ll slaughter everyone if I don’t do something.”

Miraan released his grip on Zarya and paced away.

“And I’m not sure it’s safe,” Yasen said.

“I don’t care!” Miraan said. “Don’t you see? I don’t care about my safety. If I die, so be it, but I can’t sit here idle anymore.”

Rabin and Zarya exchanged uncertain looks, while Miraan and Yasen appeared to have a silent conversation.

“Fine,” Yasen said after a moment. “If that’s what you want.”

“You don’t have to come with me,” Miraan said. “I won’t blame you if you want to stay here.”

Zarya noted the way Yasen’s gaze shifted between her and Miraan. She understood he was being forced to choose between them, but she would never expect that.

“You should go with him,” Zarya said, taking the decision out of his hands.

When Yasen opened his mouth to argue, she strode over and grabbed his hand.

“We’ll just be a few days behind. Kishore will return soon. We can deal with the issues with our bond, and then we’ll all be back in Ishaan before you know it.”

“We said we should stick together,” Yasen said almost petulantly.

“I know.” Her hand tightened around his. “And after this, we will. But you should go with Miraan. I have Rabin to take care of me.”

“I don’t know about this,” he said. “How long will you stay?”

“Just until we can ensure the bond is stable,” she said.

Yasen blew out a breath. “Send us letters every chance you get. Every single day. Or I’ll be back here before you can blink.”

Zarya folded her arms and grinned. “Are you worried about me?”

“I’m always worried about you, Zee,” he answered. He said it so seriously that she felt tears burn in her eyes. “Don’t cry.”

“I’m not,” she answered, wiping the corner of her eye with the back of her hand. They smiled at each other, enjoying their silly game. She threw her arms around him.

“Be careful,” she said into his chest.

He smoothed a hand down the back of her head and kissed her temple. “You be careful, too, Swamp Girl.”

TWELVE

Miraan wanted to get going as soon as possible. Rabin left his room, heading for Abishek’s wing to speak with his people about arranging transport. They burst into a flurry of activity at his command. They were used to figuring things out at a moment’s notice.

When he was done, he returned to his wing, where Zarya was helping Yasen and Miraan pack up their things, dressed in her finery. She was like a gorgeous, miraculous butterfly flitting between islands of discarded clothing. The sight amused him so much that he stopped to lean in the doorframe simply to watch her.

Less than an hour later, the carriage was ready.

Zarya and Rabin escorted Yasen and Miraan to the main level of the castle and out through the front doors. Night was falling, and the stars were beginning to appear overhead. Zarya shivered, pulling her sheer dupatta tighter around her shoulders, though the thin material would do nothing to block out the cold.

She hugged Yasen and Miraan goodbye, and they all promised to see each other soon. Rabin hoped that was true, but he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that they shouldn’t be separating and that this might be the last time they saw one another.

But he was being maudlin. He’d felt off ever since their arrival. His body ached, and he was exhausted. Even now, his temple throbbed with a sharp pain he couldn’t seem to shake. He was rakshasa, and these sorts of minor ailments were incredibly rare amongst his kind unless there was some larger force at play.

Finally, Miraan entered the carriage and waited for Yasen to finish his goodbyes. It wouldn’t be as fast as flying, but Abishek’s carriage would see them to Ishaan in less than a week. In a few days, Rabin would fly Zarya to Gi’ana, and they’d meet there at almost the same time.