Page 41 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“Of course,” Garu said. “I look forward to it.”

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Abishek excused them to continue mingling.

“When can we arrange for the demonstration?” she asked as they walked.

“Soon,” the king assured her. “Let me speak with some of my nobles. It’s best to be cautious about who we share this information with.”

“Okay,” she said, feeling more hopeful than she had in a while.

The king maneuvered their trio around the room, introducing her to dozens of people, each more elegant and refined than the last. They were all fascinated by the Bandhan and the fact they were in the presence of a paramadhar and masatara pairing.

She quickly lost track of the names and faces, hoping no one would notice as she smiled politely and made what she hoped were the appropriate comments for a princess.

She almost laughed the first time someone called her that but managed to restrain herself. The idea was so absurd and far-fetched. She didn’t want to rule a realm. She wanted to go to university. She wanted to live with Rabin in a beautiful house in the heart of the city where she could walk to the market whenever she liked. She wanted to be surrounded by friends and family. She wanted the exact opposite of her previous life.

She couldn’t wait for a different future. The one she’d imagined so many times in her loneliness.

“Rabin,” Abishek finally said after they’d made a complete circuit around the room, and Zarya’s head buzzed with dozens of details she would never remember. “Can you see what’s keeping Ekaja? I hoped she’d speak with Khari tonight. He has acquired a new weapons stash from across the sea, and you know he’ll only deal directly with her.”

Rabin bent at the waist and then looked at Zarya. “Will you be okay for a few minutes?”

“Sure,” she said. She didn’t want him to leave, but it might sound childish if she begged him to stay. What was the worst that could happen within a few minutes?

After Rabin left, Zarya watched the door until he disappeared and returned her attention to Abishek.

“Something to drink?” he asked, and she nodded. He took her arm and led her through the party, finding her a glass of sparkling wine. He tipped his glass against hers with a soft clink. “To our future together, Zarya. I’m so very pleased you’re here, and I do hope you’ll feel comfortable enough to stay for a long time.”

She took a sip as warring emotions twisted in her stomach.

He was planning their futures, and though she also wanted that, she had to leave. Could he understand how important the rebellion was to her? He’d agreed to a wider demonstration, and that had to mean something. Some part of her wondered if Kishore’s supposed delays were actually a plot to keep her here longer, but then she felt guilty for thinking it. He knew why she had to leave.

“I am, too,” she answered as he looked past her.

“Ah! Amir, there you are!”

Zarya turned around to be met by a pair of bright blue eyes and a pretty face with the barest layer of day-old scruff framed by a mane of shaggy black hair.

“Your Majesty,” Amir replied smoothly. “It’s so kind of you to invite me. My mother sends her regards.”

Abishek smiled. “How is the lovely Dipita?” he asked, and Amir grinned.

“Everything ails my mother as usual, but she’ll be pleased to know she was referred to as lovely outside of her hearing and not just because you were goaded into saying so.”

Abishek laughed, but when Zarya looked closer, she noticed how his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes and that his voice was a little too bright. It had been the same way the entire night. He was playing a game, and he was playing it beautifully. How much did he owe to these nobles around the room?

She was fascinated by the king’s behavior because it was the exact opposite of how he behaved with her. He moved through the crowd with ease, remembering everyone’s names and personal details, but she could sense he was also maintaining a careful distance.

In turn, they accepted him with all the politeness due to his station, but there was something reserved in their deference towards him. She remembered what Rabin had told her about enemies on his every side, spreading lies to discredit his position. It was obvious how much of a facade this was, and Zarya didn’t think she cared for any of it.

“Please let me introduce you to Zarya,” the king said, placing a hand on Zarya’s back and gently, if forcefully, moving her closer to Amir.

Amir gave her a bright smile, his gaze traveling up and down as if weighing and assessing the various parts she had to offer.

“So this is the prodigal daughter,” he said in an all-knowing tone she also didn’t care for.

He took her hand and kissed the back while peering up through thick, dark lashes. Amir wore a green sherwani with expensive-looking gold embroidery around the collar and cuffs. An errant lock of black hair fell out of place, and he pushed it back. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zarya. The king told me of your beauty, but he was very modest in his assessment.”

Zarya frowned. “He did?”