Page 51 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“I’m positive. There’s someone back in… Ishaan.”

The lie clogged in her throat, and she wondered how much longer Rabin would insist they maintain this ruse. Surely, with everything Abishek knew, this hardly mattered in the bigger picture.

“I see,” Abishek said, and she couldn’t determine anything from the tone in his voice. “I should like to meet the lucky Aazheri.”

She rubbed the tip of her nose. “What makes you think he’s Aazheri?”

Abishek blinked. “No daughter of mine will dilute her bloodline by breeding with anyone but an Aazheri.”

Zarya frowned. “Who said anything about breeding? And don’t you think that’s a little… reductive?”

Abishek’s gaze darkened. “I have spent my life protecting the power of Aazheri, Zarya, including keeping our bloodline pure. When the time is right, you will marry an Aazheri. One with strong magic. Amir would be the perfect choice.”

She stared at the king, every response she could think of withering on her tongue. She had no idea how to respond. Obviously, she would never concede to this demand. So, she brushed past it, eager to change the subject, and asked, “Have you heard from Kishore yet?”

Amir and Abishek’s notions of who she should marry would become a distant memory once they met with the mystic and left.

“In fact, I have,” Abishek said. “He shall return in two days.”

“Two days? For sure this time?” she asked. “Because we’ve delayed enough.”

He nodded. “I understand. If you’ll just hang on a little longer. Perhaps I might examine your marking again? I want to ensure the bond hasn’t deteriorated any further.”

Zarya shifted in her seat, feeling the weight of the dragon tattooed on her shoulder. “You don’t need Rabin here for this?”

“It would give me a clearer picture, but I can get a sense with only your tattoo.”

“Okay,” she said, tugging down the sleeve of her top as Abishek stood and circled behind her. She stared ahead and felt him gently lay a hand on her shoulder, his skin cool and dry. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the dragon, wondering if she could feel it, too. Was there some way to tell if the corruption was growing worse?

She felt nothing. Not the echoing tie that bound her to Rabin like she had two souls living inside her. Their connection was still blocked.

“You still haven’t been able to access the mind plane?” he asked as if reading her thoughts.

“No,” she answered.

Abishek probed her skin along the lines of the marking for another minute with his clinical touch. She heard him make a soft noise of concern before withdrawing his hand and circling back to take the chair across from her.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s as I feared. I sense the corruption within the bond is deepening.”

Zarya swallowed a knot of anxiousness at that declaration. “Is it much worse?”

Abishek shook his head. “Not so much that the effects are irreversible, but I am growing concerned. You haven’t noticed anything amiss with your magic?” He sat forward, bracing his elbows on the table with lines of concern marring his forehead.

“No,” she said, shaking her head.

“What about the visions?” he asked. “Have they changed or increased in frequency?”

She nodded. “They come more than ever.” She rubbed her arms, suddenly feeling a chill in the air. “You haven’t noticed anything unusual within your borders? Creatures that don’t belong here?”

Abishek shook his head. “Zarya, the blight isn’t returning. I assure you.”

Zarya rubbed her nose and sighed.

Surely, you’ve realized by now that you are responsible for all of this? That the darkness lives in you?

“Zarya,” he said after another moment, his tone patient and kind. “Do you really think you are responsible for a plague spreading through all of Rahajhan?”

He studied her, worry entering his expression. His look was warm and full of what might be called protection. She shook her head, feeling tears press the backs of her eyes as she let out an amused huff.