Page 56 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“Yes,” she whispered. “Please. Do it.”

Gods, how could he resist when she begged for it? He whipped his hips back and then thrust into her again, bottoming out as his teeth sank into her skin. Warmth filled his mouth, her blood sparking through all his senses.

He would never get over how she tasted so alive and electric. Like storm clouds and sunrays, all twisting together. As he drank, he continued fucking her, thrusting his hips over and over.

She gripped his shoulders as she met him, her hips slamming against his.

He could feel her nearing the edge. Her breath fluttered out in tight gasps. His release tightened, a tingle running across his back as he pulled his teeth out and slanted his mouth to hers.

She’d taste her blood on his tongue, and he wanted her to experience this singular flavor. She moaned into his mouth as he thrust again, and then she cried out as he felt her tighten around him.

The pressure was insane, his brain whiting out as he continued pumping into her, and then a moment later, his release broke out of him in a shudder. They kissed under the moonlight as they slowly caught their breaths.

Then he pulled away and stared into her eyes. She’d been terrified that he’d leave her an hour ago. He knew she wasn’t evil. He knew that she would never do anything like the Ashvins.

Everyone was tested sometimes, but Zarya would never fall.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and he sensed so many things buried in those words. He didn’t need thanking. He should be the one on his knees.

He looked down and smiled at her. He was worried about her visions, too.

Something was happening that neither of them could explain, but they’d have to tear him apart piece by piece before he’d ever walk away.

SEVENTEEN

Yasen and Miraan followed Ajay and Row through the streets of Ishaan, passing through the chaos churning around every corner. Miraan wore a scarf over his mouth, nose, and hair, leaving only his eyes uncovered, hoping to avoid recognition.

Posters hung all over the city, hammered with purpose by the royal guards in their crisp, emerald sherwanis. One half featured the likeness of Miraan’s serious face, and the other half bore Zarya’s.

The words traitors wanted for treason were printed across them in bright red ink.

These were no hazy illustrations. They had every detail of Zarya’s face accurate down to the last freckle.

Yasen worried that if she set a toe over the borders of Gi’ana, Dishani would drop shrieking out of the sky. He did think “traitors wanted for treason” sounded a little redundant, though. Who was editing these things back in the palace?

Yasen also wore a hood to obscure his features, namely his bright silver hair. Despite his role in rescuing Zarya and the prince from Dishani’s clutches, it didn’t appear he’d made the priority list of traitors for now.

He was trying not to be offended.

Miraan stared at a poster, his dark eyes shining with the threat of tears before he turned and walked away, leaving Yasen to catch up. They passed through the wreckage of Ishaan: the burned-out buildings, the broken-down carts and fruit stands, the crying women and children.

Had they made everything worse in the name of progress?

Could anyone stand here and say they were better off?

After arriving in Ishaan last night, they’d all chatted for a while before Ajay and Row promised to take them to their new hiding place.

They turned a corner, passing through a square where a giant jade astrolabe dominated the center, surrounded by flower boxes that a few weeks ago had been bursting with the last of summer’s blooms.

Ajay then ducked down a dark alley, and they walked in single file until they came to a gate set into the city wall. He used a bit of magic to unlock it, and they found themselves in a dense section of forest.

Without saying a word, they continued through the trees as the sun rose overhead. Yasen lost track of time but estimated it was about an hour before Ajay said, “We’re nearly there.”

Finally, they emerged to find an encampment swarming with people. Makeshift tents had been erected while dozens of bedrolls lay lined up in neat rows on the ground.

“You did this all in such a short time?” Miraan asked, his voice hushed to a whisper.

“We had no choice,” Ajay answered. “The Jadugara were coming for them.”