Page 63 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“Not at all; it’s quite beautiful when the ice forms.”

Zarya affected a tight smile. “As flattered as I am, I must decline your invitation. And any others,” she added. “I am not available or interested in anything beyond a friendly acquaintance.”

“I beg your pardon,” he asked, his brow furrowing. “Your father…”

“My father?”

“He suggested we meet,” Amir said, and Zarya wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. Had Abishek lied to her?

“Regardless, he doesn’t decide these things for me,” she finished. “Thank you. It was nice meeting you, but we’ll be leaving Andhera soon, anyway.”

She was about to turn away when Zarya saw it all happen in a flash.

Amir reached for her, his clawed fingers nearly wrapping around her arm until another hand stopped him. Rabin stood with his large fist, crushing Amir’s fingers with such force that Zarya was surprised they weren’t already broken.

“Do not touch her,” he snarled in a low voice rippling with bottomless menace.

Zarya’s gaze darted quickly around the room. No one else appeared to notice the exchange, too occupied with their drinks and conversation. “If you even think about touching her again, I will shatter every bone in your miserable fucking body.”

Amir’s nostrils flared, his eyes darkening. She saw a flicker of something. Rabin squeezed his hand, and even over the din of the room, Zarya heard the sick crunch of bone before Amir went pale.

“Get out of here and don’t bother her again,” Rabin whispered before Amir slowly nodded. Rabin released his hand, and without saying another word, Amir quickly turned and left.

When he was gone, Rabin sank into his chair, his eyes burning and his jaw hard enough to crack diamonds.

“What was all that about?” she asked. “I had it under control.”

He looked up at her, but she couldn’t understand the expression on his face. She dropped in her chair and laid a hand on his arm. “Rabin, what is it?”

“He’s a monster, Zarya. He abuses women. Locks them up and chains them down. Beats them and burns them and does all kinds of sick fucking things for his pleasure.”

The words were hollow, his gaze trained on the far wall as if he couldn’t meet her eyes.

Zarya frowned. “Amir? How do you know that?”

“Everyone knows that.”

He paused another beat before his gaze finally slid to hers.

“Including the king?” she asked, something bitter twisting in her chest.

“I don’t know.”

Zarya chewed on her lip as she glanced at the corner where Abishek convened with his nobles. They were all sipping their mist wine, nearly obscured by the fog drifting through the room.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You told me he wasn’t trying to set you up, so I didn’t think it mattered. But I can see he’d prefer someone like Amir for you, and I thought it would hurt knowing your father would ever consider a man like that.”

“It has to be a mistake,” she said. “He can’t have known. This is all because we haven’t told him about us.”

Rabin’s jaw clenched. “Tomorrow. Like I promised.”

Together, they sat in silence while the fairies danced in the center of the room, still weaving their spell over the crowd. She picked up her glass of mist wine and sniffed it. The scent was sweet, with hints of bitterness buried underneath. As she looked about the room, she could tell its effects were already taking hold.

The laughter swelled, and the chatter rose as she watched several people wavering in their seats. The fairies continued dancing, weaving their spell.

She noted Ekaja in the corner, sandwiched between the two female fairies she’d been eyeing earlier. The commander caught Zarya’s eye and winked, causing some of the tension to drain from her body.