Page 67 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

Miraan opened his mouth and then closed it while considering how to respond. “I had to,” he said. “I couldn’t sit idle anymore. You know I’m right.”

Talin stared at his brother, his expression blank, before he blew out a long sigh. Yasen couldn’t decide what he read in the younger prince’s demeanor. Confusion perhaps. A touch of betrayal. But also grim resignation.

“I’m to retrieve your amulet.” He said the words carefully as if he wasn’t sure how Miraan would react.

Miraan nodded, reached into his kurta, and revealed the token dangling from a chain around his neck.

“I’m sorry,” Talin said. “She insists.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Miraan said as he pulled the chain over his head and handed it to his brother. “Though, I’d rather hoped she’d demonstrate some goodwill by allowing me to keep it.”

Yasen didn’t know much about how it all worked, but he did know the palace’s blue stone suppressed magic. Only members of the immediate royal family and those they deemed worthy possessed an amulet to nullify the effects. Without Miraan’s magic, they were truly entering defenseless.

“You know how she can be,” Talin said as his curious gaze fell on Yasen.

“This is Lieutenant Yasen Varghese of Daragaab,” Miraan said. “My… friend.”

Yasen’s gaze slid to Miraan, unsure what to make of his hesitation.

“Weren’t you in our dungeons?” Talin asked, narrowing his eyes.

“I was,” Yasen said. “It was an honor to experience the famous Madan hospitality.”

Miraan shot him an exasperated look, but Yasen only grinned.

Talin pressed his hands together and bowed. “Welcome back, I suppose.”

“Thanks,” Yasen said. “I’m here to watch his back in case your charming sister decides to stick a knife in it.”

Talin arched a brow. Yasen knew it was impertinent, perhaps even bordering on treasonous, to speak of the princess this way, but he’d never cared much about rules or decorum. He often woke up wondering how he’d managed to escape the end of a noose or a blade, but he’d enjoy his days while he had them.

“Fair enough,” Talin said, tipping his chin before spinning on his heel. “You’d better come with me, then. She’s waiting for you.”

Miraan and Yasen exchanged wary looks while the guards surrounded them. They had been allowed to keep their weapons, but it was only for show. Without Miraan’s magic, they were vastly outnumbered.

As they walked, Talin snuck anxious glances over his shoulder, and Yasen suspected he was uncomfortable treating his brother like a criminal. Miraan had only spoken briefly about his relationship with his family, but Yasen knew that despite the brothers being very different, they were also close friends.

Perhaps Talin was hurt that Miraan had never confided in him about the Rising Phoenix, but he had to understand why his brother had to keep his actions a secret, even from those closest to him. Yasen looked at Miraan, who met his gaze. He tried to offer a reassuring smile, but Miraan’s expression remained stoic.

“Is she really bringing in another army?” Miraan asked.

Talin shook his head. “Someone arrived, cloaked and hooded, to meet with her.”

“Who was it?”

“No one knows but her,” Talin said. “Only two blindfolded healers were allowed to accompany her to the meeting.”

Yasen’s brow furrowed. Who would be acting with such secrecy?

“But yes,” Talin continued. “I believe she intends to invite them into Ishaan.”

“It will be a massacre,” Miraan said softly.

Talin pressed his mouth together. “Possibly.”

They turned a corner and approached a massive set of wide doors painted white and gilded with flowers. Four guards flanked the entrance, also wearing white uniforms trimmed in silver. The queensguard.

Yasen wondered how long their mother’s body had been cold—metaphorically speaking—before Dishani had claimed these quarters that didn’t technically belong to her.