Page 84 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

“How long have they been there?” Row asked.

Vikram shook his head. “Not long. A few weeks?” He rubbed his chest, and the pit in Yasen’s stomach grew.

“Let’s check her roots,” Row said. “I… think we should go below.”

Yasen nodded as he stared up again. When the blight had broken through decades ago, it hadn’t touched the queen. What did this mean?

“We’re going to look around,” Yasen said, addressing Vikram. “Okay?”

“Of course. You’ll join me for dinner after you get some rest?”

“Sure,” Yasen said, and then they veritably stumbled out of the Jai Tree and into the courtyard. Again, Yasen scanned overhead, searching for signs of the rot.

“Do you see anything?” Row asked before Yasen pointed.

There it was again—the faintest black outline around the shimmering flower petals.

“What does it mean?” Yasen asked. “We’re sure this didn’t happen last time?”

Row shook his head. “I’d stake my life on it,” he answered.

“Let’s go down.”

A row of soldiers approached, clearly intent on arresting Row as promised.

“The steward pardoned him,” Yasen said quickly. They really didn’t have time for this nonsense.

The soldier in front opened his mouth, but Yasen waved him off. “Go and ask him yourself. Until then, we have more important things to worry about.”

Then they brushed past, entered the palace, and approached one of the staircases leading to Amrita’s roots. Yasen held his breath as they circled down the tight spiral to be greeted by a terrifying sight.

The blight had found its way back into Dharati.

Blackened roots spread before them, everything covered in the rot that had plagued Daragaab for years.

Yasen exhaled a shocked breath as his heart beat against his ribs.

The darkness.

It had returned.

TWENTY-SIX

It took two more days for Kishore to summon Zarya and Rabin for the rebinding of their Bandhan. He’d asked them to wear something to give him free access to their backs, chests, and shoulders, so they’d opted for robes layered over their undergarments.

“Ready?” Zarya asked as she tied up her hair to get it out of the way.

“The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get out of here,” Rabin answered. She watched him pull his robe over his shoulders and tie it loosely at his waist.

“Rabin…”

He furrowed his brows, obviously predicting what she’d say next.

They’d had this argument several times already.

Zarya wanted to return to Ishaan but was desperate to find the tower from her dream. The longer their search went on, the more skeptical Rabin became. She couldn’t blame him, but something told her it was real.

A knock came at the door, and Urvi slipped inside with fresh towels for the bathroom.