Page 90 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

That’s when Zarya realized that’s what she’d been repeating.

Row.

Gods, her heart hurt so much it felt like it would burst. Had Asha been trapped here for decades, missing him? She wanted to tell her that Row still loved her. That he searched every corner of Rahajhan trying to find her, refusing to believe she was gone.

How would Row react when he learned the truth?

“Mother,” she whispered, her voice cracking. It was the only thing she could manage. “Mother.”

She was here. She was alive. How would they get her out? Abishek had clearly locked her up here for twenty years for a reason. But why?

That’s when a noise drew Zarya’s attention. Someone was coming up the stairs. At first, she thought it must be Rabin returning to find her, but the echo of dozens of footsteps floated up the tower as a shiver crept down her spine.

Slowly, she stood, gathering her magic, her anchors spinning in her heart. She stepped in front of her mother, shielding her. She would never let anyone hurt this woman again. She didn’t care what she’d done. She didn’t care what had happened. She would do everything in her power to bring her home.

Dark shadows swirled at her fingertips, prepared to strike as the footsteps drew nearer and nearer.

Zarya inhaled a sharp breath as Abishek, Kishore, and about two dozen of his royal guards appeared on the landing.

“Zarya,” Abishek said. “What are you doing here?” He stepped into the room while the others hung back. She held onto her magic, assessing the situation. She was devoid of weapons, and this was her only defense.

“Where’s Rabin?” she asked.

“He’s waiting for you in my study,” Abishek said. “Why don’t you come with me, and we can go and see him?”

His voice was light, but she was sure she caught a flash of mania in his eyes. Something was up beyond the secret she’d just uncovered in this room.

“Why do you have her locked up in here?” Zarya asked, her voice barely a whisper. “Why have you treated her this way?”

Abishek sighed. “I didn’t want you to learn the truth like this.”

She frowned as her fingers clawed in, clinging to her magic.

“What truth?”

Abishek took another step, and Zarya looked down at Asha lying by her feet. She stared at Abishek with horror in her eyes, her face turning even paler.

“Oh, Zarya,” he said. “I knew.”

He took another step as Zarya’s chest grew tight. She shook her head.

“I don’t understand,” she whispered.

He took another step until he was nearly upon her. She couldn’t move or think.

Her breath stuck in her chest like wet sand.

“Knew what?”

“That you existed from the very beginning.”

And then, he lifted a hand.

Zarya flung out her magic, but it was already too late.

Smoke filled her eyes and lungs and mouth, and then everything went black.

TWENTY-EIGHT