Page 91 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

Yasen and Row explored the twisting vines and corridors of Amrita’s roots, assessing how deep the darkness had penetrated. They’d been down here for hours, searching the vast organic network, coming up on more bad news at every turn.

“We’re sure this didn’t happen last time?” Yasen asked as they crossed into a cavern where black rot crept up from the floor, stretching towards the ceiling. He spun around and shook his head. He couldn’t shake the feeling that a thousand invisible eyes were following them.

“I’m sure,” Row said. “Rani Vasvi’s roots were examined regularly. We would have noticed this.”

“Yeah,” Yasen said. “We did, too.” They crossed down another path to find more rot spreading in every direction. “Unless it was too insignificant to notice.”

“I suppose that’s possible,” Row said. “But the blight existed for decades. This started weeks ago. Even if we’d seen this last time, the rate of growth is alarming. Why is it moving so quickly?”

Yasen blew out a heavy breath. “Because something even worse is happening?”

Row exhaled a wry huff. “It does seem that way, doesn’t it?”

“Do you think the swamp returned to the surface?” Yasen asked.

They rounded a corner, and Yasen nearly wept to find a patch of clear roots, pristine and nearly white, glowing with the pearlescent sheen.

He crossed the cavern, laying his hand on the line where the rot gave way to healthy roots. He’d never had rakshasa magic, but he still had the same connection to the earth’s plants and flowers. Though most people didn’t feel it, they gave off an energy specific to their strength and vitality.

Yasen felt it. The frequency telling him that Amrita was suffering. Maybe even dying.

“What will happen to the baby?” Yasen asked.

Row shook his head, pressing his mouth in a thin line. “We might need to call for Koura. But first, I think we should check the swamps.”

Yasen studied the ceiling, twisting with a network of roots and vines. “Do you think Vik knows about this?”

Their gazes met, neither wanting to voice their thoughts out loud.

It seemed impossible that Vikram could have missed this, but he wasn’t himself.

“Only one way to find out,” Row answered, his expression dark with worry.

When they entered the throne room, they discovered Vikram had returned to his apartments to lie down since he felt ill. He’d left behind a circle of armed guards, who stood watch over Amrita and her baby. They let Row and Yasen know that Vikram had invited them for supper later and that Row had indeed been pardoned from his transgression in the library.

Row pressed his hand together in thanks at that news, but Yasen was fairly certain he’d never intended to cooperate with his arrest.

Once they accepted Vik’s invitation, they prepared to visit the shoreline. Row held out his hand while Yasen wrinkled his nose. “Not this again.”

“You can stay here and do nothing if you prefer,” Row said rather pointedly.

He wasn’t a dick. In fact, he was a pretty decent guy, especially once you got to know him, but he also didn’t suffer fools.

“Fine,” Yasen said. He gripped Row’s hand, and a second later, it felt like someone was ripping out his spleen while also squeezing his organs to the point of rupture. Though Row claimed it took only seconds, it felt infinitely longer before they found themselves standing on the beach where Zarya had once lived.

Yasen inhaled a sharp breath at the sight, strangely moved to be standing here.

He’d heard Zarya talk about this place so many times but seeing it in person felt like glimpsing a piece of her soul. It felt especially strange to be here without her.

He stared out at the sea he knew she loved so much and the house where she’d felt like she was living in a cage. It was pleasant here. Pretty and calm. The breeze was fresh, and the greenery was lush, but it was lonely. He could understand why she’d hated it so much.

She wanted to be around people. She wanted to feel life. She wanted to feel everything.

“So, this is where you kept her, hey?” Yasen drawled.

“Don’t start with me,” Row grumbled as he turned and stalked towards the cottage.

“Weren’t you supposed to burn it down?” Yasen continued, but Row ignored the question as he passed the house and crossed into the trees.