Page 20 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin (The Nightfire Quartet #4)

NINETEEN

Dinner was a drawn-out affair. Abishek dominated most of the conversation, chatting with his higher-ranking nobles while Amir listened, and Zarya and Rabin sat mostly silent. As usual, Abishek tried to include her in the conversation, but she wasn’t in the mood tonight.

She was worried about Rabin. About their bond. About the resistance and the fact that they’d lingered here for too long.

The king caught her eye, his gaze brimming with concern, and she shook her head slightly to indicate that she was fine.

He took the hint and left her to her thoughts. She marveled at how well he could read her. Amir was happy to take her place, injecting himself into the conversation until Rabin started interrupting him every time he spoke, forcing him to give up. He sneered at Rabin, his expression petulant as he sat back and folded his arms.

When Abishek’s friends began asking Zarya and Rabin about the paramadhar bond, it was Amir’s turn to interfere until Rabin threw him a glare so withering that he finally shut up.

Zarya politely answered their queries while Rabin simply nodded, his shoulders tense and his jaw hard.

As the conversation continued, the fairies resumed their entertainment, moving through the crowd and offering favors to interested guests.

Zarya had difficulty taking her eyes off them as heat swirled below her navel. Rabin was conversing with a man across the table, asking about the process of the Bandhan and the procedure they’d undergone with Thriti.

Well, conversing might have been too strong a word. The man kept asking questions, and Rabin kept returning a series of short grunts resembling affirmative or negative answers.

What he needed was something to take his mind off things.

Her gaze once again slid to the fairies and their sensual dance before her hand landed on his knee. She felt him tense, his breath hitching as she walked her fingers up the inside of his thigh.

“And what words did the mystic recite?” the Aazheri asked. “Was it a song or a poem, perhaps?”

“Words?” Rabin asked, his voice dipping noticeably as her hand traveled higher, her fingertips gently brushing the bulge between his legs.

He cleared his throat as the Aazheri repeated his question while she made small circles, her fingers inching closer. Rabin shifted, his shoulders rolling. She clamped down on her grin, delighted at how this was throwing him off.

“Yes?” the Aazheri asked. “What did the magic look like? How did it feel?”

“Feel?” Rabin asked as his gaze slid to her for the briefest of seconds, where she detected a hint of What are you doing? in his expression.

“Yes,” the Aazheri asked. “Are you quite all right?”

“I…” Rabin shook his head.

“My honored friends!” Abishek said, standing up, clapping his hands, and rescuing Rabin from further interrogation. “That concludes dinner. We’ll continue with the entertainment if you all take your seats on the other side of the room. You’ve had a small taste of our special guests”—he nodded towards the fairies huddled behind the bars—“and they have so much more to offer.”

He clapped sharply again, ushering in a string of vanshaj servants, all bearing a silver tray covered with dozens of glasses, each one steaming with frothing clouds of white smoke.

“I’ve also procured some bottles of mist wine that I hope you’ll share with me.”

An excited murmur circled the room, followed by the scrape of chairs as everyone stood to snatch a glass. They shuffled to the far end, gathering around the low tables to continue chatting.

“Zarya, are you all right?” Abishek asked, approaching her. “You’ve been quiet this evening.”

“I’m fine, just a bit tired. Go and enjoy yourself. If it’s okay with you, I might head to bed early tonight.”

“Of course,” he answered with a tip of his head. “But have some wine before you leave. You’ll like it very much.”

“Sure,” she said. “Now, enjoy yourself, and don’t worry about me.”

Abishek smiled and grabbed her shoulders before kissing her on each cheek, pulling back, and staring at her. “You’ve made me so happy, my daughter.”

Her heart leaped in her chest every time he said those words, thumping with the force of all the wishes she’d carried for so long.

“Me too,” she answered before Abishek clapped Rabin on the shoulder and then crossed the room to join his guests.

Zarya watched the servants passing glasses of mist wine around the room, noting how the translucent smoke filled the air around them. “What’s mist wine?”

“A mild hallucinogen,” Rabin said. “Very difficult to find. They skim water from the surface of the hot springs when the moon is full and the stars are aligned just right.” He snorted. “Or it’s all bullshit, and someone just told a very good story, adds some drugs to basic spirits, and charges a fortune for it.”

Zarya turned around to notice Amir hovering in her periphery. Oh, for fuck’s sake. Couldn’t he take a hint? Hoping to discourage any further interaction, she turned the other way. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.

“Zarya,” came his clipped voice a moment later. “I hoped you would join me for a walk in the gardens.”

She willed patience and slowly turned around. “Gardens? It’s a little cold for that, isn’t it?”

“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.

Everyone was enjoying themselves, so why shouldn’t they also indulge?

But she didn’t want the drink. What she wanted was the man who made her blood hot without anything but a look. She waved a hand as mist swirled around them, tiny droplets condensing on her cheeks and clothing.

She watched the king speaking intently with someone while someone else tried to get his attention. He was completely occupied and seemed to have forgotten all about Zarya, Rabin, and even Amir for the night. She was confused and angry about the Amir situation, but she refused to let it ruin the rest of the evening.

Zarya’s gaze slid to Rabin, who turned to face the table, one hand on the surface, his frame coiled with tension, obviously still angry about Amir. His long black hair hung loose tonight, and his black jacket hugged his broad chest like it worshiped him. Gods, how she missed him.

She scooted her chair a bit closer.

Rabin gave her a side-eyed look.

Again, she gently placed her hand on his thigh and then dragged it up.

“Spitfire,” he growled in a low voice. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” she said innocently as she tiptoed another step, her finger brushing the swell between his thighs. He made that low rumble in his throat that always made her stomach clench.

His golden-flecked gaze twitched, a midnight eyebrow raising a fraction. She smiled and leaned forward, bracing an elbow on the table while her hand continued trailing along the inside of his thigh and then between his legs.

She felt him trying not to react as his fist clenched on the table. When she gently applied pressure, he stiffened under her hand. “If you don’t stop that, I’m going to drag you out of here and fuck you in the first dark corner I find,” he said in a raw voice.

With a sweet smile, she looked up. “Is that supposed to deter me?” She rubbed him harder, and despite his protests, he spread his legs a little wider. She bit her lower lip as their eyes locked, and the room’s noise faded behind them.

“Someone might see you,” he said, his voice low.

“So let them see,” she said as her hand slid higher. She didn’t care anymore. He was hers, and she wanted everyone to know it. She gripped his cock, and he grunted as it grew thicker and harder under her attention. “We’re telling him tomorrow, anyway.”

Rabin gave her another side-eyed look.

“This is ridiculous,” she said. “We’re adults. We’re married .”

She glanced at Abishek holding court in the corner of the room through the hazy mist.

She returned her attention to Rabin. “Don’t you agree?”

Rabin nodded. “He won’t be happy I defied him.”

Zarya blew out a breath when she caught the expression on his face. “We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“No, I do,” he said. “I owe your father so much, but I don’t owe him this . I don’t owe him you . You and I are a done deal.”

He stared into her eyes and then offered her the barest hint of a reassuring smile.

“Okay, good,” she said. “Then where were we?”

“Fuck,” Rabin said, his voice rough. “You need to stop that, or I’m going to lose my mind.”

Her smile turned wolfish, and she pulled her hand away. “Fine.” Hands pressing against the table, she stood and walked away, feeling Rabin’s eyes burn into her back.

On quick feet, she headed towards her room. She was about halfway there when she heard him. Arms circled her waist, and she squealed as he lifted her up and carried her the rest of the way before throwing open her door and locking it behind him.

“I need you,” she breathed as he set her down and flattened her to the wall with his body. “I miss you.”

He dragged up her skirt and cupped her between her thighs before he yanked her panties aside. “Spitfire, if I can’t fuck this pussy tonight, I’ll lose my damn mind.”

Then he crushed himself to her again as his finger thrust into her already wet core. He sucked on her throat as her hips arched with a moan. He fingered her roughly for a few strokes, plunging deep as she whimpered.

Then he stepped back and raked his gaze over her body.

“Take off your clothes,” he ordered in that bossy way that always made her a little breathless and totally helpless. She began undoing the ties on the beautiful red skirt before stepping out of it and pulled off her top. A low growl emanated from his throat.

“Back to the wall,” he said, stepping closer. “Hands over your head.”

Fire pooled in her stomach as she did what he asked, stretching up and causing her breasts to peak. He licked his lips, his nose flaring before he curled a fist. She watched green vines grow from the walls, snaking around her wrists and pinning her arms in place.

He smirked as he took her in, his tactile gaze wandering over her, and he then approached, running a warm hand over her ribcage and down her hip. He unbuttoned his jacket and removed his pants, his eyes never leaving hers.

When he was naked, she took a moment to appreciate him as she studied the hard lines and planes of his chest and stomach, along with the tattoos that ran down his arms and the dragon stretching over his ribs.

Her heart beat faster, fluttering against her ribs as he moved closer. She was so fucking in love with him, and he took her breath away every time.

“You were very naughty tonight, Spitfire,” he said, his body so close but not quite touching. It was driving her crazy.

“Is there a problem, Commander?”

He smirked. “Only if you stop,” he said and ran a finger down her throat, slowly dragging it down between her breasts and her stomach, stopping below her navel, where he traced a lazy circle.

She grunted in protest, struggling against the vines holding her in place, and he let out a low, wicked laugh.

“What do you want, Zarya?”

“Touch me.”

“I am touching you.” He stepped closer, his body pressing against hers, hard and smooth and hot. She shivered from her toes to the roots of her hair.

“Touch me where I need you.”

His mouth met hers as his hand slid lower, finding her wet center.

“Gods,” she said, her head falling back against the wall as he circled his thumb over her clit.

His mouth traveled down the side of her throat and to her breast, where he took a nipple in his mouth and bit gently as he slipped a finger inside her. Her back curved as his other hand grabbed her ass and squeezed.

He slid lower as he fell to his knees and looked up, their gazes locking. “You are so beautiful, Spitfire,” he whispered. A hand hooked under the back of her thigh, and he propped her knee over his shoulder.

Without pausing, he swept his tongue over her pussy, and she cried out. Her hips arched forward, attempting to seek more friction, but he kept his touch light, driving her wild. How she longed to grab his head and move him where she wanted, but his magic kept her dangling on the edge of madness.

Hips writhing, she squirmed as he ran a rough tongue over her clit and then finally increased the pressure with his hands pressed into her backside as she rode against his face.

He slid two fingers inside her, and an ache ripped through her very bones. Curling his fingers, he tugged on her clit with his teeth, and she burst apart as she came in a shower of sparks. Waves crested, crashing against each other, and her knees almost gave out, but for the vines still holding her in place.

A moment later, his magic snapped away, and she collapsed. He caught her in his arms and kissed her, his mouth hungry and devouring.

“My turn,” she whispered, and he lifted a brow.

“Your turn to what?”

She offered him a feral smile as she filtered out a thread of dense shadows. His answer was a smirk as she placed a hand on his chest and backed him up until he fell onto the bed.

“What are you doing, Spitfire? I’m the one in charge here.”

She snorted a small laugh. “Not this time.”

Then she pulled on a thread of her shadows and circled his wrists before binding them to the bedposts. It was time to return the favor. He studied the swirl of her smoky magic as he turned those golden-flecked eyes her way. She loved watching the way they sparked and danced when he was happy or angry, or horny.

Or really, any time he was feeling something.

Then she dragged out another tendril of magic and used it to tease her way down his torso, circling his nipples and tickling the trail of hair that led under his navel and to his cock bobbing against his stomach. She licked her lips as she contemplated the dusky head and the veins running over its thick length.

“Zarya,” Rabin growled as he tugged on his restraints to no avail. She ignored him as she directed the thread of her shadow magic lower and then circled his cock, pulling her magic tight. He made a sound resembling something between a gasp and part choking on his tongue.

“How does that feel?” she asked softly while he met her with his burning gaze.

“Like I’m being turned inside out in the best possible fucking way.”

She smiled and then approached, using her magic to drag up and down his length. He pulled against his restraints, and his head tipped back. She watched a sheen of sweat surface on his skin while she pumped him with the thread of her shadows.

She wanted to touch him but was also enjoying watching this too much. She continued working his cock as the tendons in his neck stood out, and then she slowly moved closer, straddling one knee over his hips and then the other.

“Who’s in charge this time?” she asked, and he smirked as she tugged out another shuddering moan.

“I think it might be you,” he gasped, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

Then she positioned herself over his erection, taking him in her hand while her shadows swirled. She positioned him at her entrance and then slowly lowered herself. She gasped as it all came together. His wide cock and her spinning magic filled her up, touching her in every secret place that had her knees turning weak and her fingers tingling.

“Fuck, that’s so tight,” he whimpered. “What are you doing to me?”

“I’m not even sure,” she answered truthfully. She’d wanted to see what it would feel like, and the combination was mind-numbing and earth-shattering at the same time. She could feel her release cresting again.

“Can I have my hands back?” he begged, and she freed him immediately before they came to her hips, his fingers digging into her skin. He thrust up into her as they moved together, and her shadows spun around them, adding just the right amount of pressure.

She tipped her head against his, and then they both seized as one, coming together in a bright flash that left her breathless and her head spinning. She rode him as he thrust his hips until they both stopped panting.

“Fuck,” he said before he kissed her. “We are doing that again.”

“Now?” she asked, laughing.

“In just a minute,” he said. “Let me catch my breath.”

Then he smirked. “I told you the darkness was nothing to fear.”