Page 23 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin (The Nightfire Quartet #4)

TWENTY-TWO

Zarya paced across her room. Her conscience floated lighter, though now she worried about what the king wanted from Rabin. Hopefully, he just needed a chance to talk things out privately. They were close, and their relationship had taken a blow.

The door opened, and Rabin entered before closing it behind him.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “Is everything all right?”

Something about the look on his face had her guard up.

“Yeah,” he answered. “I’m fine. I really thought he’d be angrier, to be honest.”

“Well, he had no right to be,” she answered. “He should never have given that order in the first place. It was overstepping.”

Rabin huffed out a scoff. “As if being right matters to him.”

She noted the bite in his tone. He’d been the one who’d convinced her to come here, extolling the king’s virtues, but ever since they’d touched down on the roof, he’d been behaving very differently.

“Is there something you’re not sharing?” she asked. “You’re…I’m not sure how to put this, but you told me what a great guy my father is, but now that we’re here, you seem kind of suspicious?”

Rabin shook his head and ran a hand down his face. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I did tell you all that, and none of that has changed…”

“But?” she asked, sensing the hesitation in his words.

“I can’t explain it. Ever since we arrived, I have this sixth sense that something is off .”

She stared at him, waiting for him to elaborate.

He shook his head again. “I’m sure it’s nothing. I’m just intent on protecting you and jumping at the slightest sounds.”

“Is it the Bandhan?” she asked. “I know you’re pretending to feel better than you do.”

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine.”

When he didn’t answer, she dropped her shoulders, crossing the room to wrap her arms around his waist. Pressing her cheek to his chest, she listened to the steady beat of his heart.

“I’m glad we told him,” she said. “That it’s finally in the open.”

“I am, too,” he said, murmuring into her hair. “I don’t want to hide the way I feel for you from anyone.”

She peered up at him, searching his face for signs of the sickness he refused to name.

He leaned down to kiss her, his hand sliding up the side of her jaw and then to the nape of her neck. He tipped her head as his tongue probed the seam of her lips, and her mouth opened to welcome him while his hands slid up her back.

When he pulled away a second later, he pressed his forehead to hers. “When we return to Ishaan, do you think we could get another night in that honeymoon suite?”

She laughed. “Perhaps Miraan can swing us another favor.”

His expression turned serious. “Zarya, do you think we should return to Ishaan at all? I fear what we might be walking into. The city is a mess, and your sister wants you dead. There will be no safe place for you there.”

Zarya nodded. “I know. But Yasen confirmed that she can barely move. I don’t wish that pain on her, but it is also our chance to make things right. We started this… I started this, and I can’t abandon them.”

He nodded. “I know, and I’m not asking you to, but I wish there were a way to do that without putting you so close to your sister.”

“I don’t see how. This started in Gi’ana, and it will likely finish there, too.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled a heavy sigh. “You should know that Yasen’s last letter said he and the other rebels were considering appealing to Daragaab for support.”

Rabin cocked his head and studied her. “To Vik?”

“Yes. Since Dishani is still unwilling to hear out the Rising Phoenix, they wonder if they might convince another realm to amend their laws. The hope is that if one goes first, the others might eventually follow. Abishek is warming up to the idea, but I think it’s best we work every angle we can.”

“Why Daragaab?” Rabin asked.

“I think Yasen is hoping Vik will listen to him.”

Rabin considered that. “If there’s anyone he might hear out, it’s Yas.”

“I think so, too. Other news is that Kindle is making strides in Bhaavana with their rebellion, and Apsara is in touch with friends in Vayuu. Koura is working with people in Svaasthy who say their queen may be amenable. It’s happening. Slowly but surely, things are changing. And Daragaab is the largest region in Rahajhan. They’re hoping it would send a message.”

Rabin blew out a sharp breath. “It’s a good point. Maybe it could work.”

“Hopefully, Yasen can make him see the truth. What possible reason could he have for wanting to keep the vanshaj bound? I know we had our issues, but deep down, I have to believe there’s something good in there.”

“Vik has never been malicious.”

“I’m not sure how eager Yasen is to return to Dharati,” she said. “But he’s willing to try.”

“What do you want to do next?” Rabin asked.

“Are you okay to travel?”

“I’m fine, Zarya. We’ll see Thriti to fix this. I’m sure it just didn’t occur to her to ask about the sixth anchor.”

“Maybe,” Zarya said. “But what if the king has a point?”

“He wants us to stay. He told me he likes having us here.”

She nodded and bit the corner of her lip. She didn’t want to disappoint her father. She wanted to know more about him. “If things were less volatile, I’d want to stay, too.”

“If Thriti isn’t able to fix this, we can come back when Kishore returns,” he promised. “For your demonstration, too.”

“Okay,” she replied. “Then let’s go. I just want to check on everyone.”

Rabin ran a hand down his face and through his hair. “We’ll figure this all out. There is light at the end of this.”

Zarya nodded. “I truly hope so.”

A few hours later, they’d sent word to the king of their plans and packed up their things, preparing to leave. Zarya was buttoning up her coat when a knock came at the door. She opened it to find Omar waiting on the other side. He handed her a note, and she unfolded it, immediately recognizing the king’s handwriting thanks to all the hours she’d spent in his library.

Zarya, good news. Kishore has returned early. I hope you’ll consider delaying your trip and come to see me at once.

She frowned. For weeks, Abishek had been promising Kishore would return, and now, just as they were leaving, he suddenly appeared?

“Thank you,” Zarya said to Omar. “Tell him…”

She cut off when she saw Rabin stalking down the hallway with a note also clutched in his hand.

“Tell him we’ll be there in a minute,” he said.

Omar dipped at the waist. “Don’t keep him waiting.” Then he turned and stalked off.

“It’s weird, right?” Rabin asked, holding up the note.

“Or just a lucky coincidence?”

“Maybe.”

She pressed her mouth together and nodded. “Well, since we’re here, should we see what he has to say?”

He shrugged. “I suppose we’ve waited this long.”

Zarya removed her coat and tossed it into her room before reaching out to take his hand. He threaded his warm fingers with hers; it felt good to have this out in the open. They made their way through the castle and to Abishek’s wing, where they were immediately admitted.

Upon entering his study, they found Ekaja waiting with Abishek and a third person, whom she presumed must be the famous Kishore. For some reason, she’d been expecting an old man. But the mystic was as young and handsome as Thriti had been beautiful, though his eyes suggested the same agelessness. He had the same deep brown skin and silver hair hanging to his shoulders. Zarya wondered if the hair was a common marker for a mystic.

“Zarya,” Abishek said as he approached. “The fates must truly be smiling on us.” He held out an arm and beckoned her forward. “Meet Kishore. A fortuitous turn of events has found him here earlier than we expected.”

“That’s very lucky,” she said, smiling and nodding hello.

“Kishore,” Rabin said, reaching out to shake the mystic’s hand. “What timing you have. We were nearly out the door.”

Kishore gave him a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Yes, well. The gods look favorably on us when it is most prudent.”

“Sure,” Rabin said as he offered a short nod to Ekaja.

“Can you help us with our Bandhan?” Zarya asked. “We haven’t been able to enter the mind plane for weeks now.”

Kishore’s dark eyebrows drew together. “Not at all ?”

“No,” she said. “It’s pretty worrisome.”

“It’s more than that,” he said but didn’t elaborate as he gestured to them both. “I’ll need to see your binding markings.”

Rabin and Zarya exchanged a look.

“Come now. I can’t help you otherwise.”

Reluctantly, Rabin lifted his tunic, and Zarya shrugged off the sleeve of her shirt.

Kishore then laid a cool hand on her shoulder while goosebumps prickled her skin. The mystic inhaled deeply with a gusty sound, his eyes fluttering closed.

“This was well done,” he said. “ Nearly as good as my own work.”

There was something needling in the sentiment, and Zarya controlled the curl of her lip. He was trying to help.

“Your father tells me you bear the darkness,” Kishore said, his penetrating gaze meeting hers with such intensity that it felt like he was trying to see straight into her. The sensation was so unsettling that she almost backed away.

“He told you correctly.”

“And nightfire? The queen’s prophecy has finally come true?”

“It has,” she whispered, her voice suddenly too tight to speak. A strange wave of melancholy hit her then. She kept missing a woman she’d never met. She wanted guidance and someone to confide in the way only a mother could offer. She had no idea what kind of mother Asha would have been, but in her daydreams, she pictured someone kind and loving and supportive.

Kishore gave her a scrutinizing look before also laying a hand on Rabin’s tattoo, but not before admiring it with a gleam in his eyes. He took another deep breath, and Zarya watched the mystic as silver bands of magic swirled around him.

She felt a tug deep inside her shoulder, almost as if he were pulling at the Bandhan from under her skin. She winced as he tugged harder. It didn’t hurt exactly, but the sensation felt awkward and intrusive.

Her gaze met Rabin’s, and she noted the hardness of his jaw. They all stood in silence as more of Kishore’s magic swirled around the room in glittering trails of silver.

After several minutes, they faded away, and Kishore opened his eyes, a frown denting the space between his brows. He turned and addressed Abishek.

“It is exactly as you feared. The mark was applied incorrectly and has been corrupted. They should have waited for me.”

He said it in a chastising tone, and though he wasn’t speaking directly to Zarya, she felt she was being scolded like a small child. How were they to have known any of this?

“Is there anything you can do?” Abishek asked, his voice grave with concern. “How far gone is it?”

“It’s not good,” Kishore answered. “If they’d come to me immediately, we would have had a better chance at saving them.”

Zarya opened her mouth, about to protest that they’d been waiting on him for weeks, but Abishek was already speaking.

“And what should we do now?” he asked.

“We must fix the Bandhan as soon as possible. We’ll detoxify the existing markings, strip out their magic, and redo the binding. It’s a difficult process, but I am obviously more than capable.”

Zarya resisted the urge to roll her eyes. What was it with these self-satisfied men who hung around her father?

“When can we do it?” Zarya asked, dread pooling in her gut. Rabin had already been affected. How long until it resulted in something more permanent?

At that, Kishore whirled around to face her.

“You would rush this?” he said, his tone sharp. “I’ve just explained that you are corrupted by the very magic running in your veins. Your Bandhan is tarnished. Toxic. It will eat at you from the inside if you do not address this. You think you can hurry this along?”

“I was merely wondering how long it might be,” she asked, gritting her teeth. “I’m worried.”

Kishore folded his hands at his waist and gave Zarya a smug smile. “It will take a few days to prepare the necessary ingredients. We’ll strip the markings first, which will be quite painful. Then you may need a day or two to recover before we reapply the Bandhan. Is that a sufficient enough answer for you?”

Zarya hardened her jaw—another few days at best.

“And then we’ll be able to enter the mind plane again?” she asked as he dipped his head.

“Then your connection should return.”

“Okay,” Zarya said. “We appreciate your help.”

“I will summon you when I’m ready,” Kishore said.

“Thank you.”

She looked at Rabin, and his expression suggested that he didn’t like it, but he understood they had no choice.