Page 35 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin (The Nightfire Quartet #4)

THIRTY-FOUR

The city was quiet when Yasen, Row, and Koura returned to Ishaan. They prowled through darkened streets, passing burned-out buildings and piles of rubble, exchanging wary looks.

“Why is it so quiet?” Yasen asked.

Row shook his head. “Let’s head to the manor to ensure everything is fine.”

“I want to see Miraan first,” Yasen said, and Row and Koura nodded. “Then I’ll join you.”

“And I must return to the palace to check on the princess,” Koura said.

“Do you, though?” Yasen asked, earning him a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t think I’ll dignify that with a response,” Koura responded before he bowed. “I’ll see you soon.”

Once he was gone, Row turned to Yasen. “Meet me in the forest when you’re done. I’ll head there now to explain what we’ve learned.”

They parted ways, and Yasen turned down a side street that would take him past Rudra’s manor.

He knocked on the door and was admitted into the salon by a servant.

“Yas!” Miraan said as soon as he entered. “You’re back!”

He scanned the room, finding Rudra and Miraan’s other friends.

“How did it go in Dharati?” Miraan crossed the floor, throwing his arms around Yasen. “I was worried about you.”

“I’m fine,” Yasen said, returning his embrace before they pulled apart. “Things are bad, though.”

“Tell us everything,” he said, indicating a spot for Yasen to sit.

He ran through the events in the Jai Palace. When he was done, every man in the room was silent, the shock in their expressions clear.

“The seal is weakening,” Rudra said. “How do we stop this?”

“Rani Vasvi’s former steward is looking for answers in the library, but I’m not holding out much hope,” Yasen said.

Everyone started talking, speaking over one another as they offered up various theories and ideas to solve this mystery.

Eventually, Miraan interrupted and raised his hands. “I’m not sure this is productive,” he said. “We need to focus on issues we can influence.”

The room fell silent as he continued. “As we’ve discussed, I cannot approach the palace, so I’m asking you to be the voice of reason. If Dishani will no longer listen to me, she might consider the request from one of you.”

“We could threaten to withdraw support and back you as king,” Rudra said carefully as every man in the room shared wary looks.

Yasen watched Miraan for his reaction as several emotions crossed the prince’s face.

“I have never desired my sister’s crown, but if that’s what it takes to end this, then there may be no choice.”

A tense silence circled around the group. What they were discussing was treason. But Miraan had already set that cart in motion the first time he’d sent money to the Rising Phoenix.

“Then we shall state our case,” Rudra answered. “Are you all with me?”

His gaze fell on the five other men who wielded influence in this queendom. One by one, they nodded until every man had agreed.

“Then let’s hope we don’t lose our heads,” Rudra said, lifting his glass in a toast. “To King Miraan. The future of Gi’ana.”

Every other man in the room raised their glasses, murmuring their support.

Yasen watched the entire thing, wondering if this would work.

Miraan, a king. It made sense.

As if feeling Yasen’s eyes on him, Miraan looked over, his jaw hard and his eyes brimming with the weight of the choice he was making.

And the consequences and possibilities of what came next.

After they finished their discussion and Rudra and the others had made plans to visit the palace, Yasen and Miraan headed for the rebellion’s hideout in the forest.

When they arrived, they were surprised to find how much had changed in their absence. Their numbers had swelled as more vanshaj were secreted out of the city. Dozens of makeshift homes spread through the trees and well into the distance. Yasen could see where Apsara and Suvanna were busy training their army in a large open field.

He spotted Row chatting with Ajay, Vikas, Farida, and Rania and made his way over with Miraan. As they approached, they all stopped talking.

“I can tell from your expressions that Row has told you everything,” Yasen said, and they all nodded.

“Any progress on your side?” Vikas asked Miraan.

He filled him in on everything while Yasen scanned the forest. When Miraan was done, Yasen asked, “Where’s Zarya?”

“She isn’t here,” Ajay said.

“We haven’t heard from her at all,” Farida added.

Yasen’s eyes narrowed as wary premonition crept up the back of his scalp. “She hasn’t sent any letters. None at all?”

“Sorry, no,” Ajay answered.

Yasen’s jaw clenched, his teeth grinding together. She promised she’d write every day. That’s when his gaze met Row’s.

“Do you think they’re okay?” Yasen asked, and Row shook his head.

“If she isn’t sending letters…”

“Something could be wrong.”

Everyone was silent for a moment before Row said, “I’m planning to see the mystic who performed their Bandhan. I’ve been meaning to do so for a while. Perhaps something has happened with their bond.”

“I’m coming, too,” Yasen said, and Row dipped his chin.

“Then let’s go.”

It took a short while to arrive at the mystic’s door, where they were greeted by a striking woman with deep brown skin and silver hair hanging down either side of her face. She wore a deep blue dress with long wide sleeves and embroidered with metallic threads along the hem of her skirt.

“Hi,” Yasen said. “We’re sorry to disturb you, but you performed a Bandhan for our friends not long ago, and we have a few questions. They might be in danger.”

She blinked, her expression curious, and then opened the door wider. “Come inside.”

They entered the small shop, lined with shelves and hundreds of ingredients. Their fragrance combined to give the place an unusual scent.

“What is this about?” the mystic asked as she closed the door behind them. She folded her hands in front of her and waited.

Yasen deferred to Row, who understood more about this magic stuff.

“When you performed the Bandhan for Zarya and Rabin, did you sense anything amiss with the bond?” Row asked.

“Amiss?” Thriti asked. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“Zarya didn’t tell you she has unique magic, did she?”

Thriti’s head tipped as she stared at Row. “Unique?”

“She has six anchors,” he said and paused.

Yasen almost rolled his eyes—it was a bit exhausting how dramatic they all were about this.

Thriti considered that answer. “I see. That’s rather unusual, I suppose, but not unheard of.”

“You’ve met others with the sixth anchor?” Row asked.

Thriti folded her arms and nodded. When it was clear she didn’t care to elaborate, Row continued.

“How would the presence of a sixth anchor affect the Bandhan? If Zarya failed to disclose it, what precautions could you take now to rectify it?”

Thriti’s dark eyebrows drew together. “What are you talking about?”

“We’ve been told the sixth anchor taints the Bandhan, and theirs has been affected. They were blocked from entering the mind plane, and Rabin is quite ill. I’m worried Zarya will soon be, too.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “The sixth anchor has no effect on their bonding. A Bandhan cannot be broken by anything but the paramadhar or masatara’s death.”

The blood in Yasen’s veins turned to ice at those words. “You’re sure,” he asked. “It’s not just something you’re unaware of?”

She tossed him a cold look. “What do you take me for? Of course I’m sure. Who told you such nonsense?”

Row and Yasen looked at one another.

“He lied to them,” Yasen said. “He’s keeping them there for a reason.”

“Who?” Thriti asked.

“Raja Abishek,” Row said as Thriti’s lips parted.

“Ah,” she said as though that made everything clear.

“What?” Yasen asked. “What is it?”

“When they arrived, they chose a dragon as the symbol to bind them,” she said. “Rabin already had a tattoo used to aid in his transformation.”

“Right?” Row asked, his shoulders curving with tension.

“I thought I sensed something else buried in its magic.”

“What?” Yasen asked.

She shook her head. “I wasn’t entirely sure. I almost thought I imagined it. However, if Kishore is the mystic who applied it, I’m slightly more confident it was layered with a form of controlling magic.”

“And you didn’t say anything?” Row asked.

She raised her hands in defense. “That was not my place. People choose to mark their bodies with many kinds of magic. Besides, I wasn’t even sure I was right.”

They all fell silent as Yasen’s heart pounded in his chest.

“Fuck!” he said a moment later. “He’s done something to her. To both of them. That’s why she hasn’t sent a letter! He lied to them.”

His gaze met Row’s, who looked at him with worry and fear in his dark eyes.

“We have to find them.”