Page 37 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin (The Nightfire Quartet #4)

THIRTY-SIX

Zarya braced herself, expecting a plummet or something equally harrowing, but a moment later, the mist cleared, leaving her standing alone in the center of the lost city of Taaranas.

It looked just like the tapestries she’d studied in Abishek’s castle, except that everything had been leached of color and now stood pale and lifeless, almost like it had been carved from chalk.

Whisps of dark smoke curled around the corners, drifting like spirits.

Taaranas.

A ghost city. A dead city.

A mysterious light illuminated the entire space revealing ornate buildings and homes, wide boulevards, and shops that must have once been vibrant with life. She could make out mosaic tiles and stone pillars. Domed roofs with jewels embedded into the surface. Large round windows framed with intricate carvings.

But it was all blank. Whatever colors once decorated this place had been wiped away.

To her right was a castle. It was small compared to those she’d seen over the last few months but was still magnificent with its soaring towers and intricate carvings etched into every surface. This must have been the Ashvins’ home.

Finally, she looked left, and her breath hitched in her chest.

The star temple stood at the far end of the boulevard, stretching into the sky.

Absent of the sparkle or shine she’d seen in her visions, it, too, was drained of life, color, and spirit.

Finally, her gaze swept up to the unbelievable sight stretching high overhead.

Roots. Thousands of twisting roots curved against a ceiling, shimmering in soft white and punctuated with patches of black rot.

Amrita .

The Jai Tree.

It had always been connected to the darkness and her nightfire.

This was why Zarya’s magic was always linked to forests.

But the magic was killing Amrita, crawling over her roots, attempting to reach the surface.

Zarya spun around and around, searching for answers, half expecting to find her walking down the boulevard. But she was immobile, trapped in her body a thousand miles away.

Finally, Zarya understood that this was what the Jai Tree had been guarding.

She swallowed thickly, wondering where Rabin had ended up.

She heard nothing. Not the sound of wind or the distant echo of water. The air was so still and dry that her ears popped from the absence of sound.

She wondered how she would find sustenance in this sterile environment, but would she be here long enough for it to matter?

She inhaled a deep breath, considering her next move. She had to find the fortress and the trigger that would open the seal. Abishek had given her nothing to work with, but she guessed it was because he didn’t know where it was, either. What she needed to find was a way to thwart his plans and ensure no one could ever open the seal again.

But she couldn’t even begin to understand how she might accomplish that.

If the seal remained closed, would Rabin be trapped in Kishore’s enchantment forever? Would she be trapped here, too?

She stood rooted to the spot, paralyzed by fear.

But she couldn’t just stand here.

Inhaling another breath to quell the trembling in her limbs, she willed one foot forward, expecting to kick up a cloud of dust, but there was nothing. Just this smooth, dead material for which she had no name.

Something told her the key to this riddle was inside the temple.

This was where the Ashvins had once lived and worked, where they plotted, schemed, and gathered their disciples. Surely, this was where they’d opened the door to another world to invite the nairatta in.

As she walked, the dragon on her chest throbbed, pain radiating out to her arms and legs. She ignored it as the call of the temple drew her closer. On the lightest of steps, she approached. The only sound was her heavy breaths and the gentle tap of her boots against the ground.

She grew warmer, sweat gathering at her hairline. These heavy furs were too much without the snow and wind of the mountains. She unbuttoned her coat and let it slip from her shoulders, where it fell with a soft thump, almost as if in slow motion.

She studied the ceiling, tracing the lines of Amrita’s roots. Was the key buried somewhere in there? She wondered again where Rabin was. Had he arrived in the same place?

She considered calling his name but then remembered those murderous red eyes and how he’d lunged for her. A tear slipped down her cheek. Not only had Abishek betrayed them both, but he’d also turned Rabin against her. And now he was trapped in his dragon form, bent on hunting her down.

Rabin .

She didn’t say his name or even whisper it. She only made the shape of it with her lips. He’d find her soon enough if what Kishore claimed was true. In the meantime, she’d use her time to learn something about this place.

Shucking off more layers as she walked, she approached the temple. She wished she had something other than these heavy boots, but the only alternative was going about in her socks or bare feet.

When she reached the temple, she stared at the star hovering over the top.

Nightfire.

She could only guess how the twins had created this to honor their unique power.

Zarya stared at her hands, feeling the strangest sense of belonging. Her magic connected her to this place. Her fingers curled, nails digging into her palms as she looked back up. She placed a foot on the first step and then the next, drawn towards the temple. Almost as if it was calling to her.

The tall doors stood open, admitting her into a large square room that must have been beautiful at some point. Every wall and window was decorated with swirling curls carved into the stone. The floor was made of thousands of tiny white tiles that must have once been a multi-hued mosaic.

She stepped carefully into the space as light from some unknown source filtered beams across the floor. Not a speck of dust floated in the air.

The room was mostly empty, except for a pool in the center. The water was the same white, chalky material, and the sight worried her again about how she would survive without food or water.

A set of stairs led to the pool. She climbed to the top and stared down before crouching on her haunches. Reaching for the solidified surface, she nearly tumbled back when it moved at her touch.

Rippling, the pool transformed into clear blue water. She blinked in shock before crawling around the perimeter. With each touch of her hands, the chalky white stones transformed into shimmering silver.

What did this mean? If the twins lived inside her, maybe she could manipulate Taaranas in a way no one else could. She continued around the circle, transforming the entire area around the well.

She peered into the pool, wondering about the source of light. After waiting for the surface to calm, she could see straight to the bottom, where she could make out something written on the stones.

Should she jump in? That might leave her vulnerable. She was far too aware of an enchanted, feral Rabin trapped somewhere inside this dimension. Plus, what other creatures might call this place home?

A noise drew her attention to a window set high in the wall.

She knew that sound. The snap of wings. The thump of leathery membranes hitting the air.

“Shit,” she whispered, and a moment later, Rabin crashed through the ceiling with a roar.