Page 48 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin (The Nightfire Quartet #4)

FORTY-SEVEN

“Row?” Zarya whispered, her throat aching from screaming.

He looked over, instantly jumping to his feet. Striding across the cavern, he collapsed and drew her into an embrace.

“Gods,” he whispered as she sobbed into his chest. “I thought…”

“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m fine. Rabin saved me.”

Rabin and Yasen hugged her from each side as she was wrapped in the comfort of her husband, father, and best friend.

“What happened?” Zarya asked. “How are you here?”

Row and Yasen filled her in on everything before her gaze fell on the crumbling ashes of Raja Abishek.

“He tried to kill me,” she said. “He said he would…but…” She turned to Row. “I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you. You warned us, and I thought I knew better.”

“It’s not your fault, my girl,” he said, brushing a lock of hair off her face. “He’s always been very good at manipulating everyone to get what he wants.”

Zarya,” Rabin said. “I’ll never forgive myself for this.”

“Don’t,” she said, squeezing his hand. “It isn’t your fault, either. I wanted to come. I don’t think anything could have stopped me. From the moment I learned of his existence, I already knew I’d meet him, no matter what anyone said.”

His gaze darkened. “What did I do when I was enchanted? I can only remember flashes and…”

“I’m fine,” she said, pressing a finger to his lips. “You weren’t in control, but you healed me when it mattered.”

He stared at her but obviously wasn’t convinced.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I know that wasn’t you.”

“I almost got you killed,” he said, his voice dark with menace. “I’ll never forgive myself.”

He shook his head before she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Do you remember the forest?” she asked softly in his ear. “You helped me. You were in there, even when it seemed like Kishore had taken you away.”

He blinked, shaking his head. “I think I remember,” he said. “I…we…”

She gave him a small smirk. “We sure did.”

He reached over to cup the back of her head and pulled her closer. “No. I will make this up to you. I’ll spend the rest of my days fixing this.”

He leaned down to kiss her deeply until Yasen pointedly cleared his throat.

Zarya pulled away and grabbed his hand. “Yas, you came for me.”

“I told you I always would, Zee. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“I can’t believe you’re all here,” she said, choking on a sob. “I thought I’d never see any of you again.”

“When we knew you were in danger, we didn’t hesitate,” Row answered.

“The demons are free,” she said.

“Zarya, why?”

“I had no choice.”

She then explained her dreams and what Loka had told her.

“And now?” Rabin asked. “How do we deal with an army of demons?”

“We reunite with the rest of the Chiranjivi.”

“Why?”

She took Rabin’s hand and kissed the back. She had to tell him because no matter what happened, this would mean the end for him, too.

“Because Abishek was telling the truth when he said the Ashvins were living inside me.”

Everyone watched as she took a deep breath. “The only way to stop the nairatta is to kill the twins.” She paused as the words clogged her throat. “And the only way to do that…is to kill me.”

Rabin stared at Zarya as panic swirled in his gut. His entire body ached, and the remnants of Kishore’s enchantment clouded his head. He could still see the burning red haze taking over his vision. Taste the rage in his mouth. Feel the twitch in his bones when he’d wanted nothing more than to find Zarya and tear her apart.

Gods, he would hear her panicked screams and see the terror in her eyes for the rest of his life. How could he have let himself be so used?

And now she was sitting here calmly telling them they would have to kill her?

He’d never forgive himself for any of this. He’d fallen for Abishek’s lies and then ushered Zarya straight into his arms. What a fucking fool.

“No,” Rabin said. “Absolutely not.”

She laid a hand on his arm. “We’ll discuss it when we’re all together.”

“Zarya.”

“I know, but we should get out of here first.”

He wanted to protest, but she gave him a pleading look that silenced him. For now.

She was terrified, even if she was putting on a good show.

Finally, they all remembered Ekaja. Rabin looked over to find her staring at him. She stood awkwardly, her hands balled into fists as if afraid of getting too close.

He turned away as Row and Yasen helped them to their feet. Zarya leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders before placing a kiss on her temple. He would never let her go again.

“I’m…sorry,” Ekaja said in a small, unsure voice that was nothing like her at all. “I had no choice.”

Rabin scanned her from head to toe and huffed.

“I don’t want to hear it right now. I don’t even want to look at you.”

He turned to face Row and Yasen and heard her shuffle as she moved closer.

“I deserve that,” she said to his back. “But let me help you fix this.”

Rabin peered over his shoulder. Two people he’d trusted most in the world had betrayed him this week. He’d truly thought Andhera was his home, but all of it had been a lie.

He looked at Zarya, who was watching them both and raised an eyebrow in question.

“It’s up to you,” she said. “We could probably use all the help we can get.”

He grunted and then eyed Ekaja up and down. “If you follow, I won’t stop you.”

They all headed towards the softly glowing portal.

“This is the way back?” Yasen asked, eyeing it dubiously.

“Let’s hope,” Zarya said, dropping her hold on Rabin and then stepping forward, pausing for a moment before entering the glowing door. She disappeared into the light a moment later.

Rabin followed her immediately. He stepped through the opening and found himself at the top of a mountain, wind and snow battering him from every side.

Zarya shivered with her arms wrapped around herself.

“Where are we?” she shouted into the wind as Rabin spun around and took stock of their surroundings. A moment later, Row, Ekaja, and Yasen all appeared. Row slid off his coat and draped it over Zarya’s shoulders.

“Can you get us out of here?” Yasen asked, and Rabin nodded.

“Give me some space.”

They all shuffled back, and Rabin transformed, his magic suspending inside nothing as he dissolved into his dragon. Once he was finished, he was warmer, his hide protecting him from the harsh elements. He lowered himself so everyone could scramble on, then took a few steps and launched himself into the air.

They swooped into the watery blue sky in a wide arc. He saw the sea to the north and the mountains stretching towards the south covered in snow…and thousands of demons.

Armies of the nairatta marched along the terrain in neat lines, snaking over the pristine snow, calling out to one another as they chanted and pounded their weapons against the earth.

They spread out in every direction. Some headed east, and some west, but all of them drifted south and towards every corner of Rahajhan.

They were moving inhumanly fast.

Rabin swooped back and over the mountains, heading in the same direction.

They had to stop these monsters before they destroyed everything.