Page 63 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin (The Nightfire Quartet #4)

ONE YEAR LATER

Zarya and Vikas shoved the heavy double doors open and bounded down the university’s front steps. Their grueling semester had just ended, and they were both looking forward to a few months off.

“Did you get that last question?” Vikas asked. “I almost ran out of time.”

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I think so.”

“I’m sure you did,” he said wryly. “How many hours did you study?”

“A million,” she joked, and they laughed.

With their elbows linked, they headed down the path leading to the gate, where she found a most welcome sight.

Rabin leaned against the fence with his arms crossed and one ankle over the other.

She broke into a run and threw her arms around him as he lifted her up and spun her around.

“How did it go?” he asked as Vikas approached.

“She aced it,” Vikas said, and Zarya grinned.

“Maybe,” she answered with a wrinkle of her nose, and the two men started laughing.

“Come on,” Rabin said, taking her hand. “Everyone will be arriving soon.”

They hopped onto their horses and made their way into Ishaan and to the haveli they’d purchased shortly after the battle with the Ashvins. Rabin had agreed to live in the city, and she’d agreed they would spend time in the forest whenever he needed a break from the noise.

Their home was beautiful, stretching three stories into the sky and made of the palest pink marble. It sat on the edge of a square with a giant crystal astrolabe in the center, and Zarya loved sitting at their bedroom window to watch the way the stars and moon would make it sparkle at night.

They entered the main floor to find a flurry of people scurrying back and forth, along with a harried woman shouting orders with a pen tucked behind her ear and a clipboard in one hand. They’d hired a party planner to make all the arrangements for tonight’s celebration. It had been a year since they’d been to Taaranas, and today, they would gather with everyone who’d worked at the heart of the resistance.

Thankfully, their house had more than enough room.

Zarya went upstairs to change. She chose a beautiful purple sari with pink beading. Standing in front of the mirror, she traced the silver dragon on her chest and thought about how far they’d all come.

In the past year, Rahajhan had become a completely different place. The rulers of each realm had traveled to Ishaan to meet with Miraan, who had been crowned king of Gi’ana eight months ago.

They’d spent days discussing the future of the Taara Aazheri. While some were reluctant at first, they eventually agreed to amend every law still keeping them beholden to the citizens of the continent.

They were to be paid fairly for their work and afforded the same rights as every citizen. Every realm also set up a fund that any Taara Aazheri could access to help build new homes, receive an education, start a business, or support those who simply wished to live a peaceful life.

Vikas had chosen to enroll in the university with Zarya, and they’d learned all about their magic together. She loved every moment of it.

When she heard the door open downstairs, she finished dressing and ran down to meet Row and her mother. They’d purchased a haveli a few blocks away and they all had dinner together at least once a week.

Even after a year, the sight of Asha still caught her breath nearly every single time. She’d gained some weight, and her hair shone like a midnight river. The best healers in Rahajhan had been working for months to erase some of her worst scarring and, by all accounts, she was thriving.

But every once in a while, Zarya would catch a haunted look in Asha’s eyes. It would take some time to lock away the hurts caused by the former king of Andhera.

The queen of Gi’ana had chosen to renounce her crown, wishing to live a quiet life with the man she’d never stopped loving. And they were so perfectly in love. Row was so different around her. Now she understood why they’d butted heads so much during her childhood: he, too, had been nursing a broken heart.

Zarya threw her arms around them both, and they hugged her back.

Over the next hour, everyone else drifted in.

Ajay, Rania, and Farida arrived together. They still lived together in their flat, and Rania and Farida were so happy together that Zarya’s throat tightened whenever she saw them. It had been their love that had set the Rising Phoenix in motion.

The door opened to reveal Apsara and Suvanna. They’d come from Vayuu where Suvanna had been staying with Apsara. Zarya and Apsara had exchanged a few letters, and while Suvanna still wasn’t quite set on the idea of commitment, she was apparently warming up to the idea.

Finally, Koura and Kindle also arrived from their respective realms to offer good news and updates about the Taara Aazheri.

News coming in from Andhera suggested Ekaja was hard at work making Dav and Suria’s dream of a democracy come true. Rabin had been in touch with her once or twice, and he was considering a visit. Perhaps they’d revive their friendship one day.

Vikram and Amrita were doing well. Nidhi was almost walking now and causing Vik all kinds of trouble.

Rabin had returned a few times to help bring the forest of Daragaab back to life alongside his brother and a team of rakshasas. Soon all evidence of the swamp where Zarya had lived would be gone. The seaside cottage still remained, and maybe one day she’d find it in herself to return.

The seven Chiranjivi toasted to one another and the battles they’d fought together.

“When do you think we’ll all be needed again?” Kindle asked.

“Let’s hope never,” Row said, and they all laughed.

The door opened again, and Yasen appeared with Miraan in tow. Despite his reservations about becoming attached to the king, he’d stuck around like he’d promised, and Miraan was very clearly winning him over.

Then came the other Madans. Her family.

They all hugged and caught up as the night continued. Food and drink were passed around as music played into the early morning.

Zarya couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so…content.

This is what she’d craved all those years living by the sea. To be surrounded by friends and family. To laugh and never be alone.

Tired on her feet, she sat on the staircase and sipped her wine as she watched the people she loved so much having fun. The royals’ presence had thrown off a few members of the resistance at first, but they seemed to be adjusting as they sang and danced.

She looked up when Rabin appeared above her. He sat down as they both watched everyone in silence.

“Thank you,” Zarya said as Rabin looked over. “For giving me this. This is all I ever wanted.”

He tipped up a half-smile. “I plan to spend the rest of our lives giving you everything you want, Zarya.”

She gave him a quizzical look.

“What’s wrong?”

“I was worried…when you were being so hard on yourself for Abishek’s lies that you’d leave me.”

His brows furrowed. “Why would you ever think that?”

She shrugged. “You were so angry, and I know you were trying to hide it but…”

He took her chin in his thumb and forefinger. “I was angry,” he said. “It might have been one of my darkest moments, and I did try to hide it from you, but I learned to forgive myself for your sake. That day in Dharati, when I killed my father, I decided I would always be everything you need. And I would never have left you.”

“Good,” Zarya whispered as she wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand. “Because I could never bear it.”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily, Spitfire.”

He winked and they looked back at the party and the dozens of people crowding the space.

“Can we head to the manor after this?”

She laughed and touched his cheek. “Is this too much for you?”

He cocked an eyebrow as he surveyed the crowd.

“Maybe it’s not so bad.”

She made a sound of surprise. “So we can have more parties?”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ll need at least a month of silence first.”

She giggled. “Then we’ll leave first thing.”

“Sounds perfect,” he said and kissed her softly.

She pulled back to study his face, remembering the very first time she’d seen him. He’d taken her breath away, and as she stared into his dark eyes and the sparkling golden flecks, she knew he would take her breath away every day of her life.

“I can’t wait,” she whispered.

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