Chapter 55
FIFTY-FIVE
Rabin soared over the city with Yasen clinging to his back, his focus trained on the enchanted blue palace in the distance.
From this vantage, he noted a giant plume of smoke billowing across the sky, realizing it was the ink factory. In spite of everything, Rabin smiled to himself. This had always been his plan B. One he’d shared only with Vikas. They would hit the royal family through a different artery if things went off course.
The palace raid had failed, but everything wasn’t lost.
Circling over the factory, he let out a roar of triumph before turning and aiming for the solarium tower, banking left as he made a wide loop. He could make out soldiers guarding the perimeter, all of them facing inward.
He swept around, doubling back, trying to get a sense of Zarya’s position. His dragon eyesight was superior to even that of his rakshasa form, and he made out the edges of a group huddled in the center of the room.
Miraan was on his knees with his hands tied behind his back while Zarya lay on the floor, her hair spilling over the tiles as her vile sister stood over them both. He brushed close enough that his wing grazed the window, scraping along the surface. Everyone looked up, the guards finally taking note of the danger lurking outside.
They began tracking his movements as he circled again, drawing in closer. Then he tipped his head up, stretched his jaw, and roared so loud it shook the very clouds in the sky.
Yasen bellowed out a triumphant whoop.
“Let’s get our girl!” he screamed, and then Rabin dove, bracing himself for the impact before he hit the glass. The windows shattered around him into a thousand fragments, scattering like dandelion seeds on the wind.
He felt a brief press on his back as Yasen leaped off and landed in a crouch. The guards were already rushing towards him as Rabin’s massive form skidded over the smooth marble, coming to a stop directly over Zarya.
He swung his head, circling it around the room and exhaling a burst of pure blue fire.
Zarya watched as the massive shadow blocked out the sun. She didn’t fear what swooped past the window because she knew. He’d come for her. He would tear apart the world to find her. Of course he would.
Another pass of shadow darkened the windows, and she heard the scrape of a wing grazing the glass along with everyone’s surprised whispers.
Then came the crash—glass exploding, people shouting, Dishani’s scream as Rabin crouched over Zarya, exactly like a dragon protecting his hoard.
Blue fire and the boiling rage of his vengeance.
She drifted in and out as she felt the air shift, and then he was back in his rakshasa form as he circled around her, fighting off the guards and keeping her safe and protected.
She saw Yasen out of the corner of her eye, fighting furiously with all his cunning and strength. Yasen, who’d followed her across the continent without a word of complaint. Yasen, who deserved every bit of happiness the world might give him.
She caught his eye and he nodded. In his eyes, she read his silent message.
We’re getting you out of here, Zee. Hang on.
She returned his nod and didn’t even try to stop her tears.
It took Zarya a moment to realize someone was screaming in high-pitched, wretched agony. She rallied her strength and pushed herself up to discover it was coming from Dishani.
She was screaming in pain. In horror because she was now a truly gruesome sight. The left side of her face and her arm were charred and bubbling, and her sari was melting into her skin.
Zarya covered her mouth as bile surged up her throat, sure she was about to be sick.
“Stop them!” Dishani screamed with her remaining strength, but it came out garbled before she collapsed to the floor.
Then Zarya felt a pair of strong arms lift her. Rabin cradled her against his warm body, and she curled into him, absorbing the comfort of his presence.
“Take her,” she heard him say as she was passed into another pair of arms. “Keep her safe.”
“I’ve got you, Zee,” Yasen murmured as he pressed his lips to her forehead. “She can’t hurt you anymore.”
Then they were moving.
She was propped onto Rabin’s back behind Miraan before Yasen sandwiched her from the other side. Together they kept her from sliding off as she veered on the edge of consciousness.
She heard the continued clash of weapons and tried to open her eyes, but it was all a blur.
And then…she felt the flap of Rabin’s wings, followed by a blast of cool air.
They launched into the sky, soaring over the world before everything went dark.