The Rogue Queen (The Hundredth Queen #3)(89)
Someone is here.
I capture my breath and slowly sit up.
A shadow of a man stands near the empty hearth. I gasp, my lips trembling. I can hardly exhale as he crosses to me. At the side of my bed, I push up and lift my fingers to his profile, the one I sketched this evening and dream of each night.
“Kali,” Deven says at the same moment I touch his cheek.
He is real, not a pillar of dark. He pulses soul-fire.
“You came. You found me.” I leap at him, and his arms lock around me, solid and strong. He is a real man. I grab him close as can be, terrified that if I let go he will disappear. “I knew you were alive. I looked for you in the shadows.”
He buries his face in my hair. “I tried to come before, but the dark made it difficult. There are so many pathways to take. I felt you stronger tonight. You were like a beacon.”
I lean back and cup his bearded chin. His serious eyes are the same rich brown. Though his hair is longer, the shaggy length frames and softens his stern jaw. He smells of his normal sandalwood, tagged on by a hint of mist. “You’re trapped in the evernight?”
“Yes.”
I run my hand down to his chest. His heart thuds regularly against my palm. “Does it hurt? Are you in pain?”
He strokes my hair. “It’s dark, but I’m all right.”
“I have to get you out of there. I know of a tale. Inanna’s . . . Inanna’s Descent. She saved her intended from death. She went down into the Void and found him. I can use my powers to come for you.” I push a glow into my hand, and he starts to fade from view. I pull back on my soul-fire, and a frustrated groan lodges in my throat.
He is confined to shadows, unable to come into the light.
Do not cry. He doesn’t need your weeping. But as I gaze at Deven once more, his soul-fire feels wrong, like a flame trapped behind glass.
“I’m so sorry. I should have done more, gone back in the lake after you or made the others onshore search harder and longer.” My tears squeeze past my restraint. “I tried. I did.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “When I went through the gate, I thought . . . I thought I was dead. I thought all light was gone from existence, and I . . . I wanted it to be. But each night I could feel you dreaming of me, wishing for me. You kept me from fading away. I couldn’t have navigated through the shadows without you, Kali.”
I run my hand up and down his arm.
He’s alive. He’s here.
“We’ll find a way to bring you back,” I promise. “I’m just grateful you’re here now.”
Deven presses his cheek to mine. “Now that I know the path, I’ll come to you every night. Nothing will keep me away.”
Hunger for life that I have not felt since he was taken quivers inside me. I throw my arms around him, and his kisses sprinkle my forehead. I swear on every star in the heavens, I will find a way to descend into the depths of the Void and bring him home. But for this moment, and in this time, I rest against him and revel in the bliss of the midnight hour.
CHARACTER GLOSSARY
Kalinda: orphan turned first queen, a Burner Deven: general of the imperial army Prince Ashwin: heir to the Tarachand Empire Natesa: former imperial courtesan
Yatin: soldier, Deven’s best friend Brother Shaan: member of the Brotherhood Indah: southern Aquifier, Virtue Guard Pons: Galer, Virtue Guard
Brac: former rebel, Burner
Mathura: Deven’s and Brac’s mother, former imperial courtesan Admiral Rimba: Indah’s father, southern Aquifier Captain Loc: captain of the raiders Princess Gemi: heir to the Southern Isles, Trembler Datu Bulan: ruler of the Southern Isles Rohan: brother to Opal, Galer
Opal: sister to Rohan, Galer
Rajah Tarek: deceased ruler of the Tarachand Empire The Voider (aka the demon rajah, Udug): demon unleashed from the Void The demon Kur: ruler of the Void
Manas: general of the imperial army Priestess Mita: leader of the Samiya temple Jaya: Kalinda’s deceased best friend Healer Baka and Sister Hetal: sisters at the Samiya temple Tinley: daughter of Chief Naresh, Galer Chief Naresh: ruler of Paljor, Galer Shyla, Parisa, and Eshana: ranis
Asha: palace servant
Hastin: the bhuta warlord and leader of the rebels, Trembler Anjali: Hastin’s daughter, Galer
Indira: rebel, northern Aquifier
Edimmu, Lilu, and Asag: demon siblings to Udug Yasmin: Kalinda’s deceased mother
Kishan: Kalinda’s deceased father, Burner
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Sending praise and salutations to these fine individuals:
Jason Kirk, my commander in chief. Not an e-mail passes between us that I don’t utter appreciation for you as my editor. You’ve made my publishing journey a true joy.
Clarence Haynes, the depth of your insightfulness and soulful questions knows no bounds. Without you, this book would be a shell. As you often say, excelsior and peace.
Kim Cowser, Brittany Jackson, and Kristin King, for your cheerleading from afar and your buzz-building efforts. You’re my sister warrior street team.
My ever-supportive agent, Marlene Stringer. I fulfilled my vision for this world and story because of your unfailing support. Thank you for loving Kalinda.
Kate Coursey, we are bosom buddies for eternity. You’re never getting rid of me.
Fellow sister warriors: Veeda Bybee, Kathryn Purdie, Breeana Shields, Kate Watson, Tricia Levenseller, Charlie Holmberg, Caitlyn McFarland, Lauri Schoenfeld, Angie Cothran, Erin Summerill, Sierra Abrams, Brekke Felt, Shaila Patel, Leah Henderson, Jessie Farr, Catherine Dowse, Michal Cameron, Mikki Kells, and Wendy Jessen. You are all kindreds in my eyes.