“Go!” I yell to Deven.
We leap into the chilly river and swim downstream side by side, each stroke moving us farther from Hastin. Then, without warning, the current changes direction. Clutching each other, we are dragged back toward land by the water’s almighty fist. There, Indira stands in the riverbed up to her shins. She is directing the riptide.
Behind the Aquifier, Anjali whips up a wind and sends it tearing toward the soldiers. A cyclone picks up a handful of guards and lifts them high, high, higher—and then drops them. Their terror-filled shrieks sound over the gushing waters. They hit the ground, and there is silence.
My toes touch the silt river bottom. Deven stands beside me. I hold fast to him, and we fight the pull of the water, but our legs are stone. The sediment begins to disappear beneath us, drawn away by the current, and we are lured closer to Indira.
Manas runs down the riverbank and hits Indira from the side, throwing her to dry ground. The Aquifier loses her dominance over the river, and the water relaxes around us. Deven and I swim to deeper waters. The river resumes its ancient course, and we are carried away until the soldiers and the bhutas are out of sight.
The cavern opens to gray skies, and the waterway pushes us through the city and to placid waters in the desert.
“Deven! Kali!” calls Brac.
Deven and I meet him on the shore. We splay on the wet sand, teeth chattering and limbs wilted. I rest my head on Deven’s chest and match my breathing to the cadence of his sturdy heartbeat. My anger against Manas eases with each weary breath. I never want to see him again, but I will be forever grateful that he helped us get away.
“We have company,” says Brac.
I sit up on my elbows and see a caravan approaching in the moonlight. An imperial guard leads a procession of four camels; two veiled women ride atop one. My worries flee when I recognize the guard.
Yatin dismounts his camel first and then helps Natesa down. She greets me with a fierce hug. “Mathura invited me to come.”
“I’m glad she did,” I say to her. I smile at Yatin. “Good to see you too.”
The burly soldier grabs me in his arms. “Ribs,” I croak, and he releases me with a sheepish blush.
Deven helps his mother dismount. Brac shuffles over to them, his head down. Mathura’s eyes gloss with tears.
“Mother,” Brac says, “I wanted to tell you—”
Mathura rests her palm against his cheek. “Brother Shaan told me everything.” She draws Brac in for a hug and then reaches for Deven and wraps one arm around him. “My boys. I’m so happy you’re all right.” She kisses their cheeks and holds them tighter.
Deven’s arms come around his mother and brother both. I smile a little to myself, pleased to see him united with his family.
“How did you know to meet us?” I ask Yatin.
“Brother Shaan warned Mathura of the attack after the wedding. I helped her and Natesa sneak out of the palace. I remembered the tunnels and thought you would take the river out.”
“You did well,” Brac says when he comes over to us. He claps Yatin on the back. “You’re even bigger than I remember, old friend.”
“And you’re smaller,” Yatin replies, smiling.
A slight quake shifts the sand beneath us, and then the overcast sky booms an echo of fury. Unease dispels our brief reunion; the warlord will be after us soon.
Deven eyes the gathering clouds. “We’ve lingered long enough.” He helps me onto one of the spare camels and climbs in front of me.
Brac, the satchel containing the Zhaleh slung over his shoulder, climbs onto the fourth camel, and our caravan ventures into the desert. Flashes of lightning brighten the sandy terrain. I look over my shoulder at the City of Gems. Thunderclouds encircle the hilltop, swathing the palace’s ivory walls in darkness.
A dry wind pelts my face with coarse sand. I loop my arms around Deven’s waist and press my cheek to his shoulder blade. We place our backs to the threatening storm and follow the jasmine moon across the dusty dunes.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A solemn hand rests over my heart in honor of my biggest supporters:
First and foremost, my husband, John, the best cohort a girl could ask for and the kindest man I know. I promise to save my finest words for you.
Our kiddos, Joseph, Julian, Danielle, and Ryan, you are the brightest spirits in the entire universe. Don’t ever doubt your divine potential.
My agent extraordinaire, Marlene Stringer, thank you for your endless hard work and dogged enthusiasm. I promise to write more stories that give you the chills. My editor and all-around captain, Jason Kirk, for your “Viva Kalinda” e-mail closings and bated breaths, you have my greatest appreciation for your support. My developmental editor, Clarence Haynes, with your keen eye for detail and unparalleled insightfulness, thanks for getting this story. And the whole Skyscape team, thank you for bringing me into your fold and giving my books a happy home.
These top-notch femme fatales deserve thanks: Kathryn Purdie, for nurturing this story from infancy and always knowing when I need a kick in the pants; Angie Cothran, for being my constant cheerleader; Erin Summerill, for your party van and open-ended invite to occupy your couch; Ilima Todd and Tricia Levenseller, for slogging through my early drafts; Veeda Bybee, for letting me tempt you to the dark side; Kate Coursey, for road trips and red-hot lips; my southern sweetheart, Deana Barnhart, for answering a desperate stranger’s e-mail; my brilliant agency sisters, Charlie N. Holmberg and Caitlyn McFarland; and Shaila Patel, for sharing your customs and memories. You are all goddesses.
Endless thanks to Rachel Brooks, for believing in me first, and to Cupid’s Literary Connection, for taking a chance on a novice. Caralee Flowers and Katie Ronning, thank you for our Sunday visits. Randy and Jessica Farr, thank you for talking books and movies over Diet Coke and shouting kids. Many thanks to my VIP writer friends: the Write Night group, the LDStorymakers clan, the Swanky Seventeens, and my blogging buddies, without whom this journey would have been oh so lonely.
Expressions of eternal gratitude to my mom and dad, for long years of cheering me on in faith; Eve, Sarah, and Stacey, who are kind of a big deal—I’m still waiting for us to take over the world; Ethan, for first introducing me to SF/F; my generous in-laws, Mike and Rita; and my growing family, which includes Beth, Jonathan, Steven, and Chris.
To my valiant readers, I claim you as champions.
And finally, for my loving God, I will never forget how I first met Kalinda and Rajah Tarek. Thanks for the inspiration and courage to find my way.