Page 102 of Heart of Night and Fire

Several hours later, Zarya had been thoroughly groomed and plucked and painted. They’d curled her hair in glossy ringlets, painted her nails in matte gold, and surrounded her hazel eyes with thick black lines of kohl.

Next came a lehenga that melted from gold to teal to bright pink to green, along with a matching pair of slippers and earrings dripping with stones.

“You are beautiful, my lady,” said one of her helpers, her voice wistful, as Zarya swung her skirt back and forth in the mirror.

“Thank you. I am very grateful for your help.”

After they packed up their belongings, Zarya followed them downstairs to find Yasen waiting on the sofa in the living room, one ankle crossed over the other knee.

She took in a sharp breath at the sight of him. His long silver hair had been brushed to a burnished gleam, with his braids neatly redone. An emerald sherwani, tailored to show off his muscled warrior’s physique, hung almost to his knees, secured with a row of shiny gold buttons. The cuffs and collar were decorated with golden thread, while an elaborately embellished talwar adorned his hip.

“What are you doing here? You look amazing, by the way.”

He smiled. “You look rather amazing yourself.”

“A gift from our queen and her steward.”

Yasen smirked and then bowed. “I came to escort you to the joining.”

Zarya put her hands on her hips. “I don’t need you to take me. I can handle myself.”

“I know. But I wanted to escort my second-best friend on the most important occasion of my best friend’s life.”

She sputtered. “Did you just call me your second-best friend right to my face?”

Yasen grinned. “Listen, I figure you’re lucky you made the list at all.”

“Oh, you’re such a charmer, aren’t you? How are you still single?”

“It is a wonder.”

She gave him a playful punch in the stomach, and he folded in half, clutching it dramatically.

He straightened up, his expression turning serious. “Are you okay?”

“Me? Because of Vikram? Yes, I’m totally fine. My plans tonight include meeting a tall, dark, and handsome stranger.”

“Mmm, me too,” Yasen said, a faraway look in his eyes.

With a mocking flutter of her eyelashes, Zarya took the elbow Yasen proffered. They crossed the street towards the palace, their gazes lingering on the high stone walls. The Khada had recruited as many as they could to help defend the city until Amrita could take her place in the Jai Tree.

With the sun currently high in the sky, the atmosphere felt less ominous, but a stillness hung over the city, everyone moving with care and speaking in hushed tones as if they were an army of crystal soldiers.

Zarya and Yasen went in search of the garden where the ceremony would take place but were stopped short by a harried woman blocking their path.

“Her Highness Rajkumari Amrita has requested your presence,” the woman said curtly before spinning on her heel. “Please follow me.”

Zarya exchanged a look with Yasen before doing as they were told.

“Not you!” The woman turned back, her eyes blazing as she shooed Yasen away. “You’re to attend to the steward. Now.”

“I’ll see you in the garden,” Yasen said with a bow, clearly wanting to escape the woman’s ire.

Zarya was then led to a wide set of double doors with a magnificent tree carved into the surface. The woman opened the door, ushering Zarya into an enormous bedroom decorated in green and gold. Amrita was sitting at a vanity, surrounded by attendants who were finishing her makeup. She stood up to greet Zarya.

The princess was a vision in a deep red lehenga, her ears, wrists, and throat covered in rivers of gold jewelry that sparkled with diamonds.

“You’re breathtaking,” Zarya said, emotion pulling her ribs tight.