Page 12 of Heart of Night and Fire

Now that his role as nursemaid had finished, Yasen studied her with an intensity that caused her neck to flush. She didn’t like the way he was glaring at her, as though she were a fly that had landed in his soup.

She shared a look with Aarav before answering.

“Our… father disappeared a few days ago, and we were looking for him. We live on the southern shore.”

She decided on a loose version of the truth, still conscious of Row’s warnings.

“You live out here?” Vikram asked, his tone sharp.

She nodded, wary of revealing too much to these strangers.

“Hmm.” He scanned the trees. “You shouldn’t be out here. I’m taking you into custody on behalf of Rani Vasvi. Come with us.”

“We haven’t done anything wrong,” Zarya protested. “I rescued you!”

Yasen made a derisive snort. “Yes, you rescued us.”

“We need to get back home,” Aarav said, his voice pitching into a whine.

“Thank you for your help,” Vikram said, looking between Zarya and Aarav. “But you will both come with us.” Though the words were polite, the edge in his voice implied he wasn’t taking no for an answer.

Vikram helped her to stand up, her injured leg throbbing. Row’s sword still lay on the ground, and Zarya reached for it, but Yasen scooped it up before she could grab it. He gave her a dark look that suggested he wasn’t about to trust her with this or any other weapon. She returned his glare, wondering what the fuck his problem was.

“Zarya,” Aarav said, his fists clenched.

“Oh, just listen to them, Aarav. What choice do we have?”

She was pretending to be irritated, but the truth was she could barely keep her smile contained. After Aarav had tried to drag her back to the cottage, she was thrilled these two were taking them to Dharati, even if it did feel like they were being arrested. She was sure they hadn’t technically done anything wrong, though. Perhaps there she could escape, ditch Aarav, and set out on her own.

Aarav grunted and stomped towards the bushes, but Yasen intercepted him.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“To get our horses.”

“Stay here,” Yasen ordered, before he pushed through the bush and called over. “There’s only one horse.”

They waited for Yasen to lead it around, but it wasn’t Ojas. He must have run off during the attack. Zarya cursed her luck. Now she had no clothes, no food, and no money. And her only weapon had just been confiscated by the queen’s soldiers.

How would she escape Aarav now?

“You can ride with me,” Vikram offered, helping her limp to where the rakshasas’ horses stood nearby and hoisting her up onto a white gelding. A moment later, he settled in behind, pulling up on the reins.

She shivered at being so close to another person, enjoying the way his body felt all warm and hard against hers. And this was not just any person, but a handsome rakshasa. The very same beings she’d fantasized about countless times, thanks to her books.

Though she’d read enough stories to know that you didn’t throw yourself at the feet of the first man you met. Zarya was smarter than that.

Perhaps she should have been more cautious, but she couldn’t muster the worry Row had tried to drill into her every day of her life.

She resisted the urge to reach out and pinch both Vikram and Yasen, just to make sure they were real. Finally seeing faces that didn’t belong to Row or Aarav was worth the trouble of almost getting her leg bitten off.

Vikram seemed friendly enough, though Yasen was decidedly more off-putting. If they meant them harm, surely they wouldn’t have tended her injury. Right?

They’d go to the city, explain their situation, and then Zarya could find her own path. Free of Row’s shackles, maybe she could finally uncover why she’d been locked away her whole life.

They set off, hope stirring in Zarya’s chest as she headed towards her new and uncertain destiny.

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