Page 32 of Heart of Night and Fire

She lied again. “I will.”

To himself, Kindle murmured, “I thought perhaps…”

“You thought what?”

“It’s nothing,” Kindle replied.

Zarya pursed her lips. “Can I go, then?”

Kindle dipped his head. “Thank you for humoring me.”

With a curt nod, Zarya walked out and slammed the door behind her.

She wandered aimlessly through the bustling street, pondering everything that had just happened. With a start, she realized she’d forgotten the book with her mother’s picture.

She turned back towards Kindle’s haveli to retrieve it. Just as she was about to knock, she heard her name and stopped. Apsara’s and Kindle’s voices floated through the open window.

“Do you think she was telling the truth?” she heard Apsara ask.

“I’m not sure,” Kindle replied. “Her reaction was strange when I mentioned it. But why would she lie?”

“Do you really think she could be Asha’s?” Apsara asked. “We have no reason to believe there was a child.”

“I appreciate that,” Kindle said, a thread of whispered hope in his voice. “She looks so much like her, though. And why hide her? Row wouldn’t have done so without good reason. Who is she?”

“What if she were Aazheri? Would we be able to use her?”

“Possibly,” Kindle said, his voice grim. “Especially if she was Asha’s.”

Zarya frowned at those ominous words. Use her for what?

There were several beats of silence, then Apsara spoke, her voice soft. “I know he loved her, but I don’t know that she ever returned those feelings. Where would she even have come from? It seems impossible. I know we’re growing desperate, but she’s just a girl. One who bears a passing resemblance to a woman you haven’t seen in decades. A ghost from the past and a whisper of a future that is never going to be.”

Gooseflesh erupted along Zarya’s skin. Apsara’s words felt almost like a prophecy or a vow.

“Besides, you understand how dangerous it would be if anyone found out she had a child no one knew about? Who is the father? It can’t have been Kabir unless there’s more at play here than we realize.”

“These are all good questions,” Kindle answered.

“Where do you think Row is?” Apsara asked.

“I don’t know. I’ve sent out messages to my connections in some of the other realms to keep an eye out for him, but so far, there has been no sign.”

More silence followed, and then Zarya heard the scrape of chairs along the floor. Apsara was preparing to leave, but Zarya needed her book, so she knocked, pretending she’d just returned.

Kindle opened the door. Apsara approached and studied Zarya for a moment before turning back to Kindle and shaking her head. Without another word, she stalked out of the house.

“I forgot my book.” Zarya pointed to where it sat on the table.

Kindle retrieved it, searching her face as he handed it over.

“Thanks!” she said, overly bright, and then waved, cringing at her terrible acting. Before Kindle could ask if she’d been eavesdropping, Zarya hurried away, walking in the same direction Apsara had gone.

Apsara had said the name Asha—a short form of the name in the book. Had they known her mother? Did they imply Row had loved her? And why would her magic matter if she was Asha’s?

She became a stirring roil of emotions as her resentment for Row became layered with something thicker and more dense. Something that smelled like more treachery than she had ever imagined.

What if Row was never who he had pretended to be?