Page 48 of Heart of Night and Fire

“A little liquid courage—good idea, Zarya,” Yasen said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

She glared at him but then stood and looked up at the fairy. He was so tall that Zarya had to tilt her head up to look into his bright green eyes, framed by a fringe of emerald hair.

He pulled her into the press of bodies, wrapping his hands around her waist and tugging her against his gold-dusted chest as he moved his hips. Despite his suggestive movements, she sensed a distance, a reserved boredom in his eyes, like this was all a chore he wasn’t particularly fond of.

“What’s your name?” she asked, placing her hands on his firm biceps so she could stretch onto her tiptoes to speak in his ear.

“My name?” he asked, his thick eyebrows furrowing. She nodded, and he hesitated, glancing around the room. “I’m not supposed to talk about myself.”

“But I asked.”

He couldn’t seem to meet her eyes as his slipped away, once again searching the corners of the room.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pressure you,” Zarya said. “Forget I asked.”

“It’s Amandeep,” he said quickly, in a low voice.

“I’m Zarya. It’s nice to meet you.”

He blinked and smiled, something in his demeanor shifting. “Are you having fun tonight, Zarya?”

She grinned and nodded as Amandeep began moving again, his movements less seductive and more friendly. His manner became warmer, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, letting him take the lead. The alcohol was taking effect, and she laughed with abandon. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever felt this unburdened.

Before long, the song ended. Amandeep backed up, his hands dropping from her waist.

“I need to move on to the next patron,” he said. He took Zarya’s hand and touched his lips to it, peering up at her through endless eyelashes. “It was a pleasure, Zarya.”

“Thank you, Amandeep. For me as well.”

After a tip of his head, he walked away, and she looked out across the dance floor to where Aarav was being similarly entertained by a female fairy, his eyes as wide as saucers and his mouth hanging open. It made her wonder what kinds of entertainment he got up to when he spent time in the city without her.

The crush of bodies surged around Zarya, and she let herself sink into the music, swaying with the beat. A warm hand landed gently on her back, and she looked up to find Vikram standing behind her.

“May I join you?”

She nodded as he passed her one of the glasses he was holding—this one a pale purple with floating pansies.

She sipped while they rocked with the music and the thrumming beat. Zarya lost count of how many songs they spent on the dance floor but was thoroughly breathless when she placed a hand against her stomach.

“I think I need a break.”

Vikram took her hand and guided them through the throng of people back to their table.

Yasen and Aarav were gone, and Zarya spotted them sitting at an enclosed booth with three men wearing the distinctive red uniforms of the Khada. Hands moving about in animation, Aarav was talking excitedly about something. Yasen leaned back, his arm slung over the bench, looking bored.

Zarya narrowed her eyes at Aarav, who looked more energetic than she had ever seen him. He looked almost… happy. After his sullenness lately, she wondered what was perking him up.

“Are you having fun?” Vikram asked, pulling her from her thoughts of Aarav as he leaned in close, his warm hand enveloping hers. She nodded. She was having the most fun she’d ever had in her entire life.

“This is exactly what we all needed.” She waved a hand at her face. “Although I am so hot, I’m melting.”

Vikram gestured with his chin. “Let’s go outside to cool off—there’s a garden you’ll like.”

They left through a set of glass doors at the back of the building, and the evening breeze was a welcome change from the heat of bodies and the smells of sex and dancing inside.

“Oh, this feels so good,” she said, lifting her hair to allow a breath of cool air to touch the back of her neck.

The garden continued in the same theme of an enchanted forest, where leafy branches strung with lights hung over sparkling fountains and small bonfires, and the scent of jasmine, roses, and lilacs perfumed the air.