Page 80 of Heart of Night and Fire

“I just knew you’d be thrilled. They’re going to spend the next few days with us while you and Yas are on leave. They’ve promised to tell me all about what you get up to in the city.”

Amrita turned her shining eyes to Aarav. “I want to hear all your stories from the wall. My mother and Gopal say I’m not allowed to attend the betting parties, but it sounds so dangerous and just so thrilling.”

Aarav grinned, more than happy to regale her with tales of his victories.

“Tell her how many times you’ve almost died.” Zarya smirked, and Aarav glared at her, but it was half-hearted. They began chattering as Amrita launched a slew of questions in his direction.

“I’m sorry,” Yasen said, his voice low and guarded. “I should have told you, but—”

“It’s fine.” Zarya cut in. “It’s not your fault. He’s your friend. You barely know me. You were being loyal.”

“Zee, that’s not how it was.”

She waved him off, pretending it didn’t bother her. “I’m fine, Yasen. You’re not the one who needs to apologize.”

He nodded, his lips in a tight line. “I’ll kill him for you if you like.”

Zarya snorted. Vikram was going to be lucky to survive the night at this rate.

“No, you won’t, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

At that moment, Amrita turned her attention to Zarya.

“Yasen says you know how to use a sword? And you’ve fought on the wall, too? Who taught you? Oh, I’d love to learn how to use a weapon.”

“Why don’t you learn, then? Yasen is a pretty good teacher.”

Both Amrita and Zarya turned to stare at Yasen, who sat with his arms across his chest, glowering at everyone in the room before he slowly turned his head to find the two of them staring. If it was possible, his frown deepened further, and Amrita and Zarya both dissolved into a fit of giggles.

“No, I don’t think there’s much use in my learning how to use a sword,” Amrita said, a tinge of sadness in her tone.

“Everyone needs to learn how to defend themselves. Yasen will teach you. Right, Yas?” Zarya smacked him on a firm bicep. He glared back, arms still crossed over his broad chest, saying nothing before he looked away.

“Fine, then. I’ll teach you,” Zarya said.

Amrita’s eyes grew wide. “Would you?”

“Sure.”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Vikram interrupted, leaning forward with his teeth clenched.

“And I don’t think anyone asked you,” Zarya said with a cool stare before turning back to Amrita and sorting out plans with her for a lesson.

Once dinner started, Yasen sat back in his seat with his stony glare on everyone, while Vikram said little, drinking a lot and smiling when Amrita spoke to him, only replying in monosyllables. Zarya could sense Vikram trying to catch her eye, but she refused to give him the satisfaction.

Their little party was tense, and Zarya barely paid attention to the food while dinner dragged on forever. Finally, the parade of dishes stopped, and the mood around the table heightened.

As the plates were cleared, guests began to drift towards the attached ballroom, where upbeat music was already playing. Vikram and Amrita started off the dancing as Gopal and the three beautiful women lounged on a dais covered in thick pillows and bolsters. Zarya didn’t miss the cold and assessing stare the nawab used to survey the room, as if assessing a threat from every side. Something about him made her skin crawl.

“Who are those three women?” Zarya asked Yasen.

“The Begums of Ravana. His wives.”

“Rakshasas have harems?” she asked.

“Some. It’s an old tradition, usually only for royalty. Gopal married Vamika, who failed to produce an heir for about a hundred years, and he couldn’t let the Ravana line die out, so then he moved on to Diya, who only had a lowly daughter.”

He paused at Zarya’s scowl.