Page 84 of Heart of Night and Fire

As he turned to leave, Zarya called out, “Wait.” He stopped, looking back at her with one hand on the doorknob. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“That’s an awful lot for you to bear.”

“Thank you,” he whispered and slipped quietly out of the room.

Zarya had been ready to collapse into bed, but she was once again buzzing with energy. She found a shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders before she headed outside, deciding to take Vikram’s advice and explore the garden by starlight.

A symphony of sound greeted her as she emerged through a set of glass doors at the back of the house. Tiny peri chatted with one another in quiet voices while the insects and birds twittered, and an owl hooted in the night. It was all so peaceful. Zarya inhaled the scent of roses and jasmine and honey that drifted on the breeze.

As she wandered through the garden, many of the small creatures stopped to watch as she passed. Some waved, and some tipped their hats, and she smiled back with a wave of her own. Families were sitting down together with bowls in their hands, and some cradled the tiniest of babies wrapped in bundles.

An entire magical microcosm brimmed here, one so seemingly at odds with the cold and serious nawab who ruled this place. A man who would sell his youngest son into a life bonded to a sentient tree for the sake of his own ambition.

Zarya rounded a corner and spied a silver head of hair through the bushes. She recognized the back of Yasen, who currently had a male rakshasa pressed against a stone wall, their mouths locked and Yasen’s hand shoved down the front of the man’s pants.

“Oops,” Zarya said, the sound slipping out before she slapped her hand over her mouth, hoping they hadn’t heard her. She turned to scurry away, pretty sure Yasen would not be pleased by her interruption.

“Zarya.” She stopped in her tracks and turned around with a sheepish grin.

“Sorry. I was just out for a walk, and I didn’t mean to get in the way—”

Yasen had pushed himself away from his companion, who was broad and muscled, with long dark hair and striking violet eyes.

“It’s fine,” Yasen said. He whispered something to the other rakshasa. They shared a look, and the man grinned before he pressed his hands together in Zarya’s direction before striding away.

“He didn’t have to leave,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

Yasen shook his head and sauntered over to a fountain that sat in the center of the small courtyard where they stood. He picked up a glass with an inch of dark red liquid sitting on the edge and took a sip before he settled on a nearby stone bench.

“It’s fine. I’ll see him later. Come and sit,” he said to her, gesturing to the empty spot with his chin.

“You sure?”

“Sit,” he said, his tone offering no room for argument.

She obeyed his order and they both stared into the fountain. Silvery fish spooled around one another and occasionally leaped up in a spray of water before dipping below the surface.

“This place is really something. You grew up here?” she asked after a few moments of silence.

Yasen braced his elbows against his knees with his glass suspended between his hands and angled himself towards her.

“Zarya, I’m sorry about what happened. Vikram’s been like a brother since we were children, but what he did… it’s not like him to behave that way. And I should have told you—”

Zarya held up a hand for him to stop. “He apologized and told me everything. About Amrita, about their future.”

Yasen’s lips formed a thin line.

“It wasn’t your fault. I don’t blame you. I’m a big girl—I’ll get over it. I really just feel sorry for him now.”

Yasen gave her a sad smile.

“I understand why you were so mad that night at the peri anada now. I thought you were jealous.” She tilted her head to him, her cheeks warming at the admission.

Yasen laughed, throwing back his head.

Zarya made an indignant sound. “Well, it’s not that funny!”