Page 119 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

That earned her a wicked grin. “You’re going to pay for that comment later.”

“How?” she asked, genuinely curious. Would there be ropes and spanking? She’d read about that in her books, and it sounded… interesting.

“Gods,” he groaned as his gaze slid to the others chatting quietly over their food. “Don’t make me say it, or we’re never leaving here.”

He took a bite of his food and then pointed his fork at her.

“Now, you’re looking at me like that,” he snarled.

“A gentleman might not point it out.”

“When did I ever give you the impression that I’m a gentleman?” he asked as he leaned over and bit her earlobe, sharp enough to make her gasp.

“My mistake,” she said.

They continued eating in silence, and she looked over at him.

“Have you ever heard of something called paramadhar?” she asked. Maybe now was not the time for this conversation, but she couldn’t keep the words in anymore. It was like the tether that connected them was dragging them to the surface.

He frowned. “I haven’t. What is it?”

“I came across it in the notebook of my father’s.” She pulled it out of the bag at her hip and flipped to the page. The effects of the translation had worn off, and it was currently unreadable.

She touched the page and then went on to explain what she’d read about them, including her hunch about what had caused the dream forest. When she was done speaking, his face was expressionless, and she had no idea how to decipher what he was thinking or feeling.

“You think you and I—”

“I know it sounds ridiculous,” she said, regretting that she’d brought this up now. “Forget I said anything.” She went to stuff the book away when Rabin grabbed her wrist.

“It’s not ridiculous,” he said. “It actually explains a lot.”

He said it with curiosity and a hint of wonder, and the tightness in her chest loosened.

“Does that scare you?” she asked.

“Not at all.” He said it with his usual confidence, and suddenly, she didn’t feel as insecure about the idea. “Zarya, there’s something else we should talk about first—”

“Let’s get moving,” Row called across the clearing, interrupting whatever Rabin was about to say next.

“What is it?” Zarya asked, glancing at Row.

“It’s okay. We need to go. We’ll talk about it later,” Rabin said, and Zarya nodded.

They all packed up, preparing for the journey back to Dharati.

Suvanna stalked towards the beach, clearing the treeline and vanishing into the ocean without a backward glance. Row readied himself to leave as Apsara departed on white feathered wings. Rabin transformed into his dragon in a puff of black smoke before Zarya, Kindle, and Koura climbed aboard.

Zarya was a little more comfortable with the altitude today, knowing beyond a doubt that Rabin would never let her fall. She forced herself to take in the scenery as they shot out over the bright blue waters of the Dakhani. It was breathtaking, flying over the frothing waves as Daragaab came into view.

As the ocean melted beneath them, they careened over the blackened swamps of the forest that had been Zarya’s companion for so much of her life. She could make out the small patch of green and the small white cottage that had once been her home.

From this vantage, Daragaab’s devastation was rendered in stark relief. What had once been endless miles of verdant forest and jungle were gone. Dead and black and dry.

In the distance, the kingdom of Svaasthy lay to the west, a yellow patch of desert sands sparkling against the sunlight. It would only be a matter of time before the blight began its march into the home of spirit magic and Niramaya.

The edges of the blight escaped in every direction, like paint spilled on a canvas, and nothing would evade its grasp. The swamp’s quiet call didn’t reach Zarya in the skies, but it was hard not to notice how it had grown outward from the shore.

From that place where Zarya had spent her entire life.