Page 13 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

As they neared the wall, a battalion of soldiers took shape under the moonlight.

Zarya and Yasen exchanged a worried glance.

As they approached, Zarya could make out Vikram at the head of the group. When he spotted them, he broke into a run.

“Amrita!” he shouted as they drew closer. “Thank the gods.”

“Vik,” Amrita said, her voice strangled and breathless.

She dropped Zarya’s hand and ran to him before collapsing into his waiting arms. He folded her into his embrace and then speared Rabin, Yasen, and Zarya with a look sharp enough to gouge out their irresponsible hearts.

FOUR

“What were the three of you thinking?!” Vikram shouted at Zarya, Yasen, and Rabin, his voice pinging against stone walls, lodging into the spaces between Zarya’s ribs.

They stood in the courtyard at Ambar Fort, facing a line of Khada along with General Amjal and a furious steward, pacing back and forth.

Zarya stood with her hands clasped behind her and her chin up, understanding she deserved every bit of rage Vikram could hurl their way. They had fucked up—no, she had fucked up beyond forgiveness. This had all been her idea from the start.

Their dressing down was also witnessed by the Chiranjivi, including a frowning Row. Gods, how she knew that disapproving pinch of his features so well. She’d been avoiding his attempts to speak with her, having trouble reconciling his surprise return with everything he’d revealed. Overnight, he’d become a veritable stranger, and yet, she also felt like maybe she knew him better than she ever had.

Amrita stood with the rest, watching Vikram, her brow pleated with worry as she wrung her hands, bunching her dupatta between her fingers, leaving the delicate fabric wrinkled and smudged with perspiration.

“You could have gotten Amrita killed! It’s not bad enough the city sits vulnerable and unprotected right now? If anything had happened to her, we would be finished for good! Without her magic to protect us, we are doomed! Do you understand that?”

Vikram resumed pacing back and forth, his hair framing his wild eyes. He’d been reciting the same accusations for several minutes, and the three on trial remained silent as he battered them with his verbal frustrations.

She watched as Suvanna and Apsara exchanged a meaningful look, but she couldn’t decide what she read on their faces. Kindle was attempting to soothe Vikram’s ire but wasn’t having much luck.

Finally, Zarya couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

“I’m sorry. It was my fault,” she said, stepping forward. “It was my idea to take Amrita into the city, and I coerced Yasen into helping me.”

“Yasen should know better,” Vikram hissed. “He is a lieutenant in her army and understands how important her protection is. Do you have any idea what could have happened!”

“Vik, we—” Yasen said, and Vikram whirled on him.

“Don’t! I don’t want to hear it. This was reckless, irresponsible, and foolish. What were you thinking?”

Vikram turned and started pacing again, running a hand through his hair. Zarya rolled her lips together as guilt gnawed on the lining of her stomach.

He had every right to be furious. She had done an impulsive and idiotic thing by dragging Amrita out into the city late at night without her guard. And even worse, Zarya had let Amrita out of her sight because she’d been too busy having a pissing match with Rabin.

As if Dharati didn’t already have enough problems, and here she was causing even more. Zarya might have helped save the city during the attack, but that didn’t mean she was exempt from the rules or the consequences of breaking them.

She exchanged a glance with Yasen, whose eyes shifted with guilt.

“And you!” Vikram said, whirling on his brother next. “What about you? You think you can just waltz back into Daragaab and do whatever you please, like you own the place?”

Rabin said nothing, his face an expressionless mask as he stared ahead, accepting his reprimand with an erect posture, just like the soldier he was.

“Vik—” Zarya said.

“You will address me as your commander,” Vikram said, his voice bruised with ice. “You are a member of the Khada, are you not?”

Zarya bit the inside of her lip, willing the tears burning her eyes to remain where they were. Blubbering like a child in front of everyone wouldn’t do her any favors. She had fucked up and deserved this vitriol. She’d never seen Vikram’s eyes look so hard before.

“Commander,” she said. “He… Rabin, he tried to—”