Page 144 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

“I’m sorry,” Zarya said.

“I’ll be fine. You take care of yourself.” She gave Zarya a small smile, and they embraced again. After they pulled apart, Apsara flapped her wings, rising into the air and disappearing into the clouds.

Next, Kindle said his goodbyes as he shared a brotherly moment with Row.

“See you around, old friend,” Kindle said, clasping elbows with Row.

“We always manage to run into each other eventually, don’t we?”

Kindle nodded, bowing to Zarya. “Take care of him, will you? We can’t go losing him again.”

“Of course I will.” She grinned, and in a swirl of flame, Kindle disappeared.

“Okay, well, see you,” Suvanna said, saluting to everyone. She took off running through the palace and towards the sea, leaping into the air and gracefully diving into the waves in a flurry of blue and green.

Finally, Koura gave one gentle pat to Amrita, kissing his fingers and placing them on the bark. “Take care, lovely queen,” he said.

He shook hands with Row and turned to Zarya.

“And you take care, Princess,” he said, bowing to her. She hugged him before he pulled himself onto his horse and trotted out of the courtyard.

Row then turned to Zarya. “I guess it’s you and me now.”

“I guess.”

“Zarya, I’d like for us to be a family. Try to find the happiness I could never give you. We can both move into the haveli. Start over.”

“You promise never to make me return to the cottage again?”

“I promise,” Row said with a smile. “I’ll burn the damned thing down if you want.”

She laughed at that, linking her arm with his.

“I’d like that, Row. All of it.”

Once everyone was gone, they walked back to the haveli, navigating the bustling street.

“Zarya,” came a deep voice that brought her to a stop. She looked over her shoulder to find Rabin. “Can we please talk?”

She tightened her hold on Row and looked up at him. He laid a hand over hers.

“Do you want me to give you some space?”

“No,” she said. “Stay with me, please.”

He nodded.

“I have nothing to say to you,” she said, turning to Rabin.

“Please,” he said. “I want to explain—”

“I don’t really want to hear it right now.”

“Then when?”

“I don’t know.”

Then, she turned back to Row, and they walked away.