Page 28 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

“What’s gotten into you, my friend?” Zarya asked.

Again, Amrita transformed, her expression turning smooth and stoic as she stared across the room at some point in the distance. “Perhaps I’ve realized that I do hold more power than I think. Vikram helped me see it,” she said. “Last night, we talked after the seeding, and he said some things that made me realize I don’t have to be docile and agreeable all the time. That is not my job.”

“Well, I like it,” Zarya said, leaning over in a conspiratorial whisper. “Though I think you’ve quite shocked them all.”

Amrita blinked slowly. “That part has been rather fun.”

“Why was Priya so sour with me, then?” Zarya asked. “What did I do?”

“They know I actually like you,” Amrita said, raising her voice again. “Zarya was my friend before she knew I could do things for her.”

This time, Zarya saw more than one courtier turn red before they turned away to focus intently on their wine glasses.

“Amrita!” Zarya said, shocked.

“I think Priya is convinced I’m giving that house to you,” Amrita said, and Zarya widened her eyes.

“And why does she think that?”

“I might have hinted at it,” Amrita said, and Zarya snorted on her drink. “Don’t worry—it’s just to keep her on her toes.” Amrita slid her glance Zarya’s way. “Unless you want it, of course?”

Zarya waved a hand. “No, that’s quite all right. I don’t think I’m quite in the ‘estate management’ era of my life just yet.”

“Well, if you change your mind,” Amrita said as though she’d already forgotten about the conversation, her voice trailing off.

“Noted.”

The woman who had been decorating Zarya’s hand finished and indicated that it was time to switch. Zarya examined her handiwork, mesmerized by the swirls and arcs, the flowers and scallops that formed the ornate design.

She placed her glass next to her and held out her blank palm.

“You left the seeding early last night?” Amrita commented, now on her second hand as well. Her markings were far more intricate, winding all the way up her arms and covering her feet and ankles.

Zarya wrinkled her nose.

“Is this about Vikram?” she asked, still speaking with that strange, breathless voice like she wasn’t entirely here. “I saw you two sneak off together.”

“Amrita—”

“It’s okay,” Amrita said, gently nudging Zarya with her shoulder. “Truly. I know how he feels, and I do not have those feelings for him. It’s fine. I promise.”

“He was asking if we could give things a go,” Zarya said. “He wanted to pursue what we started before I knew who you were to him.”

“And what did you say?”

“I said I wasn’t sure,” Zarya said.

“But, you are sure.” Zarya flicked her gaze to Amrita. “I’m not on anyone’s side here. I just want you to be happy.”

“You want him to be happy, too.”

“I do,” she said. “But only with someone who wants to be with him. He deserves that.”

Zarya blew out a breath. Everyone in the room was engrossed in their conversations, though their glances occasionally slid to Amrita and Zarya. She noticed the Ravana wives seated under the window, chatting with a group of fawning courtiers.

She studied the beautiful Jasmine Ravana—Vikram and Rabin’s mother—seeing the resemblance to her sons in her face. The angled eyebrows and the strong jaw. Jasmine had the same gold flecks in her dark eyes as Rabin, though hers were less pronounced.

Jasmine looked up, and their gazes met for a prolonged heartbeat.