Page 42 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

Speaking of which, Zarya also found the nawab seated on the far side of the courtyard with his wives. They were closest to the Jai Tree in a place of honor. Professor Dhawan and Tarin also sat near the front, their heads bent together, lost in some deep and likely profound discussion.

Maybe she could corner the professor later and talk to him about what she’d seen in the forest. After the vanshaj woman had confirmed this hadn’t been just in her head, she felt more confident about trying to find the source of the vision. It had to be real if it hadn’t been only her. She wondered if anyone else had seen it. Other vanshaj?

A hush fell over the crowd, and Vikram and Amrita emerged from the palace amidst a ripple of soft murmurs, their arms linked together. Amrita’s expression was still wooden and distant, and Zarya inhaled a deep breath, missing her friend and the brief but meaningful times they’d shared together.

Hand in hand, Vikram and Amrita began to walk through the courtyard as she picked fruits at random from the trees surrounding the perimeter. She passed each one to Vikram, who peeled and opened them and then handed them back to her. She took a single nibble from each fruit: a pear, a banana, a mango, a lychee, a pomegranate.

“What is she doing?” Zarya asked, leaning towards Yasen.

“Imbibing the fruits of the forest. It will start her transformation. The trees are hundreds of years old and are brought out only during a queen’s transformation into the Jai. They are sacred, tended by a hand-picked crew of rakshasa gardeners with an especially gifted affinity for growth magic.”

Zarya regarded the trees with their bright green leaves and slender trunks. Juices were running down Amrita’s chin, staining the fabric of her sari. When they were done, Vikram and Amrita approached the blackened Jai Tree, entering through the doors and disappearing inside.

Tarin, who waited at the entrance, followed behind.

“What happens now?” Zarya whispered to Yasen.

“Now, we wait. The transformation is a private affair.”

“Have you seen this before?”

“No, Rani Vasvi was alive before I was born. We’re actually very fortunate to be witnessing this.” He said it with reverence, and Zarya was surprised to see this rare show of emotion.

As the door to the tree closed, the guests resumed their chatter. Platters of food were brought out on round silver plates, each ringed with a dozen depressions filled with a multihued variety of curries and chutneys, a stack of hot buttered roti and naan waiting in the center. One was placed in front of Zarya and Yasen in a cloud of spiced aromas.

“If one didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re rather moved by this whole thing, Commander,” she teased.

“Don’t call me that,” he said before his eyes widened, and he shook his head, running a hand down his face.

She sat back, bemused by the outburst.

“Sorry,” she said, touching his arm. “I… why not? What’s wrong, Yas?”

“Nothing.”

She watched him for a moment as he tore off a piece of bread and scooped up a mouthful of lentils. Obviously, something about his new role was bothering him.

“Do you seriously expect me to believe that?” she asked before he looked over at her and then returned to his food, ignoring her question. She knew there would be little point in forcing him to talk about it. He’d close up tighter than an underwater vault. She’d have to coax it gently out of him like winning over a scared bunny rabbit.

“So, are you going to tell me why Rabin is staring at you like he either wants to spank you or fuck you?” Yasen asked, his eyes flicking to the back of the courtyard, very clearly trying to change the subject as Zarya choked on her wine. She picked up the napkin lying across her lap and dabbed at her wet chin.

“He is not. Stop that.”

“He most certainly is,” he said, grinning. “So, you can tell me yourself, or I’ll go over there and ask him.”

Zarya widened her eyes. “You wouldn’t.”

Yasen offered her a smirk that dared her to try him.

“He isn’t interested in either. Trust me.” Zarya’s face flamed as she buried it in her glass.

“Why? What happened? Don’t make me go over there, Zee.”

She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze as she mumbled, “Because I practically threw myself at him, and he made it very clear he is not interested.”

She definitely didn’t add the part where she’d not only thrown herself at him but couldn’t stop thinking about him. Okay, not just thinking about him but thinking about what it would be like if he touched her. Gods, she hoped he didn’t have some secret mind-reading rakshasa magic she didn’t know about.

Yasen’s eyes widened, and he burst out laughing.