Page 69 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

After a few more seconds, the dome flashed away, leaving the sky clear once again.

Vikram looked at the crowd and raised his hands. “Nothing to worry about,” he said, and Zarya wondered if she was imagining the strain in his voice. “Sometimes, Her Majesty grows tired, but everything is fine now. Please continue your dinner.”

The guests did as instructed, slowly resuming their conversation.

Zarya exchanged a glance with Yasen.

“Is that normal?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” he replied. “I haven’t seen that happen before.”

“Shouldn’t we do something?”

“Like what? Hold up the magical barrier in the sky with our hands?”

Zarya rolled her eyes, picking up her wine while continuing to stare at the sky. How could someone tell if the magic was actually in place? Wouldn’t it look the same if it were gone? Vikram had sounded confident everything was fine, though.

“So, Rabin,” Yasen said, with his glass perched in his hand. “Had any good dreams lately?”

Zarya choked on her wine and kicked Yasen under the table, but the angle was awkward, and it glanced off rather than being the sharp jab she’d intended. Yasen ignored it entirely as he bestowed Rabin with an innocent smile and a curious tip of his head.

Rabin glared fiercely at Yasen, then at Zarya.

Since the question had been asked, she had to admit she was curious to hear the answer.

“Tell us,” Jasmine said, turning to Zarya, having apparently missed the previous exchange, “I’m so curious about where you came from. Why did you spend your life living on the shore instead of here in the city?”

Zarya turned to her, wondering how much anyone outside the Chiranjivi knew. It was obvious there was some discussion about her origins, or Jasmine wouldn’t be asking the question.

“Because that’s where I was comfortable,” Zarya said sharply. Her temper was on edge, and she didn’t appreciate Jasmine’s prying. After everything Row had revealed about her parentage, Zarya had to be wary about who to trust. This was getting exhausting—secrets upon secrets tied up with lies and half-truths. Would she ever have the freedom to trust the people she met?

“It’s very mysterious, isn’t it?” Jasmine continued. “Who did you say your parents were?”

“I didn’t.” Zarya took a long drink of her wine. “Dead. Both of them.”

Jasmine tutted. “That is a shame.”

Her expression seemed knowing as her gaze flicked to her son, his eyes still pinned on Zarya.

She stuffed a large piece of roti into her mouth, ruing the day she’d ever laid eyes on a single Ravana. This entire family was far too involved in her business, never giving her a moment’s peace.

She chewed slowly, grateful when Jasmine’s attention was diverted to the person seated on her other side. A servant leaned over to refill Zarya’s wine glass. She swallowed the food and then took another long gulp.

Thankfully, the alcohol was taking effect, and her brain was now buzzing pleasantly. In fact, this was the most relaxed she’d felt in days. What was in this stuff? She’d have to buy some bottles to keep at the haveli.

Crossing her arms, she leaned back in her chair, staring at Rabin. He was now intensely interested in his food, mopping a piece of roti through a pool of gravy over and over again like he was trying to punish it for existing in his presence.

“I think it’s got enough sauce on it,” Zarya said, arching her neck to peer at his plate and squinting like she was having trouble seeing it.

The wine was definitely making her bolder. Or more foolish. Sometimes, it was a fine line, wasn’t it?

Rabin looked up from his food as her stomach dipped in response. It was that same heat she’d felt the other night. Suffocating and life-giving at the same time. Enough to drown her and consume her. She didn’t want to feel any of this. She wanted to forget about him. Move on to someone who wouldn’t leave her standing alone in the middle of a strange forest in her underwear after he’d initiated an almost kiss.

She bit her lip, and his eyes zeroed in on her mouth, his pupils spreading. She didn’t understand what game he was playing, but she was sure something was affecting him, too. She couldn’t have imagined all of that. She shifted in her seat, thinking of his hard cock rubbing between her legs and the tenderness of her nipples as they brushed his firm chest.

Well, now she knew what she’d be doing tonight once she returned to the solace of her bedroom. She wasn’t proud of it, but she couldn’t help the way he made her feel. She’d get over it eventually. In the meantime, she’d have to make do with her hand for company.

Rabin’s golden-flecked eyes raked up her frame as a shiver rolled down her spine.