Page 78 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

She stormed towards Rabin and stopped when he blocked her way.

“Move,” she said as he peered down at her with an arch of his brow. She glared with the heat of a thousand suns, and after a moment, he stepped aside.

She passed him and then looked back.

“And for the record, I don’t need you to rescue me,” she snarled at Rabin. “Both of you leave me the fuck alone.”

TWENTY-TWO

Zarya stormed through the ballroom, catching sight of Yasen, who was still talking to the rakshasa she’d left him with. She was furious, and she needed to get as far away as possible from every Ravana within cannon-fire distance. She couldn’t believe she’d have to travel with Rabin to the Bayangoma grove tomorrow. Avoiding him was going to be impossible.

But she was done. She’d had enough of this family and of him. She burst out of the ballroom and strode down one of the halls, sucking in a sharp breath when she heard her name.

She recognized Rabin’s voice, but she continued walking. Could no one take a damn hint around here?

His footsteps sped up, and she considered breaking into a run, but how silly would it look to have him chase her through the palace? She refused to give up the last shreds of her tattered dignity for his sake.

“Zarya, please,” Rabin said, grabbing her arm and bringing her to a stop. “I’m sorry.”

She whirled on him.

“Sorry, about what, exactly? You have a thousand things to be sorry for!” She shook him off. “Leave. Me. Alone.”

“No,” he said, grabbing her wrist and tugging her closer. “Please just listen to me.”

He maneuvered them so she was crushed against the wall with him looming over her, but she wouldn’t allow herself to feel anything. She’d spent enough time thinking about him and wouldn’t give him another moment.

“I’m not interested in this,” she said, pressing her hands against his chest, trying to hold him at a distance. “Whatever you have to say, it’s too late.”

She attempted to scoot under his arm, but as she broke free, he pulled her against him, her back hitting his chest as his arm banded around her waist.

“One minute,” he said in her ear. “I beg of you. Then, I’ll let you go.”

Her hands balled into fists as she thrust her hips, trying to dislodge his hold.

“This is… Let me go,” she said, but he pressed harder into her, the air in her lungs turning to mud.

“Once you hear me out.”

She growled low in her throat. This bastard.

“I told you to—” she snapped as his hand pressed under her collarbones, his fingers spreading and his mouth brushing the shell of her ear. Her entire body reacted with a flush of heat, slicing off her words and scattering them like motes of dust.

She squeezed her eyes shut, her thighs flexing and her stomach falling through her feet. Why was this turning her on? What was wrong with her? The way he overwhelmed her—his scent filling every corner of her brain. He had her trapped in his strong grip, but she wasn’t afraid. No, that wasn’t entirely true. She was afraid, but not for her safety. It was fear of the way he made her feel. Like she was tumbling into a pit with no bottom, and it was the most exhilarating rush she’d ever felt in her life.

This wasn’t anything like when Vikram had cornered her a few minutes earlier. This was oceans colliding in a war for dominance, but she was already losing.

“Let go of me,” she said, resisting every urge to melt into the blazing heat of his big body. “Now.”

There was a moment of hesitation before he complied, releasing his hold. She spun around to face him and opened her mouth, prepared to tear him into bloody strips, but he cut her off.

“I’m sorry for everything,” he said, pressing a hand to his chest. “I made a mistake. When we were in the street facing the blight together, I realized I’ve been a complete and utter fool.”

Her hands balled into fists, and she ground her teeth, searching for a suitably withering reply.

“And an ass,” she said.

That wasn’t exactly what she’d been going for, but it would do.