Page 9 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

He directed her face towards his, their mouths inches apart. He smiled, his eyes twinkling.

“Now what?” she asked breathlessly, pretty much ready to do anything he wanted at this point.

“Get away from her,” came a deep voice as a shadow fell over Zarya. “Now.”

Zarya looked up to find Rabin standing over them, his arms still folded over his broad chest and his legs spread like he was ready to face down a stampede of feral tigers.

Amandeep blinked his long lashes.

“Is there a problem?” he asked, with a tilt of his head, and Zarya had to admire his lack of fear, given it really did look like Rabin was planning to tear off his arm and beat him over the head with it.

“You heard me,” Rabin said, his voice as deep and dark as the bottom of a pit. Amandeep gave Rabin a cocky grin.

“Sure thing,” he said. “I didn’t realize the lady was spoken for. My apologies.” Then, he turned to Zarya. “Have fun and keep in touch.” He pulled a card from the pocket of his tiny shorts—where did he fit that?—and pressed it into her hand. “If you ever need anything, this is where to find me.”

Then, he kissed her on the cheek, allowing his lips to linger longer than necessary.

Zarya swore she heard a growl from Rabin, and her brows pinched together with confusion. Something about this situation was pissing him off, but it couldn’t be about her. He’d been perfectly clear when he’d told her he felt nothing for her in that alley.

She wouldn’t allow herself to entertain any other hopes because it was all too depressing to contemplate otherwise.

Regardless, it was a delight to get under his skin, whatever the reason.

Finally, Amandeep pulled away with a quick wave. Rabin didn’t move an inch as Amandeep stood, forcing him to squeeze past Rabin’s bulk.

After Amandeep melted into the crowd, Zarya stood up, contemplating how foolish she’d look if she used the bench to try and mimic Rabin’s height so it didn’t feel like she was drowning under him. Likely quite foolish.

“What the fuck was that?” Zarya demanded, opting to stretch herself as tall as she could with little success. “He is my friend.”

“You looked a lot more than ‘friendly’ there,” he snarled.

“So what? That’s what this place is for. What do you care?”

“I don’t care,” he said. “But the way you were acting—”

“How was I acting?” Zarya asked, arching an eyebrow and daring him to finish that sentence. “Do tell me. I can’t wait to hear this.”

She folded her arms, matching his stance.

They were so close she could feel his warmth. Their surroundings couldn’t help but make her wonder what it would be like to dance with him, his body pressed against hers. What would it be like to disappear behind one of those curtains and explore so many things she’d only imagined between the pages of her books and the private thoughts in her head? Her cheeks warmed, thinking of how she’d touched herself to those same kinds of fantasies at his family’s estate just a few days ago. Perhaps on a bed where he’d once slept.

His eyes darkened, those golden flecks dimming into bronzed points of light before they dipped, scanning her from head to toe. His nostrils flared, and he opened his mouth, about to reply, when someone burst through the crowd.

It was one of the purple fairies Amrita had been dancing with.

“Please,” she said, her eyes spread with alarm as she clutched at Zarya’s arm, using it to maintain her balance as she crashed into her. “They’ve taken her!”

THREE

It took Zarya a moment to comprehend what the fairy was trying to tell her.

“The princess,” Rabin said, already two steps ahead, the zing of steel filling the air. “Who?” he demanded of the trembling fairy. “Where did they take her?”

She blinked her big eyes, cowering under the weight of his questions. Her lips parted, but the only sound that came out was a high-pitched squeak.

“Answer me,” Rabin demanded, towering over her with all the charm of a venomous snake. This wasn’t going to get them anywhere. This poor fairy was too terrified to speak. Was this how he always dealt with people?

Zarya stepped in front of him, placing a hand at the center of his chest and shoved, putting some distance between him and the trembling fairy. It was a measure of his surprise because he actually took a step back. But he didn’t look happy about it.