Page 93 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

“Obviously.” He produced a bottle of cashew feni, and she reached for it as he pulled out the stopper and handed it over. She took a long swig of the botanical spirit, tipping her head back and savoring the burn down her throat.

Then, she returned it and wiped her mouth with the back of her arm. He chuckled and took a swig of his own.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

She shrugged, not saying anything for a few moments.

“Sometimes, I can understand why he did it,” Zarya said finally. “Why he thought he was doing the right thing by keeping me hidden. Maybe it did save my life. But I can’t understand why he had to lie about it. Why couldn’t he have told me the truth? Would that have been so hard? I would have understood. It would have changed everything if I’d known.”

Rabin sat back, stretching his legs out and leaning against a log. He folded his hands and crossed his ankles.

“Sometimes, truth is difficult. Even when you know it’s right, it gets stuck inside you and claws away at you. Sometimes, it can be the hardest thing to reveal.”

“Hmm,” Zarya said, scooting back next to him and tucking her knees up. They sat in silence, watching the waves gently lap the sand.

“I’m not defending Row, but perhaps what he gave you was his own truth,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“Look at you—you spent your entire life on this tiny spit of land, and yet you emerged not as a meek, cowering woman, afraid of the world.

“That sword you use with such strength; he gave you that. I’ve been a soldier my entire life, and I’ve seen what happens when people learn to protect themselves. They become something else entirely. Confidence can be earned. I know part of that was already in you, Zarya, but Row said he couldn’t give you your magic, so instead, he gave you that.”

Zarya stared at the man sitting next to her.

“Or, if I’m out of line and you want me to shut up, I will.”

She smiled. “No, that actually makes sense.”

He leaned in, stopping just short of their arms touching. “I can be surprisingly insightful, too.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll try to remember that.” She looked back at the house and then at him. “You were right. I don’t want to sleep in there tonight.”

“Then don’t. Sleep out here. It’s a beautiful night. I’ll stay with you if you like.”

Her gaze narrowed with suspicion.

“What?” he asked.

“Don’t get any ideas. If I let you stay, then it’s only so the demons eat you instead of me.”

He lifted his hands in surrender. “Oh, I have all kinds of ideas.” The meaning in his tone was clear. “But I’ll keep them to myself tonight.”

“See that you do.”

He handed her the bottle of feni. “More?”

“Absolutely.”

She grabbed it and took another swig as together they watched the distant setting sun.

TWENTY-SIX

A small blue and white tugboat bobbed in the water as Zarya opened her eyes the next morning. She rubbed them, wondering if they were playing tricks on her. Where had a boat come from?

Then, she realized she was completely draped over Rabin, his arm wrapped around her, and their legs tangled together. She went completely still. When they’d fallen asleep on her blanket, she’d been sure to keep at least two feet of space between them.

She slowly looked up, praying he wasn’t awake and could extricate herself without being noticed. But she was met with a pair of dark, golden-flecked eyes dancing with amusement.