Page 108 of Storm of Ink and Blood

He pressed his mouth together. “You just controlled your magic. It’s because of the paramadhar connection.”

She blew out a breath. “I think you’re right,” she admitted.

He stepped towards her, careful to keep a sliver of distance between them. She didn’t retreat. In fact, she had to resist meeting him where he stood.

“We need to complete the Bandhan. If you have that much more control with just me touching you, think of what you could do.”

She studied his face before her gaze wandered to the standing trees—the ones she’d destroyed and the ones that had survived her nightfire.

She sighed and ran a hand down her face, realizing he was probably right.

He was the key.

Not only to the riddle of her magic but maybe to everything she was hoping for.

THIRTY-SEVEN

The next morning, Zarya opened her eyes to find Yasen staring at her from the other side of the bed. He lay on his side with one hand propped up under his head.

“Morning, sunshine,” he said.

She flinched, yanking the blanket up to her chin. “Why are you staring at me?”

“Did you know you snore?”

She made a sound of indignation. “I do not!”

“You do. It’s like listening to a rhinoceros with a sinus cold.”

She burst out laughing. “Shut up. It is not.”

He laughed, too, and then said, “I’m staring because you’ve been avoiding me every time I bring up the topic of what you got up to during your little trip to see our nemesis, the dragon shifter. And now I’m not letting you out of my sight until you come clean.”

She felt her cheeks heat. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

That earned her an eye roll. “Please. You ran out of here like your pants were on fire and disappeared for three days. Why did you return with Rabin, and did you let him plow the field again?”

She snorted and shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

He grinned, and she blew out a breath before sharing everything. When she was done, Yasen offered her a skeptical raise of his eyebrow.

“And you believe him?”

“I think so,” she said.

“So, why are you sleeping in here with me?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Because I’m still on the fence.”

“About?”

“About trusting him. I think I believe him, but I also don’t know if I should rely on my instincts. They haven’t always been the most reliable.”

He nodded. “And what are they telling you?”

“That he didn’t hurt me on purpose, and though he messed up, I understand why he didn’t initially admit the truth. Also, I think he tried, but then we got swept up in the battle for Dharati, and he never had another opportunity before it was over.”

Yasen flopped back onto his pillow before turning his head. “I’ve always believed him to be honorable.”