Page 131 of Storm of Ink and Blood

After some consideration, Kajal nodded. “It’s all true? You can break it?”

“I can. We all can.” She gestured between Vikas and Miraan.

“But he is a prince,” Mina whispered. “He’s the reason we’re in this place.” Her gaze flicked to Miraan as if fearing his ire, but the prince only dropped to a knee, one arm propped on his thigh.

“You are absolutely right,” he said solemnly. “And you have every reason to distrust me, but I have realized how wrong I’ve been and now want to do everything I can to make amends. I understand that nothing I ever do will be enough to make up for the life you’ve been forced to live, but I will never stop trying.”

Mina and Kajal traded looks as an unspoken message passed between them. It was hard not to be moved by the passion and sincerity in Miraan’s voice.

“He’s also responsible for this whole house and the fact that any of us are here with the means to help you,” Zarya added, “if that helps ease some of your hesitation.” She shot a glance at the prince. “And I wasn’t expecting help from any of the Madans, either, but extreme circumstances sometimes produce the most unlikely allies.”

She hoped he was sincere and that he wasn’t simply a very good actor.

“Okay,” Mina said. “We’ll do it.”

Zarya exhaled a relieved breath. “Okay, then—who wants to go first?” she asked gently.

“I do,” Kajal said, raising her hand. “I want this gone.”

Zarya dropped to her knees as well. “You’re sure? You understand the risks?”

“I’m sure. Please. Just take it away.”

Zarya nodded and then held out her hand for Rabin. He immediately settled next to her, clutching it. She wasn’t sure if she needed to be touching him, but she wanted as much control as possible and thought this might help. Even if it had little effect on her magic, having him near made her feel safe and confident in other ways, too.

She looked up and he gave her a small nod. “You can do this,” he said in a low voice. “I have every faith in you.”

She squeezed his hand tighter, called up her nightfire, filtering out that thin tendril she’d been practicing, and reached for Kajal’s collar.

The woman held so still that Zarya didn’t think she was even breathing. That was probably for the best. Any sudden movements might throw her off.

Zarya touched Kajal’s marking and ran through the usual steps to find the spaces between the magic and ink. This felt smoother and lighter, and she was sure she was on the right track.

With another small surge of magic, she broke through the enchantment, and the collar disappeared instantly, small puffs of black ink dissipating in the air. Zarya stared at the woman’s throat, hardly daring to believe it. That had been so easy. So quick.

This changed everything. This gave them a fighting chance.

Kajal widened her eyes as she clutched her throat. “What happened?”

“What did you feel?”

“Only a tingling.”

Zarya exhaled the single most relieved breath of her life. “It worked. It took only seconds, and it worked!” She began laughing. She’d done it. All those years locked away, all those nights wondering if she’d ever have a purpose, and this destiny had been awaiting her all along. This felt right. She looked at Rabin, and the small smile on his lips was so full of pride that she thought she might burst.

Kajal was crying as Mina and Vikas wrapped their arms around her, and they all laughed and wept.

“Okay, next,” Zarya said, overcome with emotion and wiping her eyes, but Rabin laid a hand on her arm.

“Don’t do it here,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

His gaze moved around the room. “You need to show them.” He swept an arm out towards the vanshaj district. “If Mina is willing, you must do this with witnesses where everyone can see no harm will come to her. A demonstration to convince everyone of what is possible.”

He looked at Mina, who sat back with wide eyes as she regarded him warily.

“I understand this is asking a lot of you,” he said in his rumbling voice. “You were very brave in coming here today, but this is for your people. This is a chance to change the course of a thousand years of wrongdoings committed against you and everyone like you. We are on the cusp of something so much bigger than any of us, and I’m asking you to be brave again. Perhaps braver than you’ve ever been in your entire life.”