Page 136 of Storm of Ink and Blood

“Yasen and I… you see… we…”

Zarya laughed. “It’s okay, Miraan. You’re both big boys. You can do whatever you like.”

She glanced at Yasen, who was smiling in a way she’d never seen before. His eyes sparkled and his cheeks were flushed. “Do you mind?” he asked.

“You and I will be talking later,” she said, and he gave her a salute.

“Yes, boss.”

“Maybe find a room, hey?” she added before turning down the opposite hall in search of her own bed.

As she entered, she found Rabin half-dressed, sitting under the blanket reading a book.

“What are you smiling about?” he asked.

She slipped out of her dress and tossed it on a chair before undoing her braid and running a brush through her hair.

“I just caught someone making out in the hallway,” she sing-songed.

“Who?” he asked.

“Oh, look at you,” she said, pointing her brush at him. “My big tough warrior wants the gossip.”

He laughed softly as she climbed on the bed and crawled up to him.

“I know you’re dying to share, so don’t put this on me,” he answered in a dry voice.

She laughed, rolled onto her back, and tucked her arms behind her head. “Yasen and Miraan.”

Rabin snorted as he flipped a page in his book.

“That’s the only reaction I get?” she asked.

“I’ve already walked in on them twice. They can’t keep their hands off each other.”

“What?” she asked, her voice pitching high as she sat up. “How dare you not tell me?”

“It is not my place to spill a man’s secrets,” he said, his eyes still on his page.

“Yasen is my best friend, and you are my…”

He looked up at that.

“Your what?”

She shook her head. “My…” She stopped and frowned, scanning him up and down. “I don’t have the right word for you. But you aren’t supposed to keep secrets from me.” She gestured between them. “We have a bond, remember?”

Suddenly, Rabin’s eyes darkened. He tossed the book aside and grabbed her hand.

“Marry me, Zarya.”

“What?” she sputtered, tugging her fingers out of his hold. He crawled up onto all fours and leaned over her.

“Before we storm the palace. We might die in there, but I want to die knowing that you were mine. Yes, we are paramadhar and masatara, but we are so much more.”

He sat back and pulled her up, cupping the sides of her face with his hands.

“I love you. The more I’m with you, the more I love you. I want a name for us. I want to be the world to one another, and I want everyone to know it.”