Page 58 of Storm of Ink and Blood

Rania nodded tersely. “This is good news,” she said.

It wasn’t forgiveness, but the slightest softness entered Rania’s eyes.

“We also need a private spot where we can operate without detection. Somewhere we can direct people to have their collars removed.”

Rania looked at her brother. “This is how we can help, then,” she said. “And it is what Farida would want. We’ll get in touch with the council to seek their approval, but I’m confident they would support this.”

Ajay nodded as the siblings shared a secret exchange.

Rania then looked at Zarya. “They may want to meet with you first,” she said, and Zarya nodded.

“Of course. Whatever you need.”

“Then we’ll find somewhere safe,” Ajay said. He took Zarya’s hand and pressed it to his heart. “And thank the gods that they’ve sent you to us.”

TWENTY-ONE

Zarya tossed and turned in her bed that night, worrying about all the things that could go wrong. The risk of discovery was at the top of her worries. What would happen if the Jadugara uncovered what they were doing? What if the royal family found out?

Not only would they lash out with even more severe consequences, but there was also a good chance Zarya’s identity would be revealed, and she couldn’t begin to understand the repercussions of that.

As she flipped from side to side, her mind kept wandering back to Rabin. She still hadn’t found time to uncover more about paramadhar and loathed that he currently had the upper hand. Tomorrow, she would add that to the top of her to-do list. While she was helping everyone else, she could help herself, too.

She continued to toss and turn, eventually caving to a troubled sleep, when a blast of cold wind pulled her eyes open.

She probably shouldn’t have been surprised when she found herself in the middle of a forest clearing. But it wasn’t the same forest where they’d met before. This one was darker, the sky a deep green, though there were just as many stars. She was surrounded by pine trees and snow dusting the ground and the rocks that formed the perimeter. In the distance loomed a range of soaring white-capped mountains.

Pulling herself up to stand, her toes dug into a thick fur rug cushioning her feet. Wearing only leggings and a sleeveless tunic, she rubbed her arms while she shivered. Rabin stood at the other end, dressed in leather with a thick fur cloak tossed over his shoulders. He looked like some kind of warrior god, staring down at her. This time, he wore only one of his dragon swords belted at his hip.

She said nothing as she stared at him, the wind whipping strands of hair across her face. He approached, sliding the cloak off his shoulders and holding it out. “May I?” he asked, and though she considered refusing, she was also fucking freezing.

She nodded, and he stepped closer, wrapping the cloak around her. It was warm from his body, and she did her best not to notice the way it smelled like him. She’d dreamed of that scent of midnight forests and smoky earth every night for months while trying to drown him out of her thoughts, but it was no use. It had never been any use.

“No sword for me this time?” she asked, her teeth chattering, before he arched an eyebrow.

“I was hoping we could talk instead,” he said.

Clutching the cloak tight to her shoulders, she scanned him from head to toe. “I have nothing to say to you.”

His mouth firmed into a hard line, revealing the depth of his frustrations, but he had brought all of this upon himself.

“Why did you bring me here?” she asked. “You don’t have to be asleep for this to work anymore?”

She gestured to his clothing, and he shook his head.

“No, once you understand how to enter the mind plane, you can do it anywhere and anytime. Honestly, I’m surprised you haven’t figured this out yet.”

Zarya narrowed her eyes. “I’ve been busy.”

“Doing what?” he asked.

“That is none of your business.”

He rubbed his chin as he slowly circled around her. She resisted the urge to follow his path and wiggled her toes where she stood, the tips beginning to freeze.

“You won’t tell me where you are?” He looped around to stand before her again.

“Why? So you can sweep into my life and fuck everything up?”