Page 61 of Storm of Ink and Blood

She shrugged as she picked her nails with a dagger. “We’re taking a break. I’m into cock this week.”

Rabin smirked and pulled his leather tunic over his head, leaving him in a thin cotton shirt. “Yes, I was with her.”

Ekaja must have sensed the despondency in his voice because she pursed her lips into a mock pout.

“Did she blue-ball you again?”

Despite himself, Rabin huffed out something that might have resembled a laugh.

“You really know how to make me feel three inches tall, Kaj,” he said as he stripped out of his pants and retrieved the softer pair that he used for sleep.

“If I don’t, who will?”

“And you do it with astonishing proficiency,” he grumbled as he dropped onto the divan in front of the fireplace. A pot of tea had been set out, and he poured a cup to warm himself from the forest’s lingering chill.

Ekaja swung her feet down and strode over, dropping into an armchair. She wore her training leathers—her standard uniform when she wasn’t in her armor. As the only female commander in Rahajhan and the first in the history of Andhera, she refused to let anyone forget who she was. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a high braided ponytail, showing off the strong planes and angles of her face.

Rabin didn’t know how anyone could meet her and think she was anything but an apex predator, but men were idiots when it came to fierce women.

“She’s still angry with you,” Ekaja said.

“Yep,” Rabin said, sipping his tea. “But… I think she might finally believe me. I saw something in her face.”

He shook his head and rubbed a hand over his mouth. He was so tied up about Zarya, and it was everything he could do to focus.

“What did you do? Glare at her until she conceded?”

Rabin rolled his eyes. “I do have some ability to converse, thank you.”

“Could have fooled me,” Ekaja said, snatching a piece of burfi from the tray on the table. “So, what next?”

“I’m not sure. I think I’ll give her some space. I’m sure it’s eating her alive that I’ve learned how to control the mind plane and she hasn’t yet. It will only be a matter of time before she does, and then maybe she will reach out.”

Ekaja whistled. “This girl is eating you up.”

Rabin stretched and rubbed his side. His dragon tattoo always seemed to pulse whenever he was in Zarya’s presence. Abishek had encouraged him to get it years ago in an effort to leave behind his history and embrace who he was. It was a reminder. A bridge leading him away from a past he’d left behind.

The added bonus was that it was infused with magic that helped him control his transformations, meaning he could endure longer periods without that itch to change crawling under his skin. But now it ached with phantom pain as though it, too, missed Zarya.

“She’s convinced the king wants to hurt her,” he said.

“And you’re sure he doesn’t?”

Rabin’s gaze flicked to Ekaja. “You think he would? You’ve known him longer.”

She took a sip of her tea. “If you’re asking if I think he’s capable of it, then you know the answer to that. As to whether what you were told is true in this specific case, then I’m not sure.”

Rabin groaned and sat back as Ekaja barked out a laugh.

“You know what kind of man he can be,” she said. “He didn’t get where he was by being anything less than ruthless. He’s done many questionable things in the name of his power, Rabin.”

“I know,” he said. “But he had reasons for all of it. He wouldn’t hurt his own child.”

She nodded. “She’s powerful and has strong magic. I do believe that would be of interest to him.”

“But not in the way Row claimed,” Rabin said.

“If you say so,” she answered. She was skeptical, and Rabin understood why. But Abishek had taken Rabin under his wing and shown him the kindness that no one else in his life ever had. He was a king and was far from innocent, but being the ruler of a great nation meant blood on your hands. Rabin understood this.