Page 70 of Storm of Ink and Blood

She laughed and threw a napkin at him. “Shut up.”

“I can brew you some special tea to help with that?” he asked, and she snorted.

“I’m fine. I’m doing a thing.”

“A thing?”

“Magic thing.”

He made a wry face. “Then far be it from me to interrupt the mystical act of constipation.”

“You’re such an ass,” she said, and he grinned. She stood up and nodded at him and Vikas.

“I’m going upstairs.”

She headed for the bedroom where she slept when their work kept them at the house late at night, closing the door behind her as she stared out the window. Rivulets of water ran down the glass as the sky thundered, drenching the world below. She pressed her hand against the surface and closed her eyes again, resuming the process, sifting through her thoughts until suddenly, there she saw it. Or maybe it was more of a feeling, but it was there, something glowing and silvery, buried deep, deep.

Zarya.

The voice in her head made her eyes fly open, and she jumped back. She stared at the window, catching the watery outline of her reflection. Did she really hear that? Or had that been her imagination?

She tried again, pressing her hand to the glass. It helped ground her and gave her something to focus on.

She repeated the process, seeking that spot. Edges of light teased her vision, and then she caught the flare of silver again.

She imagined herself touching it, scooping it up in her hands like water as his deep voice filled her head.

Zarya. I’m coming.

TWENTY-FIVE

Zarya snatched her hand away from the window as though it might sever their connection, but he was inside her head.

He was near. She looked out across the churning grey sky. He was coming. Now?

She closed her eyes and cast her thoughts out. She wasn’t sure what she was doing, but this felt right.

Rabin?

Zarya. The answer was so full of raw emotion that her knees melted out from under her as she sank to the floor. I’m coming.

Where are you?

Not far from the walls of Ishaan.

That made her eyes fly open again as she stumbled towards the window, gripping the frame so hard her knuckles turned white.

Can you see me?

She stared intently at the sky, where the falling rain obscured the horizon. And then she saw it—the smallest flare of iridescent light against the gloom. It might have been invisible if the sun was shining.

Meet me beyond the walls.

Her breath caught, but her feet were already moving. She found the long cloak she’d tossed on a chair a few days ago and stuffed her arms into the sleeves before she flung open the door.

“Zee?” Yasen asked as she thundered down the staircase, catching the alarm on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Rabin,” she said, cramming her feet into her boots.