Page 76 of Storm of Ink and Blood

Backing up, she attempted to put distance between her and this damning evidence of everything that was wrong with her. But she already knew this thing would follow her no matter where she went. Rabin had promised her the darkness wasn’t anything to be feared, but what if he was wrong?

“Zarya!” She turned at the sound of her name with a gasp. “Where did you go?”

She looked back at the flowers and the patch of black. She couldn’t let him see this. She couldn’t let anyone see this. She turned, planning to flee, when he appeared in the archway. His gaze snagged immediately on what she’d done.

“What’s going on?” he asked. “What happened?”

She opened her mouth and then closed it before running a hand down her face. “I have some things to share with you, too,” she said.

He blinked before he scanned the blackened flowers and leaves for another moment.

Then he held out his hand, and she took it before he drew her towards him. He said nothing as they stared at one another, their mouths only inches apart.

“You can tell me anything,” he said in a low voice that sank into the marrow of her bones. “Anything.”

She nodded, but her throat was too tight to answer.

“Do you want to return to the house?” he asked, brushing a tendril of hair back from her forehead. “You look pale.”

He swept his knuckles along her cheek, and she nodded again, grateful he wasn’t forcing the answers out of her yet. But she would have to tell him soon and hope for what, exactly? He was determined to be with her, but would he feel differently once he knew everything? And would that break her heart all over again?

“Yes. Please.”

He took her hand as they retreated in the direction they’d come. As they rounded the corner past a row of hedges, she turned to cast one more worried look back at what she had done.

Once Rabin returned her to her room, she decided to lie down for a nap. Yesterday’s flight from Ishaan had taken more out of her than she’d realized, and the soothing atmosphere in this house invited long hours of luxurious sleep.

While she drifted off, she rehearsed the story she’d tell Rabin about what he’d just witnessed, but nothing sounded right.

Eventually, her mind settled, and when she awoke a few hours later, she found another note:

Have dinner with me. It’s time we talked. Ring the bell when you’re ready, and Sarika will retrieve you. Wear the dress if you’re so inclined. It would bring me great pleasure.

-R

She couldn’t help smiling as she tucked this note away with the first one. She slid out of bed to find the dress he’d mentioned. It hung on a hook on the wall, and she crossed the room to caress the fabric. Made of moonstone grey silk, it might have been the softest thing she’d ever felt.

After a shower, she pulled it off the hanger and wrapped it around her, tying it off at the waist. The delicate fabric swirled around her ankles, and the style left her legs exposed when she walked. It felt like wearing a cloud.

She applied some light makeup from the supplies in the bathroom and tied her hair up in a high ponytail, leaving a few soft tendrils to frame her face. There was little point in denying that she wanted to look nice for him. After a final check, she pulled on the cord by the door and heard a muted chime ring through the house.

She opened the door and waited until Sarika, wearing a bright orange sari, appeared a moment later. She bowed with her hands pressed to her heart.

“You look beautiful, my lady.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for the dress. I assume this was your doing.”

Sarika’s answering smile was sly. “Oh no. He picked that out for you.”

She laughed, running her fingers along the silk neckline. “Really?”

“Really. He’s always had an eye for beautiful things.”

Zarya nodded, conceding this house was proof of that.

“Follow me. He’s waiting.” Her eyes sparkled as she gestured Zarya down the hall and through the manor. Zarya noted Sarika was human and not vanshaj. She’d yet to come across a single noble in Rahajhan who didn’t use vanshaj servants.

“How long have you worked here?” Zarya asked.