Page 80 of Storm of Ink and Blood

He trailed off, and Zarya reached out a hand and laid it on his arm. He shivered at the warmth of her touch.

“But I learned that he had abused my mother in my absence. A guest had been praising my victories at the dinner table, and he couldn’t bear to hear it, so he sought her out and struck her just for being my mother.”

“Fuck, I hate that asshole,” she whispered, which almost made him want to smile.

“I let my temper get the best of me, and we argued. I returned the blow with a punch to his jaw, but I should have known better. It was rash and impulsive, and I had no power there. I was surrounded by his guards in his house, and I didn’t get far.

“I was tossed into a cell and left to starve for weeks. The only time they came to see me was to beat me black and blue before they’d leave me lying in a heap of shattered bones.”

Zarya gasped, her face growing pale.

“They claimed no one knew where I was, and everyone had assumed I’d left. I didn’t know if it was true at the time, but I’ve since learned they believed it. So I decided that was my chance to, in fact, leave once and for all.”

Rabin stopped speaking and gathered the pieces of himself, trying to push past the hurt and anger that had consumed him through those days. He was growing and healing, but there were moments when he still retreated into the darkness of those moments. When it felt like there was no way out.

“It took every ounce of my strength, and I don’t know how I accomplished it, but desperation makes us do desperate things. I managed to force a transformation as they entered my cell, causing our surroundings to crumble due to my size. I fried them all to ash, and then I burst out and flew myself to freedom.

“My limbs ached, and my wings hurt so much that I didn’t get far at first. I had to rest every few miles, but I was determined to get as far away from Daragaab as possible. I was so weak and broken, and finally, I came to a stop at the base of the mountains along the border of Andhera. Near death, I had given up, and I lay in the cold and waited for it to take me away.”

Zarya squeezed his hand tighter and tighter as he spoke. “And?” she asked on a breathless whisper.

“And Abishek found me. His scouts noticed me lying on the ice, and before I knew it, I was surrounded by his people. I was too weak and hungry to turn back, so they hauled food out, dragging it across the mountains until I was strong enough to shift into my rakshasa form. Then they brought me to the palace where I spent weeks healing from my injuries.”

He stopped again, looking away from the distant spot where he’d been staring to meet Zarya’s gaze.

“When I woke up, Abishek was there, and I didn’t disgust him. He was fascinated, and he was the first person in my life who encouraged me to appreciate my gifts. He gave me the courage to finally embrace who I was. So you see, I owe him my life.”

He watched a thousand emotions cross Zarya’s face as his thumb swept over the back of her hand.

“I’m so sorry that happened,” she answered. “And I’m glad that he was there to help you.” She shook her head as she let go of his arm and leaned back. “Perhaps… I’ve misjudged things.”

“You had no way of knowing,” he said. “You only had the information offered to you.”

She nodded, casting her gaze towards the window, to the same place he’d just been looking, seeking north as though she could see over the miles separating them from her father.

“There’s something else you should know,” he said. Though he’d considered keeping this to himself, he’d also learned his lesson and wouldn’t make the same mistakes with her again.

“What is it?”

“Before I left, your father suggested I break things off with you in terms of a romantic relationship.”

Zarya blinked with confusion. “Why?”

He ran through all of Abishek’s reasons, leaving out the part where the king had called him weak in spirit. The comment had hurt, and he wasn’t sure he could be that vulnerable in front of anyone.

“I think in his own way, it’s because he cares about both of us,” he said. “And I confess I did think about not sharing this just yet only because I didn’t want you to choose me out of spite, but I promised there would be no more secrets between us.”

She snorted a dry laugh. “That does sound like something I might do.”

He offered her a small smile as he waited for her reaction.

“Thank you for telling me,” she said. “But he doesn’t make those choices for me. No one does.”

“I feel the same,” he answered. “He’s being protective as is his way, but nothing would keep me from you if you’ll have me.”

She blew out a long breath and ran her fingers through her ponytail. She was quiet for a moment before she said, “I need to talk to Row before I consider a visit to Andhera.”

Rabin dipped his chin.