Page 81 of Storm of Ink and Blood

“I understand that. Whatever you need.”

Zarya gave him a soft smile before she looked out the window one more time. Rabin’s story about the Andheran king sounded nothing like the monster she’d expected. But surely even the worst people could be good from time to time.

“Yasen told me a story he’d heard,” she said. “About Abishek killing vanshaj. Many of them.”

“More lies, Zarya. I’ve been there for twenty years. I would have seen it if something like that was going on.”

“But why?”

“Fear. Abishek has always been powerful. Anyone he might call a ‘friend’ is only out of political necessity, and he can be difficult. He tends to make a lot of enemies who stir up rumors to discredit him. The nobles of Andhera despise the fact they can’t control him. They see how much power and influence the nobility hold in other realms, and it makes them act out in petty ways. But he isn’t evil.”

She could understand that to an extent. Being unlikable didn’t equate to being bad.

“You don’t use vanshaj in your household,” she said.

His eyebrows pinched together. “I don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’d like to know,” she said, flipping her fork over and over in a nervous gesture. Rabin had shared what he’d been up to all these months, and soon, he’d expect her to reciprocate. Could she trust him with the secrets of the Rising Phoenix?

“Why should I want to use people who have no choice or say in the matter? It’s… inhumane.”

She studied him for a long second, realizing how aligned they were in so many ways.

He reached for a silver dish on the cart next to him a moment later. “Dessert?”

“Sure,” she said as they settled into easy conversation about less harrowing topics. When they were done, Zarya sat back and rubbed her stomach.

“I’m so full I could burst,” she declared.

He leaned forward and planted an elbow on the table. “Maybe we should indulge in a little exercise to work it off?”

The innuendo was obvious, and she narrowed her eyes. “You said we were taking things slow.”

“Maybe I changed my mind.” His mouth stretched into a cat-like grin.

“Well, I haven’t,” she said, though that was kind of a lie. Still, she could make him work for it at least a little more.

He shrugged. “Then how about a duel?”

He swept out an arm, taking in the weapons surrounding them.

“Another duel? Is that why you brought me here?”

He offered another lift of his shoulder. “It does always seem to bring out a certain fire in you.”

She felt her cheeks heat at the suggestion, but he was absolutely right.

“I’m wearing a dress,” she said.

“So take it off.”

She arched a brow at him. “Nice try.”

He chuckled. “Fine. I’ll make you a deal. You can choose what I wear.”