Page 86 of Storm of Ink and Blood

“Morning, Spitfire.”

“Morning,” she said, returning his smile.

His hand landed on her hip, sliding over the curve and down her thigh.

“Hungry?” he asked, and she nodded.

“I’d kill for some tea.”

“Your wish is my command.”

He slid out of the bed and flipped open the curtain before descending the steps. She watched as he held out a hand, and a moment later, a tiny colorful bird landed on his palm. He brought it to his mouth and whispered something before it flew off, swooping towards the house.

When he returned, Zarya stared at him.

“What?” he asked.

“Who are you?” she asked, and his expression turned sheepish in a way that made him look almost boyish.

“I’m here to make all your wishes come true.”

She grinned as he slid back under the covers before cupping a hand behind her head and drawing her in for a languid kiss.

A few minutes later, they pulled apart at the sound of a chipper “Hello!”

“Breakfast has arrived,” he said. Zarya spotted Sarika through the curtain, her eyes down as Rabin tugged on a pair of soft pants from a drawer next to him. With his back to her, she noted the jagged ‘freak’ scar carved into his skin, her fingers digging into the blankets at the grim reminder of everything he’d endured.

She heard him thank Sarika, and then he returned with a tray that he placed on a table in the corner.

“Do you have something for me to wear?” she asked, gesturing to his pants.

“No. You’re forbidden from wearing clothing in my presence for the rest of your life.”

She rolled her eyes and scooted out of bed. He watched her hungrily as she tugged open the same drawer to find a mound of soft grey fabric. She pulled on a light kurta that fell to her knees and smelled exactly like him.

“There,” she said, folding her arms.

He cocked his head and raked her from head to toe. “Actually, seeing you in my clothes is almost as hot as having you naked,” he purred, and she nearly grew lightheaded from the falling pit in her stomach.

“Can we eat?” she asked, shaking it off. He gestured towards the table before pulling out a chair. She settled into it and helped herself to an array of fruit and a giant mug of tea.

“Tell me about what you’ve been doing all these months?” Rabin asked. “Other than fucking other men who I’ll now have to hunt down and kill.”

Zarya smirked and took a sip of her drink. “That’s pretty much it. Just all day, all night, every day. Seems a shame you’ll have to wipe out such a large portion of the population.”

A growl rumbled in his chest, and Zarya laughed before she rolled her eyes.

“Yasen and I have been exploring the city. Making new friends.”

She stopped and wondered how much more she should reveal. Could she tell him about what she’d been doing with the vanshaj? What would he say? She also had a part to play if they were ever to trust one another.

“But?” he asked, picking up on her hesitation.

“We’ve made some specific friends.” She picked at the tablecloth, suddenly nervous.

“What kind of friends?”

She looked up at him. “Yasen and I joined the Rising Phoenix.”