“So now that Tenasserim is gone,” Leo asked, “Arindam is looking to expand intoThailand?”
Vasu said, “No, the Irin are too powerful here. Anurak and his mate rule in Bangkok, and now they’ve made an alliance with these Grigori. He’s not interested in going east. He’slookingwest.”
“Is Arindam expanding intoyourterritory?”
Vasu’s eyes cut to Leo, but Leo did his best to appearinnocent.
“That doesn’t work with me,”Vasusaid.
“I don’t know what you’re talkingabout.”
Leo knew exactly what he was talking about. He also knew—or he suspected—why the mention of Arindam’s name had provoked such a reaction in Vasu earlier. Ginny had said Arindam was making attacks in northern India. According to Ava, who knew Vasu as well as any of them did, Vasu made his home in an ancient city in Rajasthan, which was northwestern India. It was likely that Vasu, who didn’t have many sons after years in hiding, was feeling the pressure of an enemy near histerritory.
“That was Niran.” Alyah walked back to the dining table. “They rode up to the border, but they couldn’t find any traceofthem.”
Kyra shook her head. “They should have taken mewiththem.”
“No, they shouldn’t have,”Leosaid.
“Don’t be overprotective,” she said. “You’re not mybrother.”
“No, I’m your…” He shut his mouth. It wasn’t the time. Not with a Fallen angel and an audience. “They wanted to ride as fast as possible. I’m sure that’s all they werethinking.”
Sura said, “They won’t go into Burma without more people. Once you go that far north, Arindam’s Grigori areeverywhere.”
“So what are we going to do?” Kyra said. “We need to getPrijaback.”
“We will,” Sura said, “but it’s better to be prepared than fast. Don’t forget, Prija can defend herself. Like the Fallen said, they want to use her as a weapon. They won’tharmher.”
Vasu pointed at Sura. “He has a plan. Theybothdo.”
Leo asked, “What is he talkingabout?”
Sura sat at the table and folded his hands. “We’ll wait forNiran.”
Vasu rested his chin on his hand. “Boring.”
“Idon’tcare.”
Vasudisappeared.
Everyone froze, but the Fallen didn’t reappear. Not even when Kyra reached over and took the bowl ofstickyrice.
“Vasu?”
Nothing.
“Huh,” she said. “I guess he’ll come back when it gets interestingagain?”
Leo said, “With Vasu, youneverknow.”
Alyah said, “My country was boring until you came to it, Leo. Tell me why I shouldn’t put you on a plane and send you far,faraway.”
“Because I think I know what Vasu was talking about.” Leo looked at Sura. “And sodoeshe.”
* * *
“When we killed our father,we didn’t do it alone,” Niran said. “There was no way we could have managed it. Wehadhelp.”