Page 100 of Lost and Stolen Gods
Everyone loves the final act of a story. It’s the part where you get to blow shit up.
Chapter 33
I THINK I HATE FORESTS
The kitchen buzzed with activity as the drohi cooked up a storm, filling the air with complementary aromas that made my mouth water. Pashim had taken point, apron tied around his waist as he called out orders to his comrades like a culinary conductor in his element.
“He truly cares about you,” Chaya said from across the table.
Now that the grading was over, she was back in her flowy skirt and loose shirt, her hair held back with a scarf and a set of pretty beads around her neck.
I tore my gaze from Pashim and fixed it on my rapidly cooling chai. “I know he does. He’s been my rock throughout all of this.”
“Ahem,” Blue said, a small hunk of bread clutched in his paw. “What am I? Swiss cheese?” His nosetwitched. “Actually, cheese would hit the spot right about now.”
I bopped him on the nose. “You are amazing, but you already know that, and you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, yeah, silver boy is kinda great. But he ain’t no Araz.”
My neck grew warm. “Blue!”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m saying, he’s not our drohi, so we shouldn’t get attached.” He fixed me with a beady look before polishing off the bread and dusting off his fur. “Yeah, yeah, I hear you.” Blue said, raising a hand toward Drake, Eve’s ferret, who was standing by the door. “Sorry, got a thing to go to.” He hopped off the table and onto the bench beside me.
“Wait a second, what thing?”
“Me and the other anchors are having our own celebration.”
“Yes, Ida told me.” Dharma smiled. “Have fun.”
He blew me a kiss and scampered off.
“Wait, whatthing?”
But he was gone, and it was Chaya that replied. “It’s close to the battle moon and the surya eclipse. A time of high energy for spiritual anchors. They’ll be outside, recharging. You’ll feel the effects of it in the coming days.”
“What are you going to do about Pashim and Araz?” Dharma asked, bringing us back to the question I was hoping I’d avoided.
WhatwasI going to do? “Araz has made hisposition clear. He wants nothing more to do with me, and Pashim…I know it’s a risk getting close to him. He might end up bound to another demigod, but…I don’t want to lose him. I care about him. A lot.”
“Then keep him for as long as you can,” Chaya said. “A divine lifespan is too long to have regrets. Take your pleasures and your happiness where it is gifted to you.”
“In other words, feel free to bang him if you want to,” Dharma said with a wicked smile.
“Dharma!” Chaya admonished with a smile.
I had feelings for Pashim. Warm, deep feelings, and I found him attractive, but…“I can’t. I…don’t know if I want that.”
Chaya and Dharma exchanged glances, and it was Chaya who spoke. “The bond between you and Araz is strong right now, regardless of whether he nurtures it, but in time, it will weaken. Give it time.”
Pashim placed a plate of steaming curried meat and vegetables in front of me. “Mild, just the way you prefer it.” He gave me the half smile that I’d come to adore.
“Will you join me?”
“It would be my pleasure.”
The drohi stayedwith us for the meal but retreated as the sun set, leaving us with sweet wine and cheeses to continue our celebration. I was beginning to flag, but I’d missed so much already while being unconscious that I didn’t want to miss out on any more.
We played Bullshit, and Joe sang some tracks from our world that evoked an ache for home in all of us, and when everyone started reminiscing, the room felt suddenly too close and claustrophobic.
