Page 110 of Lost and Stolen Gods
“Who’s Yama?” Dharma asked.
“The god of death,” Pashim said. “He closed the gates to the underworld a long time ago. Now the dead roam, and there are places like Mrtyu Valley where you might find them in abundance.”
“Wait a second,” Dharma said. “Are you saying that these…spirits can hurt us?”
“They cannot hurt you directly, but they can make you hurt yourselves or others around you.”
“Okay, the long way it is then,” Joe conceded, as if he had a choice.
But Pashim merely nodded. “I’ll be accompanying the party, but we will be led by Guru Mihir and his troop of ascended Asura and seasoned demigods. Are there any more questions?”
Priti put her hand up. “How many humans are we escorting?”
“Thirty,” he said. “More will be transported in a few weeks, and those of you who were not chosen this time will be on the transport team then, so I hope you all paid attention.” He closed the map. “No training tomorrow. Rest up. Come sunset we leave.”
Chapter 37
COME OUT OF THE RAIN
It rained late that night, and all I could think of was Araz on the roof. Surely, he’d have found somewhere else to sleep. But what if he hadn’t?
Urgh.
He was a grown man, male, drohi, whatever. He could take care of himself, but after ten minutes of trying to sleep, I gave up, pulled on my boots, and headed up to the roof.
I cracked open the access door to the sound of thunderous downpour and peeked out through sheets of rain to find Araz sitting on the edge of his soaking wet bed, steam rising off his body.
He had his back to me, but the muscles across his shoulders tensed when I stepped out under the awning.
Heknew I was here.
“Go back inside,” he called out over the hammering of rain.
“Only if you come in with me,” I yelled back.
“I’m comfortable here.”
Stubborn idiot. “In the pouring rain? Are you insane?”
“I’m not cold.”
A chill breeze tightened my skin, and I hugged myself, rubbing my bare arms. “Your bed is soaked.”
He ignored me.
Fuck it. I gritted my teeth and ran out into the downpour, biting back a squeal as icy water drenched me instantly.
“What are you doing?” He shot to his feet. “Get back inside.”
“No.” I stood a few feet from him, chin up in defiance, water pouring down my face in icy rivulets, jaw aching with the need to chatter. “I’m not leaving. Not unless you come with me.”
His jaw worked. “You’ll catch a chill. We have the test tomorrow.”
“Isn’t that what you want? Me to die so you can be free?”
“Damn you.” He bridged the distance between us and wrapped me in his arms. His body heat dried me off in seconds. “Just tonight,” he said. “Because it is raining.”
“Then I hope it rains every night.”
