Page 50 of Lost and Stolen Gods
My stomach flipped at the memory, and his gaze brightened for a moment as if he’d read my thoughts, as if he too was thinking about that moment. One we’d both enjoyed.
Araz’s eyes narrowed. “Well? Answer me.”
Shit. “What was the question?”
He repeated the question, slowly, enunciating eachword as if I was too dense to comprehend otherwise. “What. Are. You. Doing. Here?”
Fuck him. Two could play that game. “I’m. Hungry. And. Want. Food.”
Pashim’s lips twitched. “Of course, you are. You missed supper.”
“You were here?”
He smiled wryly. “I thought you might need help with your rice.”
Araz looked between us, his jaw flexing. “You cooked for her?” It sounded like an accusation.
“Ihelpedher, something whichyoushould be doing.”
Jasha snorted. “Why should he? He never wanted?—“
“What do you want to eat?” Araz snapped at me.
Not your tongue. Not your tongue. “I…I’m not sure.” Was he seriously going to cook for me?
“Indecisive little thing, aren’t you?”
Like hell. I made decisions all the fucking time. I might not stick to them, but… “I liked the dhal the other day.”
Araz stood slowly and stretched his epic frame. “Well then, you better get to work. It takes a while.” He strode past me and out of the room, leaving me standing there with a pulse in my throat and hot cheeks of shame.
Jasha chuckled and followed him out, leaving me with Pashim.
Bastard.
“I’m sorry,” Pashim said. “I tried to make him see reason.”
“Is that what you were talking about?”
“Yes. I explained that he needs to be in attendance for your training.”
“And?”
He shrugged a powerful shoulder. “Who knows?”
My heart sank. “Thanks for trying.”
“I want to be clear that I didn’t just speak to him because of you. If Araz fails to do his duty, there will be repercussions. For him.”
“What kind of repercussions?”
“Some kind of physical reprimand. Usually public. Drohi take care of their demigods, and it is rare for a reprimand to be applied. In fact, there has not been any such incident in my lifetime, but the law on the matter is clear. He would be wise not to test it.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “Come. There’s some leftover sabji and roti."
The toasties of my youth came to mind that Nani had filled with the leftover dry vegetable curry, and even though I’d hated them back then, the thought now brought only aching nostalgia. I’d give anything to have her make me one now. Anything to have her back. But she was gone. Trapped in the belly of a beast that I couldn’t free her from until I’d reached my full potential.
I couldn’t let anything or anyone get in the way of that goal. Not even Araz.
Back in the room,Araz was already in bed, which answered my earlier question of whether I’d get to sleep in it tonight.
