Page 84 of Lost and Stolen Gods
“Can I watch?”
Ravi looked to me.
I shrugged. “Sure. But no laughing when I fall on my ass.”
“You were right,” Prem said to Ravi. “She is pretty, and she smells nice.”
“Ready for a final full run-through?” Ravi asked quickly, twin spots of color appearing high on his cheekbones.
I bit back a smile. “Sure. Let’s do this.”
I ran the gauntlet.
The whole thing. And I didn’t fall or get knocked down.
Granted it was the dummy gauntlet, but it meant something, right?
The desire to share the news hot in my chest, I poked my head into the kitchen only to find it empty.
Urgh. Araz would have to do. Even if he had nothing encouraging to say, he could listen, right? It was the least he could do.
I returned to my room triumphant, exhausted, and determined to have a conversation with my drohi. But I sensed something was off as soon as I opened the door. The room was lit only by moonlight, and Araz’s bed was moving.
A woman moaned in pleasure.
An icy fist gripped my heart, and I quickly stepped out and closed the door. I stood in the hall, breath shuddering in and out of my lungs, tears pooling in the corners of my eyes and anger coalescing in my chest because what the fuck was wrong with me?
Araz could fuck whomever he wanted.
I didn’t care. I didn’t fucking care.
But where would I sleep tonight? Who could I turn to?
There was only one person. One place.
Pashim openedhis door looking wide awake even though he was dressed for bed in loose black pants and no top.
No top.
I lifted my gaze from his bronze skin to his concerned face. “Araz has a woman in the room, and I…I didn’t know where to go.”
His jaw clenched hard, sapphire eyes lighting up with anger. “Come in.” He stepped back, admitting me into his sanctuary, lit by low lamplight.
The room was almost identical to mine, but the washroom was on the opposite side. The space was neat as a pin, the walls lined with books. It was obvious that Pashim liked to read.
“Wait here while I go put an end to this cruel game,” Pashim said.
“No!” I grabbed his hand. “I don’t…I don’t want him to know I saw it. I just—Can I sleep here? I won’t be any trouble. You can make me a bed in the cornerand?—”
“What?” He stared at me in confusion.
“A bed in the corner of the room.”
“Why would I do that when there is a perfectly good bed in the center of it?”
“It’s fine. I’m used to it. I don’t mind.”
Several seconds slipped by where he stared at me in dawning comprehension, and it hit me that he probably didn’t know the truth about Araz and my sleeping arrangement. Had he not noticed my separate bed when he’d carried me to my room earlier tonight?
