Page 10 of Damned and Broken Gods
“But that’s just it. You don’thaveto do that anymore. If I’m queen, then?—”
He let out a harsh laugh. “Do you honestly believe you’ll be a queen in more than name only? If they let you take the throne, it will be as a figurehead and nothing more. The Authorityisthe law. They will not give you any more power than they can afford to. You’ll be a pawn.” He exhaled through his nose. “But once you free me, I vow to free you too.”
By starting a war.
That’s what he planned to do.
How much time did I have to convince him otherwise?
Was it even possible to change his mind? I searched his face. “Innocent people will die, Araz. People like the drohi who were raised to fight for the gods. You’ll be fighting against them.”
I caught the flicker of doubt in his eyes before he doused it. “Freedom comes at a cost.”
Yeah, he might want to believe that, but there was definite wiggle room to change his mind.
“Okay, I guess we should pack.”
He slowly blinked. “That’s it?”
I shrugged. “I said my piece, you said yours, and we’re on the clock here.”
He studied me for several seconds before breaking away to cross to the wardrobe, where he began unloading my clothes onto the bed.
Okay, so he was taking me at my word. Good.
“Um, Leela,” Blue stage-whispered. “Isn’t that your underwear drawer?”
Araz was indeed reaching for my undergarments.
I rushed forward to intercept him, realizing too late that my move put me snugly between the wardrobe and him. His cranberry scent hit me, teasing the pleasure zone of my mind.
I adjusted to shallow breaths, lifting my chin to look him in the eye. “I can do that.”
His hot gaze raked over my face, and he inched closer, forcing his scent to envelop me. “Ihavehandled your underwear before, Leela.”
My cheeks heated. “That’s a little pervy, don’t you think?”
“I’m not sure what ‘pervy’ is. I did what needed to be done. When you were sick with the poison from the flowers, I found underwear for Dipika to change you into.”
That whole period was a blur. “I’m grateful for your help at that time, but I can manage now.” I shooed him away. “Go pack your own things.”
He backed off, and I exhaled, turning to the underwear drawer and taking a moment to compose myself. Araz’s proximity was dizzying. His scent was intoxicating, and neither of those things was going to change. We’d been matched by the shakti for a reason.
There was potential for more between us, and I needed to guard against it.
My heart was a bruised and battered thing, aching with loss—Nani and then Pashim. It wouldn’t survive another blow.
The last thing I needed or wanted was to fall in love with Araz.
After a short discussion,Araz and I agreed on the earth house barracks as my allocation for now. Dharma, Joe, and Sylvie had all ended up in earth, so I’d have company. Priti was in Pavan Ghar with Remi, and Eve had landed in Paani. The twins Poppy and Regina hadn’t been allocated their affinity yet. My little incident had stopped the proceedings, so they were in the regular native barracks for now.
It was getting late, and with sunset barely an hour away, Blue was forced to leave us and head to the nest where all the anchors gathered at night.
“I’ll find ya in the mornin’,” he promised, dropping a whiskery kiss on my cheek before scampering off to join his friends.
The native demigod barracks came into view first. It was home to all the native demigods who hadn’t passed their first test or identified their affinity. From what Araz had told me, there weren’t many in residence there, but more would be reaped soon. Poppy and Regina would pretty much have the building to themselves for now.
The house barracks were basically named for the affinity houses in the royal domain—Dharti, Pavan, and Paani—earth, air, and water. They were built back to back with neat gardens separating them. Enclosed walkways connected each one. The demigods liked to mingle, even if they did live in separate houses. I guess it maintained unity just like Guru Chandra advocated.
