Page 28 of Damned and Broken Gods
“Yes.” I raised my chin, determination swelling in my chest. “We only have to do it for as long as it takes for me to ascend, and if Guru Chandra has anything to do with it, that could be tomorrow.”
His brow furrowed. “It won’t be that fast, even if the Authority agrees to it. And if they don’t? If they force you to take the tests, then?—”
“We train together. Eat together. Hang out with the others. But at nighttime we retreat to our sides of the room and use the screen as a barrier. No sharing a bed. No…late night cuddles.”
There’d been a couple of those the past week. Nightmares on my part drawing him to my bed.
“If you cry out in your sleep, then?—”
“You let me cry.”
His jaw ticked. “And you believe this will help.”
Was I delusional? Maybe a little bit but— “I do.”
He sighed and nodded. “Then we’ll try it.”
“Okay,friend. Let’s go.”
The corners of his mouth dimpled as he bit back a smile. “I don’t believe friends are required to address each other as such.”
“I was making a point. You know that line,This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship…”
He stared at me blankly.
“Never mind. Let’s go. We have to pack.”
We continued through the complex side by side.
“To the royal domain we go,” he said flatly.
“Have you been before?”
He was silent for so long I was beginning to think he hadn’t heard my question, so I asked again. “Araz, have you been before?”
“Yes. But it isn’t a trip I wish to recall.”
“Got it.” But damn, now I wanted to know what had happened.
My curiosity would have to wait.
Chapter 9
Who Needs A Carpet Ride When You Have A Starlit Carriage?
LEELA
Iwanted to say goodbye to Blue before I left, but the doors to the tower where the anchors were housed was locked. All I could do was leave a message for him with Dharma.
There wasn’t much to pack. A bag for me and one for Araz, and we were off, calling goodbye over our shoulders as we dove into the night and made our way to the courtyard where the main gates were. Two males wearing stone masks waited for us. They were dressed in dark blue pants and fitted black tunics, and their silver eyes peeked out from behind their masks, raking me over as I approached.
“Leela of Vijayroodra blood?” The voice came from the guy on the left. He was slightly taller than his companion, and his golden hair was a few inches longer, brushing his shoulders.
I smiled and nodded. “That’s me.”
“Yudh. Droona.” Araz raised his chin in greeting to each male, and their silver eyes warmed.
“Araz,” the taller guy said. “It’s good to see you.”
