Page 5 of Damned and Broken Gods
The vehemence in his tone dissolved the rest of the knots in my belly. “Thank you.”
“Oh, don’t thank me yet. You still have the Sabha to endure, and I’m afraid it may not be a pleasant experience. The Raees Asura will do whatever they can to discredit your claim to the throne. These nobles will not give up their power easily. But I will be by your side, and I will do my utmost to champion you.”
Champion me to take the throne.
To be in control of Aakash.
Fresh knots twisted in my belly. I’d wanted to make a difference, to become a god and free Araz and help the other drohi. But queen? That was too much. And if they shuttled me past the tests, bypassed the labyrinth and handed me a crown, did I even deserve to wear it? My chest tightened.
“It’s all right,” Guru Chandra said. “Whatever happens, we will face it together. The last of the royal line.” He cracked asmile, and his eyes lit up. “We will…have each other’s back.” He frowned. “Is that how the mortals from your world say it?”
“It sure is,” Blue confirmed.
Guru Chandra smiled, puffing out his chest, clearly pleased with himself.
I couldn’t help but return his smile.
“For now, you will return to your barracks and prepare to be moved to the house barracks.”
“But what house?”
This seemed to throw him for a moment; after all, there was no Agni or Aatma house and no related barracks. His frown deepened for a moment before clearing.
“You may pick where you stay. After all, if I have my way, you won’t be there for long. Once the Sabha is over, I hope to move you to the Shahee Kshetra.”
“When will this Sabha tek place?” Blue asked.
“As soon as I can organize it. I’ll be back to check on you soon. You’ll be safe with your drohi. Keep him close. For now.”
For now?
He headed for the door, and I followed quickly. “What do you mean ‘for now’?”
He glanced back. “A royal has no need of a drohi because a royal does not go into battle. Once you ascend, Araz can return to his regular duties. I’ll see you soon.” He swept from the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Like hell would I let them keep Araz, not when there was a way to free him. Pashim had discovered the information in a book given to me by Bhoomika, a sage at the Vidya Tower. He’d left a note for Araz and me to find in the event that…My throat pinched, the loss raw and fresh.
“Leela?” Blue brushed a paw across my cheek, and I blinked back tears.
“I’m fine.”
“Yeah, cos people who are fine cry all the time.”
I sniffed and swiped at my eyes. “I’m not sure what to do, Blue. Ascension is one thing, but this queen stuff…I don’t know.”
“We can help the drohi,” Blue said. “Change fings. Ain’t that what you wanted?”
“It is.” But I had the feeling that nothing was going to be that simple.
Chapter 3
Those Hazel Eyes…
ARAZ
“Here.” Chaya offers me a cup of tea. “It will make you feel better.”
I take the cup with a terse smile. Now that the shock of Leela’s affinity and the Rak attack have faded and I’ve had time to think, there’s a storm of contradictory emotions raging inside me.
