The silence became uncomfortable until he broke it again. “Were they as painful?” He continued to apply the healing stone to a different area, trying to gentle his touch.
Her shrug was offhanded. “The way my family cut me and my mother off was more painful than any physical punishment.”
Veer knew it couldn’t have been as simple as that and resolved to ask Sameera at the earliest opportunity. He wasn’t entirely sure why his mother had sent Sameera to Chandra, but he was glad she did, and that the princess had at least one friend beside her.
“This was the shoulder that got dislocated, right?” he asked and without waiting for an answer, he got the strips of cloth from their satchel, wrapping them across her torso. “Let me know if it’s too tight.”
Chandra nodded and lifted her arms. “I’m sorry for worrying you.” She shivered and gooseflesh rose along her shoulders. “I couldn’t honestly think of another way to stop you.”
Veer grunted and continued his task. She fit so well in the circle of his arms. As if she were made to be there.
“I mean, the yaksha was ready to put you down like a rabid animal,” she said, twisting to look at him. “I was afraid I couldn’t convince him. He seemed to really hate you for some reason. Something about Ilavu—”
“You should’ve run when I told you,” interrupted Veer grimly, turning her once again, so her back was to him.
“And leave you to die at the yaksha’s hands?” asked an exasperated Chandra.
“You’re the only one who can operate the lotus key. Your life is more important than anyone else’s,” he reminded her.
“Believe me, I haven’t forgotten, since you remind me at least a dozen times daily. I realize that my life is of value only because of the lotus key.”
“I didn’t say that last part. Stop putting words in my mouth,” he said, vexed all over again.
“The sentiment is the same. And it isn’t like I didn’t have a plan to bring you down.”
“The sleeping draught on your hairpin is probably designed to work on humans. What if Ilavu wasn’t susceptible to it?” A simmering anger began to heat his blood again as he tied off the bandage. He didn’t know who he was angrier at. Her, for taking risks against such odds. Or himself, for leaving her unprotected and at the mercy of the demon inside him.
“Well, I had to try, and it worked out in the end, so what’s your problem?” she asked, facing him once more.
Her words finally snapped the restraint he placed over his temper . “Because you are piss poor at hand combat, because I am far stronger when Ilavu takes over, and the fact you won is only by sheer dumb luck.”
“Are you actually upset that I won our skirmish?” asked Chandra, affront shimmering in her eyes.
“I’m angry that I came close to killingyou!” shouted Veer, abandoning all pretense of having a civil conversation. He dragged her closer, wanting her to see the fear that he felt in that moment when he saw the demon’s,no, his own hands squeezing the life out of her. Helpless to stop. He hadn’t felt that kind of fear since his childhood.
“I could see everything, trapped inside my mind, but unable to do anything about it,” he said, sounding haunted. “I would’ve never forgiven myself if something happened to you. I should’ve known the moment I couldn’t use my powers, the moment I found the red ring had disappeared, something like that would happen. Thathewould wake up. I should’ve told you the truth and warned you to stay away.”
“I thought you said you weren’t angry?” she asked, her eyes wide and deceptively innocent, but he saw the twitch of her lips. Here he was trying to impress upon her how dangerous he could be, and she was laughing at him.
Veer clenched his jaw shut, his mouth compressed to an angry line, the maelstrom of emotions morphing into a need so acute and sharp, it nearly brought him to his knees.
He raised his hands from her shoulders as if they burned and waded away from her. Another moment and he would end up crushing her in his arms, never letting go, forgetting the word he had given her about not demanding husbandly rights. It was useless to pretend he didn’t want her. Had always wanted her.
“Weren’t you going to help dress my wounds?” she called.
Her taunt tensed his back muscles as he debated leaving, but duty won, and he sighed deeply, summoning fortitude as he reluctantly turned back to tie up the last of the bandages, working in merciful silence. “Do you have wounds anywhere else that need treating?”
“Uh…I don’t think so.” Chandra spun around and tilted her head to look at him.
“Are you sure?” he asked seriously, a perverse streak in him, pleased when her eyes widened at his question. “Maybe I better check myself.”
She suddenly seemed to remember her own state of near nakedness and shrank from his outstretched fingers. “No! I…I’m sure.”
“Very well, then,” he said with fake disappointment, turning away.
“Veer?” she said softly. “When are you going to tell me about Ilavu? What does he have to do with your ring?”
Veer became motionless. He forced himself to relax and answer her very valid question. “I guess you deserve to know after everything that has happened. And why not? It’s not like you can hate me any more than before.”
