“Come in.”
C’ael entered dressed in a cream and silver kurta, his hair neatly brushed off his forehead for once, making him look mature and wise.
He went still at the sight of me. “You look…I have no words.”
I lightly touched my hair, which was unbound and falling in waves. I didn’t have the skill to do an intricate style, and there was no makeup here. No kohl or rouge to apply, so I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but I smiled and accepted the compliment.
“Thank you.”
He swallowed hard and exhaled. “Um…everyone is in the great hall. The feast will begin soon. After that we’ll do the ceremony.”
“Oh, I thought the ceremony was first.”
“Araz said it would be better to wait for the moon to be at its peak, so we eat first. The warriors in the devouring force will feast with you tonight, and the civilians will have a celebration once you’ve taken the throne.” He offered me the crook of his arm. “Will you allow me to escort you?”
“I was hoping Araz would show up to escort me.”
C’ael slapped a hand to his chest as if wounded. “Am I not good enough for you?” His tone was teasing, but I couldn’t help but detect a thread of sincerity. An echo of vulnerability. He quickly followed up with, “Araz needed more time to integrate, but he’ll meet us there. He might get there before us at this rate.”
“In that case…” I took his arm. “I’d love for you to escort me. And just so you know. You are perfect, C’ael. There is nothing wrong with you.”
His throat bobbed. “Good to know. Now let’s go get you all bonded up.”
C’ael ledme upward into the mountain and then onto a balcony overlooking an outdoor space lined with crumbling stone pillars. Lanterns were strung up between the pillars, and candles burned on several long tables arranged parallel to a platform housing a smaller one.
Clay jugs were spaced out along each table, and a wooden cup was placed before each occupant.
Araz sat at the table on the platform, head bowed as if in thought, dark hair loose and spilling over his gold and cream tunic.
A low hum of conversation rose up to meet us as C’ael and I descended the stone steps toward the open-air hall. Djinn andAsura turned to look up at me, the hum of chatter dying, but my gaze remained on Araz, pulse fluttering as he slowly raised his head to look my way.
He stood slowly, his gaze a caress across the hall, drawing me down the nearest aisle toward him.
The world faded away.
The heat in my chest expanded and flushed my skin as if trying to seep out and reach for him. His mouth parted on a sigh that I was too far away to hear, but in the next moment, he was in front of me, his frame towering over me, topaz eyes burning a path across my face.
“You shine,” he said. “So beautiful.”
C’ael released me and stepped away, and Araz took my arm, escorting me the rest of the way to the table on the platform.
There were two goblets and a jug of wine waiting for us.
Araz pulled out a seat for me, and I took it, but he continued to stand. “We come together tonight to celebrate the beginning of a new era. Tonight, we become one.” He gently cupped my shoulder and looked down at me, his gaze soft and tender. “Leela and I and all of you will be connected. A unified force for any Asura to contend with. Tomorrow we will free our people and all those enslaved by the Asura. Tomorrow a new age will begin. But for tonight…” He poured wine into our goblets and passed me one. “Tonight, we drink, and we feast.” He held up his goblet. “A toast…” Chairs and benches scraped as everyone got to their feet, goblets in hand.
“To freedom and love.”
“To freedom and love,” everyone echoed.
I stood and picked up my goblet, locking gazes with Araz. “To freedom and love.” I sipped the sweet wine, inhaling the fruity fragrance, tart with a bitter aftertaste. The smell hit me next: aniseed.
Below us, everyone swigged from their goblets as a horrific suspicion bloomed in my mind. My gaze whipped to Araz, who watched me through narrow eyes.
My vision blurred, and I blinked to clear it.
Araz leaned in. “He was there, you know,” he said softly. “Trapped behind glass, screaming your name as I claimed your body and solidified the bond. He watched you unravel and was powerless to save you.”
“The ceremony…” My throat tightened. Breath trapped in my lungs.
