THE TRUTH SHOULD SET US FREE, RIGHT?
Chaya and I made it back to Dharti house before everyone came down for breakfast. Dharma joined us first, her dark gaze knowing. Of course, Chaya must have told her she was going in search of me, but I was glad she didn’t ask questions. Not yet, anyway. The last thing I wanted to do was cry in public.
The others trickled into the kitchen, and the drohi made breakfast, scrambling eggs, frying bacon, and toasting bread. Joe took a seat opposite me, and Bina claimed the spot next to him while her drohi, Thanil, went to join the others at the stoves. Both demigods were dressed in casual clothes today, Joe in a long-sleeved gray tunic and dark fitted trousers and Bina in a fitted cream shirt and gray trousers. No training uniforms today, and hopefully never again.
Now that I’d made the decision to tell them that the bond between an Asura and their drohi could be broken, the information was a knot in my belly, desperate to unravel. But it would have to wait until we got to the royal domain. Until we were in the privacy of the east wing that Chandra had promisedto me and my retinue. I’d tell them everything once we were settled.
“How’d you sleep?” Bina asked, studying me with a shrewd expression.
“Fitfully. You?”
“Like a boulder.” She gave me half a smile. “Looking forward to our Shahee adventure.”
“Your sire is with Pavan Ghar, isn’t he?” Dharma asked Bina. “You’re getting claimed as seedborn, aren’t you?”
Bina shrugged. “So I’ve been told.”
Dharma tipped her head to one side. “You’re not excited?”
“Excited? To be claimed like a brood mare? Hardly.” Our gazes tangled, and I caught a flash of defiance in her eyes, a flare that matched the fire in my chest. Yes, Bina and I were going to be great friends.
Who would have believed that the woman I thought would be a nemesis would be joining my inner circle? It just went to show that you could not judge a book by its cover, or in Bina’s case by her sneers and sharp put-downs. The woman had proven herself to be loyal and honest, and her assessment of Vick had been spot on.
He’d taken advantage of our grief and silence at the loss of Priti and fooled the villagers on Shantivan Isle, regaling them with tales of a sea serpent battle and inflating his role in it. But once back in Prashikshan domain, the truth had come out, and he’d been relegated to the newbie barracks to start his training from scratch. Maybe he would be matched with a drohi, maybe not. Either way, he was not my problem. Not anymore.
Mahira placed cups of chai in front of us. “Be careful, it’s hot.”
“Thank you.” I smiled up at her.
“You are so welcome, Leela.” She stroked my hair, her expression tender, and my heart squeezed painfully in my chest.
I dropped my gaze to the chai, taking a moment to compose myself, and when I looked up, I spotted Erabi making her way toward us. She looked bright and rested, wings folded about her shoulders like a shawl, her petite form weaving expertly between the tables. She drew plenty of curious gazes, just like she had yesterday.
Pari were not a usual sight here on Prashikshan.
Asura Ione trailed in after her, and when Erabi paused to look over her shoulder at the woman, she was met with a softened gaze and an expression I recognized. I’d seen the same look pass between my friends and their drohi.
Dharma leaned in and whispered, “Did you see that?”
“Yeah.”
The two women joined us at our table. “All rested?” Erabi asked brightly.
“Yes.” I sipped my chai. “Ready to leave as soon as you are.” My gaze flicked over her shoulder to the kitchen entrance.
Where was Blue?
“The second carriage should be here by now,” Erabi said. “If you like, you and your demigod friends can ride together, and I’ll ride with the drohi.”
I fixed my attention on her. “I’m taking an extra drohi with me. Keyton. He was bonded to my friend, but…she’s gone.”
Dharma stilled beside me. I felt her regard hot on the side of my face. Crap, was she upset about me wanting to take Keyton with me? I glanced over at her, ready to explain, but she smiled and shook her head, reading me easily.
Erabi’s smile, however, dropped, her gaze shifting from side to side as if formulating the correct response.
I sat back and folded my arms. “Just spit it out, Erabi.”
“Very well. Do you realize that in order to take him with you, you’d have to claim him and?—”
