We trooped after Jhanti around the side of the palace onto a gravel path that skirted a stone balcony that hugged the palace’s lower floors. An ivy-like plant dappled with small pink blooms clung to the side of the palace. The grounds opened up here, stretching out as far as the eye could see, and rose bushes lined the path leading off into them, the floral scent thick in the air.
The east wing jutted out up ahead. The stonework was darker and older. The windows narrower.
“This is part of the original building,” Jhanti said. “The only part that wasn’t touched by the fire all those years ago. The plumbing has been updated, but the rest…well. Chandra is very sentimental about the heritage.”
The fire…of course this was where the royals had perished. How had that not occurred to me before? A whole bloodline had almost been wiped out here. My bloodline.
Jhanti led us into an entranceway that was wooden floors and rustic bare brick walls. A dark wood staircase wound up and out of view, and there was a door to the right of the staircase and another to the left of it.
Jhanti ushered us toward the door to the right and into a vast chamber decorated in shades of crimson, cream, and gold. Joe let out a low whistle, tipping his head back to study the impressive chandelier. There was enough seating to accommodate us all and several more if needed. Landscapes and still life paintings hung on the wall. Decorative, but nothing super eye-catching.
Jhanti crossed the room and pushed open another door. “If you wish to read…”
I followed and peeked in at the small library, my gaze drifting to the cozy-looking window seat with a view of the palace gardens.
“Ooo, this is lovely,” Erabi said, peeking around my arm.
I used to love reading, but it had been a long while since I’d picked up a book for pleasure, and I doubted this library would have anything that would interest me.
I ducked out, and we followed Jhanti into the hallway just as Yudh and Dhoon entered the wing.
“Oh, good,” Jhani said. “You’re just in time for bedchamber allocations. But first, the sitting room is that way.” She pointedtoward the door to the right. Then to the one on the left of the staircase. “Dining room is through there. You can all explore it later.” She climbed the stairs, and we trailed up after her. “There are five bedchambers on the first floor. Each has its own washroom. The second floor has four rooms, three smaller ones and a larger suite that will be yours, Leela. It is up to you to decide where everyone is located, but Chandra insists that Yudh and Dhoona stay on the second floor close to you.”
She stopped on the first-floor landing, waiting for me to make up my mind.
I looked to my friend. “I think the demigods who are sharing with their drohi should have the larger rooms down here. Keyton, do you mind being on the same floor as me?”
He inclined his head. “I would like to be part of the security team.” He looked over at the stone-faced brothers. “If you will have me.”
The brothers exchanged glances, then nodded. “Another pair of eyes would be helpful.”
“Then it’s settled.” Jhanti clasped her hands together. “I’ll leave you all to get comfortable. Would you like to dine in your rooms or in the dining room tonight?”
“Dining room.” I smiled at everyone. “Together.”
The second flooropened onto a landing with four doors coming off it. Only one was a set of double doors.
My room.
Jhanti let me in, then left me with Erabi while she went to help the others settle in.
Erabi waited by the door as I wandered inside. The plush crimson and cream carpet swallowed the sound of my footsteps. A bold choice for flooring. I’d have to make sure not to trek mud everywhere.
The room was twice the size of the one I’d had at the guest house and sported a balcony that opened out onto the gardens, but my attention was drawn to the bed—a huge, circular thing with gauzy net drapes hanging from the ceiling, providing a tent-like canopy. There were several pillows and cylindrical cushions in gold and crimson, and my first thought was of how much space Araz and I would have. The thought was a dagger to the heart, leaving me momentarily breathless.
“Leela?” Erabi lightly touched my arm. “Would you like me to stay with you tonight?”
I looked down at her sweet face, warm brown eyes brimming with concern, and the fist that was now perpetually clamped around my heart squeezed. I fixed a smile on my face.
“I’ll be fine.”
Her brows pinched slightly. She clearly wasn’t convinced, but she nodded, giving me the grace I needed. “Very well. But if you change your mind, you can summon Jhanti, and she will come get me.” She pointed to a bell pulley system attached to the wall by the door. Two of the bells looked like they’d been there for a while and had a tarnished look. They were labeled as kitchens and head housekeeper. But the shiny new bell was marked simply as Chandra.
“I have a bell to summon Chandra?”
She pressed back a smile. “He can be here in a blink.”
Of course. He could teleport. “Um…thank you. I think.”
