He shook his head. “The bond that the shakti wove between you and Araz was a soul bond, but it can also affect your bodies. The primordial evil would have had to burn Araz’s soul to claim his body as a vessel, and that would have cut the soul tether between you. But the body…thevessel…Well, it seems that Araz’s flesh may still be bound to you. Your dream may not have been just a dream.”
“You’re saying that I’m now bound to the primordial evil!”
His eyes widened. “No. No, Leela, your bond is to Araz’s body, and it will fade in time.”
“So why is he reaching out to me? Why did he try to kiss me and call me his?”
“Do not humanizeit,Leela. That thing is not ahe. I don’t know why it entered your dream or said the things it said. Maybe it’s playing with you. Tasting your emotions because it has none of its own. It’s dangerous, Leela. Everything about it is a lie. It has the power to twist truth and turn it to ash. And you…you carry the blood of the very beings that locked it away in the first place.”
“So it basically wants to mess with my head.”
“I believe so.”
I lightly touched my chest, the spot where the warmth had bloomed.
“I’m sorry, Leela. I’m sorry that it made you feel that connection again.”
I nodded, swallowing past the knot in my throat. “I’ll be fine.” I smiled across at him. “Thank you. Thank you for coming so quickly.”
He smiled sheepishly. “Yes, maybe a little too quickly.”
I laughed softly. “Hey, I could have been in danger. Putting on a shirt may have meant the difference between life and death.”
“True,” he conceded. “Get some rest now. Tomorrow is a big day.”
“Ah, yes. The throne test.”
His gaze sharpened a fraction. “Do you have doubts?”
I shook my head. “None. I’m ready.”
“Good.” He stood and looked down at me. “Then until dawn.”
He vanished, leaving behind the scent of roses.
I breathed it in, allowing it to calm the last of my nerves, then climbed back into bed.
If the primordial evil attempted to invade my dream again, I’d have some choice words ready for it.
Chapter 7
THIS CAKE COMES WITH NO ICING
Yudh and Dhoona drove me to the Phavvarra the next day. It wasn’t a long journey to the fountain, or the bowels of the domain as Erabi had called it. And with the meeting set for high sun, we left a little after breakfast.
Chandra accompanied me this time. There was no vote to be cast today. The throne would decide my fate, and Chandra didn’t have to stand above me on the balcony, waiting for the Authority to decide what to do with me. This time he’d stand beside me, and I was grateful for his presence.
The vortex took us down, directly to the level we needed.
Chandra explained that only authorized Asura could access the vortex. I imagined it like an executive lift that operated on essence code or something. Was my code mystically programmed into it now, or was it operating because Chandra was with me?
I sat back in my seat on descent to avoid being blinded by the dazzling vortex light surrounding us.
“Did you have any more dreams last night?” Chandra asked from the seat opposite me.
“No. Not that I recall.”
He pursed his lips for a beat. “Good. Maybeitwill leave you alone now. If not, then feel free to summon me.”
