“Oh…Who was he?”
“My great-great-grandfather…” Her mouth turned down. “The murderer of joy.”
I stared at her. “You mean…”
“Yes. Harish is the reason we are forced to live the way we do.” Her smile turned wry. “Come. Let us not discuss such cheerless things.”
She led us through a set of double doors into a dining room where one wall was made up of windows so we could look out into the night.
Chandeliers holding candles hung above a table large enough to house at least thirty, but only one end of it was occupied by a small group of people. Arpita led us across the room toward them.
Yudh and Dhoona peeled away and took a place by the wall on either side of the table, their stony gazes fixed on the gathered Danava.
I scanned faces, recognizing only Kalani. Arpita’s daughter had her hair piled high on her head tonight, and her riding outfit had been replaced by a sari in a deep purple shade. A gold torque circled her bicep, and silver bangles hugged her wrists. She peered across at me from dark kohl-rimmed eyes, her gaze landing like twin daggers. Goodness, she really had a hatred for me.
Arpita led me to the top of the table where the end seat and three to the left of it were unoccupied. She offered me the main seat.
I shook my head. “This is your domain, and that is your seat by right.”
Keyton pulled the chair adjacent to hers out for me. The spot placed me opposite Kalani. I smiled across at her and was met with a flinch of her eyes.
Chandra took the spot beside me, and Keyton sat next to him.
There were four Danava on the other side of the table, including Arpita. A small gathering indeed, and although Chandra had filled me in on who they were, I was curious to put faces to those names.
I didn’t have to wait long for Arpita to do the introductions.
She indicated the guy at the end of the table. “We have Hari, my advisor.” The man inclined his head, silver hair glinting in the lantern light, a small smile curving his lips. “Then we have Talin, our head of security for the Manor,” she continued. This man was younger, and his neatly clipped goatee seemed like an attempt to look older. I smiled and nodded, and he returned the gesture. “We have my niece Deepi next,” Arpita said.
“I’m also the estate manager,” Deepi added quickly.
“Yes,” Arpita agreed, biting back a smile.
“It’s so lovely to meet you,” Deepi said. “So kind of you to agree to dine with us, andouch!” She shot a glare at Kalani, who completely ignored her.
It didn’t take a genius to work out that Kalani had either kicked or pinched the woman under the table. Arpita must have surmised the same because she glared at her daughter, mouth pressed in a thin line of disapproval.
I smiled warmly at Deepi. “I’m honored to be invited.”
She beamed back at me.
“I believe that you’ve already met my daughter Kalani,” Arpita said stiffly.
“We haven’t been formally introduced, but yes.” I inclined my head toward Kalani. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
The corner of her mouth twitched as if she was attempting to force her lips into a smile and failing.
“Well,” Arpita said quickly. “We should eat.” Women and men dressed in black and silver came gliding into the room carrying trays laden with dishes which they began unloading onto the table. The delicious aromas of spiced lentils and curried meats filled the air, and my stomach grumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.
I winced. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten a bite since lunch, and the flight training worked up an appetite.”
Kalani sat up straighter. “You’re training to fly?”
It was the first spark of real interest aimed at me, and I latched on to it. “Yes. Pakshiraj is an amazing teacher, and Garrit has been great too. The?—”
“Pakshiraj?” She narrowed her eyes. “He let you ride him?”
Chandra chuckled softly. “Pakshiraj not only let her ride him, but he also chose her as his bonded.”
