Brynne was silent for a moment, and then she sighed. “Yeah. Give it.”
Aru tossed her the 100 Grand. “I’m sorry about what I said.”
Brynne caught it, ripped open the wrapper, and took a bite. “No one expects me to bea hero. Not with asura blood.”
Arufelt her throat tighten. “Yeah? Well, try being the daughter of the Sleeper, the guy who started all this and is off building an army to take over the world or some other villain cliché,” she said. She tried to laugh, but it came out as a grunt.
Brynne looked at her sharply, as if seeing her for the first time. “You’re better than that. We both are.”
Aru nodded.She wanted to believe that, but sometimes she wasn’t sure. Sometimes, when things went wrong, it was easier to blame what was in her blood than to take responsibility.
“Aiden is right …” she said, sighing. “We have to work together.”
“Yeah,” Brynne said, the corners of her mouth pulled down. “I guess I’m just used to doing stuff alone.”
Aru fell quiet. She remembered how scared Brynne had lookedwhen she’d assumed they were going to leave her behind. Aru thought of the trophy bracelets on her wrist and the photo album she carried around in her backpack, as if she was hoping to show them to someone.
“Well, you’re not alone anymore.”
Brynne rubbed at her eyes, still frowning. Then she stood up and helped Aru to her feet, too. Next, Brynne did something Aru had never imagined possible.She broke off half the candy bar and held it out to Aru.
“Eat up, Shah,” she said gruffly. “You’ll need the energy. I don’t care if you’re family—I’m not carrying you anymore.”
Aru took a bite, and even though she’d had 100 Grands before, this one tasted extra special, like the beginning of something new.
The two of them started walking over to the secret door.
“Did Aiden give you that candybar?” asked Brynne.
“No?” And then a few seconds later, “Yeah, he did.”
Brynne just smiled. “Classic Ammamma.”
“You guys ready?” asked Aiden.
“Yeah,” said Brynne and Aru.
“Good,” said Aiden. Aru thought his smile looked a bit smug.
“Weapons out,” said Brynne, touching her blue choker. With a flash of azure light, it turned into her celestial mace.
Aiden put his wrist cuffs together, andscimitars flashed into his hands.
When Aru reached into her pocket for Vajra, her fingers brushed the business card Kamadeva had given them. She pulled it out and showed it to Aiden and Brynne.
S.DURVASA
DO NOT BOTHER ME WITH INFANTILE CONCERNS
I WILL CURSE YOU FOR WASTING MY TIME
Flashes of her dream came back to her.
“Thisis who Mini wants us to contact!”
Though she wasn’t sure why.Mini had said something else, too…. What was it?
Aiden let out a whoop of joy. “TheSprobably stands forsage! We’ll go straight to Durvasa after we find the song. Now, how do you think this door works … ?”
