“Shah?” asked Aiden, waving a hand in front of her face. “You look lost.”
In your eyes, thought Aru.
“Wait—what?” asked Aiden. “What’s in my eyes?”
You did that thing again where your inside voice became your outside voice, Mini pointed out unhelpfully.
“Nothing! I’m still…What’s the word—?”
“Failing?” suggested Brynne.
I hate you, thought Aru.
Brynne grinned.
“Disoriented,” said Mini, pulling Aru to her feet. “How do you feel, though? Honestly.”
Kubera’s eye swiveled toward Aru, as if waiting for her answer, too.
“Honestly?Lighter,” she said.
All those memories that had made her crave vengeance hadn’t gone away, but for the first time Aru felt bigger than the moments that had hurt her. If all she did was focus on the bad things, she’d never find the strength to fix them.
The eye’s lid drooped, as if it was getting sleepy.
“Why didn’t you guys grab the eye while I was out?” asked Aru.
“We couldn’t,” said Brynne. “You were the one who made the doppelgängers disappear, so I’m guessing you have to be the one to catch it.”
“We’re kinda hoping that once you get it, Kara will wake up, too…” said Aiden, kneeling by Kara’s side.
“Here goes,” said Aru, taking a deep breath.
She walked over to the eye, her hand outstretched. On her wrist, Vajra snoozed away like a napping cat, electricity purring off the bracelet. Aru was ten feet away from the eye…then seven…then five. Directly in front of it, the blue lotus had stopped rotating, but it was still suspended in place as if guarding the eye. Aru felt a chill run up and down her spine.
Enough of this, Shah, she told herself.
She lunged and grabbed the blue lotus. She had only intended to shove it aside, but she found herself holding on. The petals felt like cold, starched silk against her palm. Its heady perfume of revenge gave way to a fragrance that filled Aru with a sinking feeling she knew all too well. It was the sensation that came from spending a beautiful sunny day indoors, convinced that she could go out tomorrow instead, only to find the next day soggy and gray. It was how she felt after a fight with her mom, when Aru had just slammed the door behind her, leaving all the ugly words she’d said on the other side.
The scent was regret.
It was so dizzying that Aru almost didn’t see the long fingers reaching out from the center of the lotus blossom.
Almost.
Aru shrieked and jumped back, but not before the hand had grabbed hold of her wrist.
“Get off me!” screamed Aru.
Vajra sprang to life, and the others reached for their weapons. A flash of light haloed the lotus, and the next moment, Aru saw that the hand around her belonged to a tall young man now standing where the flower had been. He looked like a prince from ancient times. His silk jacket and trousers were dyed a rich purple that stood out against the soft brown of his skin. A circlet of pearls held back his black curls. He had shockingly blue eyes the precise color of the lotus petals.
Oh no, thought Aru.You areverygood looking.
Eh, too pretty for me, came Brynne’s mind-link message.
OR IT’S JUST CAMOUFLAGE AND HE’S A PRETTY MAN-EATING FLOWER-MAN!added Mini.
Stab or smile?!thought Aru, privately torn and ignoring her sisters’ messages.What do?!
