Ravi smiled up at her. “Not at all. You can lie beside me. I run hot.”
Her brows went up. “And how can I resist such a warm offer?”
We settled to sleep, our breath slowing as warmth pooled between us.
Things were crazy dangerous right now. The future uncertain. But I had Pashim, C’ael, and Ravi with me, and that…that was a blessing I wouldn’t sniff at.
Chapter 18
NOW THAT WAS SOME VANISHING ACT
The settlement looked small from the clifftop. Lush plains surrounded it like gentle hands cradling a prize, golden crops waving at us. The midday sun glanced off the dome covering the village. The structure was specially designed by human architects.
Araz had helped to build one of these for another of the settlements working with a woman called Aradha. I’d been so jealous of her. Of that fact that Araz had once had a thing with her.
Gods, I missed him so much.
C’ael slipped his hand into mine and squeezed. “We will get him back,” he said softly.
“How did you know I was thinking of him?”
“I felt the ache of it. We’re bound, the three of us, remember?”
Being with C’ael made me feel closer to Araz. There was a comfort about his presence that I craved.
I leaned into him, resting my head momentarily on his shoulder as we continued walking parallel to the cliff’s edge. Ravi and Pashim scouted ahead, searching for a way down.
“I didn’t get a chance to say it last night, but thank you for saving my life with the nagrata.”
C’ael dropped his cheek to my crown. “It was my pleasure.”
I grinned up at him. “Even though it knocked you out of action for days?”
“Even then.”
“Where did you go?”
“Nowhere. I was here, but I didn’t have the energy to manifest fully.” He looked down at me, meeting my eyes with a knowing look.
My cheeks warmed. “So you saw what happened with Pashim?”
“You have nothing to be ashamed of, Leela. Araz will understand. His love for you is singular and all-consuming, but he would never presume to own your heart.”
“But he does. Hedoesown it. I can’t be with anyone else…not like that.”
“Then you don’t have to.”
Pashim and Ravi slowed on the path ahead.
“Your moona may have to fly from here,” Ravi called. “The track down is barely wide enough for a person.”
Yudh and Dhoona mounted up while I approached the edge of the cliff where a perilous twisty track led down to a ledge linking to another track that went all the way to the bottom. We’d have to hug the rock face on the way down, but I’d had enough training with rock faces to feel confident making the descent.
“Let’s do this.”
A low, ominous rumble shook the skies. Strange, there was no sign of an incoming storm. The sky was cloudless.
The rumbling came again, this time accompanied by an earth tremor. C’ael pulled me away from the edge of the cliff.
