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Vaayu looked at her closely. “A curse. Win was a kill switch. Elaheh is a bomb.”

Kay reached for her, and Vaayu held her back. “We need to plan this.”

Elaheh looked at him. “Can I just let it go?”

“What?”

“Let all the energy in my body go. I can do that, and it should purge the curse, right?”

“You are going to kill yourself,” Kay stated baldly.

“Well, my second question was, can anyone jump-start me after that energy is gone? I don’t want to live with any part of them in me.”

Vaayu frowned. “Will you explain?”

“Only if I have to, so if I wake up, I will explain.”

Kay was about to reach for her, but a huge gout of energy shot skyward, and Elaheh slowly fell back with the light draining from her eyes.

Vaayu said, “It’s gone. She’s empty.”

Kay nodded and reached out but found Vaayu next to her, and they both poured energy into Elaheh rhythmically until she coughed and wheezed. Kay lunged in and lifted her in her arms. “Oh, sweetheart. Why did you do that? How did you do that?”

“I did it all the time in the parlour. They kept bringing me back.” She muttered, “It’s easy to let it go. Energy doesn’t want to stick to me.”

Vaayu nodded. “There are specialists at the palace that can help you.”

“So, I get fixed, and I come home?”

“No. You will remain with us for ten years until the next visit.”

Elaheh swallowed. “What happens if I don’t go?”

“You continue to have unstable energy that you can’t properly focus. Your life will not be long.” Vaayu looked at her, and he was grim.

Kay swallowed. “I don’t want to force you into any situation, but the court is amazing, and the libraries are astonishing. You can easily spend the rest of your life learning something new every day.”

Elaheh smiled. “Can I still help Ira with her homework?”

Vaayu sighed. “There are methods of communication. If she needs help with her studies, we can assist her.”

Kay smiled. “We?”

“She is my sister-in-law.”

Elaheh looked over and smiled. “She’s also right behind you.”

They turned around, and Ira had tears in her eyes. “You are leaving?”

“Not quite yet, Ira.” Elaheh opened her arms, and Ira darted to her.

Regis smiled and thought that this was going to be the first separation for Ira on the same night she met her father.

Ira looked up at Elaheh. “You feel different.”

Elaheh chuckled. “I am the only person here wearing day casual. The denim is probably messing with you.”

Ira giggled.