Page 104 of Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

Brynne swiveled her wind mace, and a soft breeze carried Kara to the courtyard floor. The moment Kara’s body touched it, she opened her eyes and gulped in air. Saranyu had kept her promise.

Kara sat up and looked around her. Sunny the trident glowed brightly on her lap. Then she leaped to her feet, staring around at the Potatoes.

Aru felt awkward. What if Kara blamed them for getting her hurt? Or what if she didn’t remember them at all and hurled Sunny at them? Or…

Kara ran straight at the Potatoes, her arms wide, catching Aru, Brynne, and Mini in a group hug.

“No touchy!” Mini tried to say as Kara threw an arm around her. “Elbow bumps only. Oh, never mind….”

Aru felt a rush of warmth.

“Thank you for saving me,”said Kara, pulling back. “We did it! We got back in time!”

“Maybe…” said Aru, looking at the door. “We have to hurry. Aiden? Rudy?”

Aiden stood off to the side, his face sullen and drawn. “Glad you’re back, Kara,” he said stiffly.

Aru noticed that he was holding his wrist a little strangely. Had he hurt it?

“You okay?” asked Aru, moving toward him.

Aiden stepped back quickly, not looking at her. “I’m fine, Shah.”

Stung, Aru let her arms drop to her sides just as Brynne went to him and shook him lightly.

“Hey,” she said. “Stop that.”

Aiden scowled. “I’m not—”

“Prophecies are weird, and they’ll eat up your brain,” said Brynne. “I mean, for all you know, you could die by eating some weird flower called the Girl You Love.”

“Super reassuring, thanks.”

“If it helps, Iamthe daughter of the god of death,” said Mini. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you, Wifey.”

Aiden smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I know.”

“What prophecy?” asked Kara.

“It’s nothing,” said Aiden.

“Yeah, it’s nothing,” said Brynne, clapping him on the back. “Just the end of all his romantic aspirations.”

“I didn’t know you had any,” said Aru.

Aiden glanced at her, then looked away. “I don’t. Let’s go.”

He walked to the stairs. Brynne tried to muster a smile, but Aru caught the strained line of worry pulling at her mouth. Even Mini looked faintly disturbed.

A loud trumpeting caught their attention, and Aru turned to see Rudy standing in front of Airavata. The naga was draped in clouds, and it kind of looked like Airavata had knitted him into a giant meringue. Airavata made a happy rumbling sound, then patted the top of Rudy’s head with his trunk.

“Look upon me and despair, mortals!” he said. “I’mreadyto fight in my new cloud armor.”

Mini giggled.

Brynne glared at him. “You look like a deranged cake topper.”

Rudy ignored her, and swept a bow in Kara’s direction. “Hi, I don’t know if you know this, but I’m a prince—”