Page 4 of Damned and Broken Gods (Labyrinth of Gods #2)

Those Hazel Eyes…

ARAZ

“ H ere.” Chaya offers me a cup of tea. “It will make you feel better.”

I take the cup with a terse smile. Now that the shock of Leela’s affinity and the Rak attack have faded and I’ve had time to think, there’s a storm of contradictory emotions raging inside me.

On the one hand, there’s the voice of logic and reason. The voice that has guided me thus far that warns that Leela will turn against me.

She’s a royal. A member of the bloodline responsible for my people’s servitude. They’ll take her from me. Turn her into one of them, and when they do, she’ll reveal my plans.

She could end everything before it’s begun.

But there is another voice that counsels me to remember the woman that Leela is. Loyal and compassionate, she won’t go back on her word—not for fear of repercussion but because she has honor.

The new voice counsels me to trust her, while my jaded companion advises me to remain vigilant, to play the part, keep her close and enraptured, so that in time I can claim my freedom. It counsels me to become whatever she needs, promising me everything I deserve.

“Araz?”

I drag myself out of my thoughts and focus on Keyton, who’s looking at me expectantly. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

His smile holds empathy. “We’re just wondering what you think will happen now. If Leela is royal?—”

“Clearly she is,” Chaya chimes in. “We all saw the pillars.”

“I still can’t believe it,” Joe says softly.

“Typical,” Eve says with a disgusted look. “Leela gets the prize. Again.”

“What are you talking about?” Priti snaps. “When has Leela ever gotten the prize?”

Eve rolls her eyes. “Oh, come on! She gets the only fire drohi in existence. She gets a talking rat, and she won the damn gauntlet without even completing it.”

“She nearly fucking died!” Dharma snaps. “You’re pathetic, you know that?”

“And you’re a bitch.”

“Enough!” My voice echoes off the walls, stunning everyone into silence. I turn to Eve’s drohi, Ima. “I suggest you counsel your demigod in a little decorum. I doubt compassion is in her repertoire of emotions.”

Ima has the grace to look ashamed, but Eve simply lifts her chin and glares right at me. “Don’t you dare try to intimidate my drohi.”

“Be silent, Eve,” Ima says. “You’ve said enough.” He pushes back his chair and strides from the room.

“Ima, wait!” Eve hurries after him.

“She doesn’t mean it,” Sylvie says softly. “When she gets stressed or scared, she…she gets mean.”

“You’re too kind,” Remi says. “Considering how shitty she was to you when we got here.”

“Sylvie is a forgiving soul,” her drohi, Pylar, says. “Sometimes too forgiving.”

Sylvie smiles up at him, her eyes brightening, and I’m reminded of the way Leela sometimes looks at me, but that memory is quickly chased by how awfully I usually react. The tea curdles in my belly.

“So…” Keyton says. “What will happen to Leela now?”

I drain my cup and set it on the counter. “I don’t know.”

“Surely they can’t make her do the tests,” Chaya says. “She’s too important for them to risk her life.”

“She’ll probably be taken to Shahee Kshetra,” Keyton says, coming to the same conclusion that I have.

“She’ll be queen…” Remi says.

Leela’s demigod friends exchange glances, and something unspoken passes between them.

“What is it?” I study them with narrow eyes. I’ve watched them enough to learn not only their names but their body language, and I can tell they share a secret.

“Nothing,” Joe says quickly.

“This world hasn’t had a monarch for a while, right?” Dharma says. “I mean, you have Guru Chandra, but he’s a regent. The Authority is in charge, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Keyton says. “But now we have a royal blood who might be able to take the throne?—”

“ If they let her,” Remi cuts in.

“What?” Keyton looks confused, but Chaya’s frown melts. Maybe Leela was right that Chaya is different—one of the drohi that sees past what the Asura have raised us to believe. One that can think outside the cage that they’ve created for our minds.

Dharma elaborates for Keyton. “Why would the Authority willingly hand over power to a demigod who happens to have royal blood?”

The mood in the room is suddenly grim.

Priti shoots to her feet. “We have to find Leela and make sure she’s okay.”

Joe gets to his feet too. “Priti’s right.”

“Calm down,” Keyton says. “No one’s going to hurt her.” But he doesn’t sound too sure. “Araz?”

They all look to me for an answer. “I don’t think they’ll hurt Leela. Guru Chandra is her kin, and the regent. It would look suspicious for anything untoward to happen to her while in his care.”

“You think he wants her dead?” Keyton stares at me in shock.

“I don’t know.” And I don’t. This is an unexpected and novel situation, one that I have not prepared for. One that I will need to investigate.

If Leela is in danger, then it falls to me to keep her safe. I made a vow to help her ascend. I ignore the tiny voice that whispers in the back of my mind, reminding me that Leela’s death would nullify our deal while also giving me the freedom I desire.

A few weeks ago, I would have heeded its counsel, but now that I know Leela, now that I’ve come to care for her, I cannot, in good conscience, allow her to be harmed.

I sweep my gaze over the demigods who watch me with expectation. “I won’t let any harm come to her. I swear it.”

Dharma studies me with a shrewd and knowing expression, and my stomach knots. Of course, she’s seen how I’ve treated Leela these past weeks. They all have. But surely they must know things have changed between us.

I need them to understand that. “Pashim’s death hit us all hard. Leela especially. I realize now that I have been unfair to her. I have vowed to make amends. I do not make promises lightly.”

Dharma nods. “Okay. So we’re all agreed. We keep an eye out. Keep Leela safe.”

“We’ll be in different houses, though,” Remi points out.

“Doesn’t matter,” Priti says. “We’re still friends.”

“Yep, and we stick together no matter what,” Joe adds.

They all nod in agreement. These demigods, who’ve only known each other for a few weeks, have bonded well. Leela is lucky to have them.

I glance at the window, at the sky, now a deep amber. Surely Leela should be back by now.

As her drohi, I have a right to inquire. “I’m going to go and—” I sense her presence, as I always do, when she is close.

An effect of the bond, no doubt.

My gaze goes to the door, and she appears a moment later. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes bright, and her beautiful thick, dark hair is in disarray. My fingers ache to tame it, and I curl my hands into fists.

Everyone begins talking at once as they rush to greet her. She laughs slightly, awkwardly, and shakes her head, attempting to answer the questions fired at her, gaze slipping past her friends to me, over and over, as if reassuring herself that I’m still here.

“Whoa, back up!” Blue waves his arms from his spot on Leela’s shoulder. “Let a woman breathe.”

The demigods oblige, reclaiming their seats, and Leela crosses the room to join me. I instinctively hold out my arm, inviting her to step under it.

A sigh loosens my lungs as she settles against my side.

The tangle in my belly unknots now that she’s close.

Is this feeling real, or is it a fabrication?

Pashim’s note claims that the bond can’t force love.

That love will bloom where there is potential, and it seems there is potential for us.

But any bloom that flowers between us will be a vine choking me and holding me captive.

I cannot allow the seed that has been planted to flourish.

I drop my arm and take a step away from her, softening the move with a smile, but the slight frown marring her forehead tells me that she’s not fooled. The woman is too damned insightful.

It will be harder than ever to keep her at arm’s length, because I’ve discovered that I like insightful, tenacious women with hazel eyes and a dimple in their cheek when they smile.

What am I doing?

I busy myself with pouring tea and hand her a cup. She accepts with a smile, and I’m relieved to see that her frown has gone. “What happened when they took you away?”

“Nothing much. They put me in a room alone, and then Guru Chandra told me I had royal blood. I still can’t believe it.”

“Believe it,” Dharma says. “We all saw you floating and lighting up all the pillars.”

“So what happens now?” Priti asks. “You take the throne?”

Panic flits across Leela’s face before she composes herself. “No. It’s not that simple. There are…protocols and…I don’t think everyone will be happy that I exist. I have to go to the Shahee Kshetra to attend something called a Sabha where the Authority will decide on the best course of action.”

The demigods exchange glances, and Keyton’s brows pinch. They’re all obviously thinking back on Dharma’s earlier comment about the Authority not easily giving up power.

Leela looks to me. “Do you think I’m in danger?”

“I don’t think we can discount it. But I won’t leave your side. You have my word.”

She opens her mouth to speak but then thinks better of it, lifting her cup to her lips to sip her tea instead.

“So, when do you leave for this Sabha?” Joe asks.

She shakes her head. “No idea. Guru Chandra said to pick a house and move to it, and he’d be in touch.”

“So will you continue with the training and the tests?”

“I don’t know.” She chews on her bottom lip, a subconscious habit she has when she’s anxious. I stifle the urge to soothe her. I can be her protector, but I can’t be her crutch.

Silence reigns, and a dark foreboding blooms in my belly.

“Ah, for fucksake,” Blue snaps. “You actin’ like she’s doomed. If Sex on a Stick says ee can keep ’er safe, then I trust ’im.”

I shoot him a stern look, and he blows me a kiss.

Movement by the door draws my attention, and I stand taller when I recognize the newcomer.

Tantrik Umbra enters, sweeping a dark gaze over us all. “You were instructed to pack and move to your allocated house. I expect you to comply immediately.” Her gaze flicks to Leela. “Have you chosen the house you wish to join?”

Of course, there is no Agni house as there has never been a demigod born of royal seed until Leela.

“Well?” Umbra prompts, a little too sharply for my liking.

“We will let you know,” I say, my tone matching hers.

She arches a brow, and I give her a level look in return.

“Very well. Let me know within the hour as the house needs to be informed of the royal blood’s arrival.”

Royal blood…Is that what they are going to call her now?

Leela shifts from foot to foot. “I’d rather not be addressed as royal, if it’s all the same to you.”

“The choice isn’t yours to make,” Umbra says.

“Yet,” I add. A reminder of who Leela is and her potential to be even more.

Umbra presses her lips together. “Yet,” she agrees.

“And before I forget, I have something for you, Araz.” She reaches into the pocket of her cloak and pulls out a small black box.

“It is customary for a drohi to receive a maternal artifact either upon their discharge or when their demigod passes the earth trial.”

My heart stops beating for a moment, my breath catching painfully in my throat.

“Here.” She steps forward, holding out the box to me. “Well, take it.”

I force myself to move, to reach out and grasp the box, pulse hammering at the base of my throat as emotions I’ve long suppressed burn the back of my eyes. “Thank you.” I’m relieved that my voice comes out strong and steady because inside, I’m breaking. I know what’s in the box. I remember.

“Now move it. All of you,” Umbra says before striding from the room.

“Wow, wot crawled up ’er ass and died?” Blue says.

Sylvie snickers.

“Obviously not a fan of monarchy rule,” Dharma says.

I catch Leela eyeing the box, questions in her beautiful eyes. I’m not ready. Not yet. I tuck the box into my pocket, and her shoulders slump.

She won’t press. Not here. Not now.

Instead, she forces a smile and addresses the room. “Look, none of us asked for this. All we can do is roll with the punches, right?”

A fist forms in my chest at the resilience of her optimism.

I’ve fought hordes of revenants across land, sky, and sea. But those battles pale in comparison to the one that lies before me. Yes, it seems that the battle to guard my heart will be my greatest test.