Page 41 of Damned and Broken Gods (Labyrinth of Gods #2)

The Night Before The Morning After

LEELA

T he village streets were filled with music. Flamebrew flowed, and delicious foods were cooked on makeshift grills. Human and djinn mingled, laughing and dancing. My fellow demigods were among them, eating, dancing, and laughing.

I’d claimed a spot under a canopy, leaning against the wall to people watch and just chill.

Tonight was the Grishma Avasana, the last day of summer, and it was customary to celebrate the end of each season and the beginning of a new one.

I held off the booze because we had a trial tomorrow, a sea test, and I wanted a clear head, but Araz seemed to be having a great time—laughing and drinking with the other drohi.

Jasha stood on the sidelines, silent and watchful.

Unease writhed in my belly. I didn’t understand why he hated me so much.

I hadn’t done anything to piss him off, had I?

The only thing I’d done was get bonded to Araz and…A possibility flared in my mind. I watched Jasha watching Araz and, oh…

“You see it, do you?” Ramashi said, sidling up to join me.

I sipped my water. “What?”

“Jasha. It’s obvious he’s in love with Araz.”

“He was with Chaya.”

“That doesn’t negate his feelings for Araz. I heard they were close once, him, Pashim, and Araz, but Jasha pulled away. I spoke to Pashim about it once, and he’s the one who mentioned his suspicions.”

“Does Araz know?”

“I doubt it. And it’s not our place to tell him. It’s Jasha’s secret to reveal, if he wishes.”

“Except people already know.”

“Suspect. Not know for certain.”

Jasha must have felt me looking at him because his gaze flicked my way, his eyes widening before he turned on his heel and walked into the shadows of the houses.

“Fuck, now I feel bad.”

“Don’t. He was still awful to you. There was no call for him to be. You have done nothing wrong.” He smiled, and his eyes crinkled in such a Pashim way that my heart ached.

“I miss him, you know.”

Ramashi’s gaze softened. “I know, Leela. I see it when you look at me.”

I swallowed past the pinch in my throat. “He was my anchor here before any other.” I lifted my chin. “I’m going to free his soul from the pishachas that killed him.”

Ramashi’s eyes lit up. “I believe you.” His gaze flicked over my head. “And on that note, I should sidle away before your drohi gets the wrong impression.” He inclined his head and slipped away just as a familiar heat kissed my back.

“Leela?”

I turned to face Araz. “Hey, you.”

“Are you not having fun?”

“Oh, I am. I love people watching.”

He smiled slightly. “Were you watching me?”

There was a sparkle in his eyes and a relaxed roll to his words. “Araz…are you drunk?”

His smile bloomed wider. “Would you mind?”

My pulse kicked up, but the suspicion that he was playing with me crossed my mind. “No. You can do whatever you like. I’m not the boss of you.”

“No? Queen to be.” He leaned in. “You wouldn’t want to boss me around, just a teeny bit?”

His warm breath kissed my cheek, and a shiver skipped up my spine. I smiled up at him. “Maybe a little.”

“And what would you order of me?”

The music chose that moment to get louder, and a wicked idea formed in my mind. “How about you dance for me.”

I expected him to still, to immediately sober up, but instead his eyes gleamed brighter, his grin widening. “Only if you dance with me.”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me into his arms, and before I could protest, he’d spun us out from under the canopy and into the revelry. An involuntary whoop flew from my lips, and then he was leading, swirling us into the dancing, his eyes laughing at my stunned expression.

I gave in to the joy burgeoning in my chest as he spun me away from him, then tugged me back into his arms and up against his body so our faces were mere inches apart.

My stomach flipped.

His smile died, dark heat filling his eyes.

The pulse between my thighs echoed the one at the base of my throat, throbbing with aching need.

He spun me away again, and this time when he spun me back, we were at the edge of the dancefloor, and in the next moment we were under the canopy again, my back to the wall, his mouth on mine. Hungry. Insistent. Claiming.

I surrendered with soft moans, my fingers sinking into his hair as I devoured the sweet nectar on his lips, wanting him closer, wanting to meld with him. For us to become one, not just physically but metaphysically. The desire was so acute it brought tears to my eyes.

A sob climbed up my throat, and he swallowed it, his kiss softening. Teasing. Pulling away then returning for another taste until the only thing holding me upright were his arms.

“Leela…” His tawny gaze raked over my face, lingering on my lips. “I cannot be trusted to share your bed tonight.”

Heat simmered low in my belly. “What if I don’t care…What if I?—”

He crushed his mouth to mine, silencing me with brutal kisses before pulling free, his chest heaving. “Don’t say it. Don’t ever say it.” He ran his finger down my cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning, Leela, and we won’t speak of this.”

I blinked back tears, nodding because once again, we’d crossed a line, and the only way to reestablish it was to pretend it had never happened, long enough for us to believe it.

He melted into the crowd, and I clung to the wall, my body recovering from the fire he’d ignited.

“Hey…” Priti joined me. “Are you all right?”

I shook my head, mouth trembling with the effort of holding back tears.

“Oh, Leela…” Priti put her arm around me and pulled me into a hug. “Come on, let’s go get some tea.”

With a final look at Araz’s retreating form, I allowed her to lead me away.

Priti led me to the empty barracks kitchens, a functional space with a couple of wooden tables and benches and a cooking and food prep area.

We spent a lot of time in here in the evenings as there was no sitting room or lounge and someone had brought in cushions to make the benches more comfortable.

Priti sat me down on one of those cushions and busied herself making tea, tucking her hair behind her ears. It was loose today, falling in soft waves about her shoulders. Eyes rimmed in kohl, cheeks flushed, she glowed, and my heart squeezed with love for her.

She passed me a mug of tea and straddled the bench beside me. Her penetrating gaze fixed on me. “What’s going on between the two of you?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. I just…I got overwhelmed.”

She arched a brow. “Leela, we’ve been watching you both. You obviously have a strong connection. The way he looks at you…”

My head whipped up. “How does he look at me?”

She smiled softly. “The same way you look at him.”

I dropped my gaze, not wanting her to see the whole truth. The longing that made my chest hurt and the pain that lanced through my heart every time I remembered that he wouldn’t be staying with me. No one could know my plan. Not yet. It was too risky.

“Leela?”

I sighed, fixed a smile on my face, and aimed it at her. “It’s complicated.”

She pursed her lips. “Okay, okay. I’ll drop the subject, but if you decide you want to chat about it, you know I’m here for you.”

“Yeah, I know.” I sipped my tea. “Oooh, this is good.”

“Right? I added a little honey.”

We sipped in silence for a moment.

“I spoke to Bhartina,” Priti said. “You, me, and Vick are going to be together tomorrow.”

I perked up. “Yeah?”

“Yep.”

Vick wandered into the kitchen, a soppy smile on his face, his hair all mussed. “I just got kissed,” he announced before swooning onto the bench opposite us. “Eniya kissed me.”

I was lost. “Who’s Eniya?”

Priti answered. “One of the humans that lives here. She’s sweet on Vick.” Priti reached over the table and ruffled his hair.

How had I missed this budding romance? “Do tell…”

Vick hiccuped. “Oh, she is sooo beautiful and funny. She’s funny.” He hiccuped again.

Priti frowned. “Vick, did you drink the flamebrew?”

He winced. “Just a few sips.”

“Vick…”

“Okay, so I had a couple of cups, but we’re celebrating.”

A flash of annoyance lanced through me. “We have a trial tomorrow. You know we need to be clear-headed for that. You’re no good to us with a hangover.”

“Us?” He sat up straighter. “I’m with you two?”

“Yes.” Priti smiled kindly at him. “Drink some water and get some sleep, okay?”

He tipped his head to one side. “I love you.”

Priti chuckled. “Yeah, yeah, love you too, now go on. Water and bed.”

Vick pushed to his feet, grabbed a glass of water, drained it, poured another, then with a mock salute, left the kitchen. Priti watched him go with an indulgent smile.

“You guys have gotten close.”

She paused, mug halfway to her lips. “He reminds me of my cousin. Dharma thinks so too.” She sipped. “He uh…he died a couple of years ago. Car crash.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, me too. He was such a sweet guy. So much promise. He played the violin, and he was…talented.”

We sipped in silence for a little while.

“Do you think we’ll take the labyrinth together?” Priti asked. “I mean, you don’t have to take the air test any longer so…”

“If I’ve qualified, then I’ll ask to wait and take it with you guys.”

“At least there aren’t any ankh here to grade us,” Priti said. “Keyton said that the earth test is graded by Guru Mahir and the sea test by Bhartina as a pass or fail. The air test is based on a points system like the gauntlet was. The ankh decide point allocation.”

“So we navigate expertly, get back to the Shantivan, and boom, we’re done.”

She grinned. “Yep. And Ramashi said the weather should be clear tomorrow. Just the right amount of wind to get us where we need to go and back.”

We grinned at each other, the mood lifting with the possibility of all our hard work paying off.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Priti said. “Glad that we met.”

“Me too.” I set my tea down and leaned across the bench to hug her. “You, Dharma, Remi, and Joe are my family.”

She squeezed me back. “Yeah, and soon, we’ll be an Asura family.”

I pulled back and grinned at her. “A royal one, because if I’m getting a crown, then all of you are getting royal favors.”

She grinned. “I like the sound of that.”

“Priti?” Keyton appeared in the doorway. “It’s getting late, and you need your sleep.”

“Yes, boss.” She rolled her eyes at me, but the smile on her face told me how much she loved the fact that he cared.

They left, hand in hand. I was clearing up the tea things when Bina and Alia entered. They didn’t have their drohi with them, probably because their guys were still in the village celebrating with the djinn and the humans.

“Leela!” Alia crossed the room to hug me, and I caught a whiff of flamebrew on her breath.

I caught Bina’s eye over Alia’s shoulder, and she shook her head before making her way to the sink to get a glass of water.

“I’m fine!” Alia protested as Bina pressed the glass on her.

“Drink!” Bina snapped. “I will not have you ruin our chances tomorrow.”

Alia groaned and downed the water.

“Where is she?” Armin swung into the room. “Alia…” He took her in, then sighed heavily.

Alia handed the glass to Bina then held her arms up to Armin. “Carry me to bed.”

He frowned, but his lips twitched as if hiding a smile. “Very well.” He scooped her up, and they left the room.

Bina leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms. “How difficult is it to not get intoxicated?” She shook her head. “I saw Vick was looking worse for wear.”

“Yeah, we hydrated him and sent him to bed.”

She nodded. “Be careful tomorrow.”

The way she said it, the strange shifty look in her eyes had me zeroing in on her. “Why’d you say it like that?”

“Look, just…keep an eye on Vick.”

“You still think he had something to do with Gia’s death, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what I think. But rumors usually have an element of truth to them. I’m just not sure how much truth there is in Vick’s case. But…I like the boy. I do. I just…You’re important, Leela. Be careful.”

She left me with a bad taste in my mouth and a hollow pit of doubt in my belly, but I shook it off and finished tidying away the tea things.

A good night’s sleep would put everything to rights. I just hoped I could fall asleep without Araz there to hold me.