Page 17

Chapter 16

HOLY AUBERGINE BATMAN

N aked Araz was a vision. I think I forgot how to breathe for a moment, and then my face was on fire, and I might have dropped the basket, all prompting him to turn to face me and assault my eyes with his…thing. Big thing. Huge thing.

I snapped them closed. “What are you doing? Put some clothes on.”

“Maybe knock before entering my room,” he snapped.

“Our room. This is our room now.”

The rustle of fabric gave me hope.

“You can open your eyes now, or don’t. I don’t care.”

I risked a peek, and thankfully he’d pulled on some pants. His chest was still on display, though, but I got the feeling that was going to be the status quo with him. I’d just have to get used to the sight of his hard pectorals and cobbled abs, and I was not tracing the copper tattoos that ran across his pecs, down his washboard abs and into the waistband of his pants to meet the monster hiding there. Nope. Because he was an asshole, and the last thing I wanted to do was find him attractive because what kind of sick bitch would that make me?

I set my basket of clothes by the wardrobe and pulled it open.

“What are you doing?” he demanded. “I thought I made it clear for you not to touch my things.”

“The wardrobe?”

“Yes. It’s mine .”

“Is it? Is it really? Or does it belong to the barracks?”

His eyes narrowed. “It contains my clothes.”

“The clothes that you prefer not to wear?”

The tick in his jaw was a warning that I should probably heed. “Don’t push me, mortal,” he growled.

Heat flooded my body. “Or what?” I stalked toward him, trembling with anger as I recalled how he’d treated me mere hours ago. “What are you going to do, Araz? Strangle me and threaten me again? Go for it. It won’t change the fact that we’re stuck together. You don’t want to cook for me, or get my clothes, or share a bed, that’s fine, but this is my room too, and I will make myself comfortable, and if you have a problem with that, you can kiss my ass. ”

His gaze dropped to my hips, eyes narrowing speculatively, and I wanted to kick myself for mentioning my ass. But then his attention was back on my face, expression stony and giving nothing away.

The heat of anger fizzled out, leaving me drained and tired. I wanted this day over. “Look. I’m not asking you for anything just…let me put my clothes away and get some sleep. Please.”

He stared at me for several beats. Long enough to make my skin itch, and it was a relief when he turned away with a derisive snort muttering something under his breath that sounded like you have no idea .

With his back turned, I felt free to start unloading my items.

There were several free shelves in the armoire, so I claimed them, then grabbed the bathroom stuff and headed for the washroom.

The tiffin sat on the desk where I’d left it. Had he even looked at it?

“I made food if you’re hungry.” I indicated the tiffin.

He stared at me. “You cooked?”

“Yeah, Chaya and Keyton taught me. I ate already but brought you some.”

He looked from the tiffin to me, and then his top lip lifted in a silent snarl. “If you think you can charm me with food, then you’re delusional.”

I was too tired for this shit. “Whatever.” I stepped onto the washroom, closed the door, and took a deep breath .

Living with a male who was resolved to hate me would be no easy feat, but I was sure as hell going to try.

Araz was gone when I came out of the washroom, so I had the room to myself for a little while. Enough time to snoop a little. Not that there was much to snoop over. The books on the desk were in a language I couldn’t read, so that was no clue on what kind of stuff he was in to. His clothes were all standard black armor stuff or basic pants and fitted shirts, and the washroom held nothing but a jar of toothpaste and a bar of fruity scented soap.

Araz was a mystery. A grumpy, growly, determined-to-hate-on-me mystery.

I gave up and tucked myself into my makeshift bed on the floor. I had no idea how late it was because there were no clocks in the room. Heck, I had no idea how they measured time here. Did they even have clocks?

What if I overslept and missed training? Would Araz wake me? A surge of despondency washed over me, an aching sense of loneliness and loss, and my eyes heated. I squeezed them shut and breathed through the wave of grief. Not now. Not here. Not yet. I couldn’t weaken. I wouldn’t fall apart. I owed it to Nani to hold myself together. She’d given her life to save mine, and now I would use that life to make sure I set her soul free.

I wasn’t sure when I fell asleep, but I was woken by sunlight streaming in through the windows. Not having drapes now made sense. Who needed an alarm clock when you had the sun?

There was no sign of Araz and the bed was neatly made. The only clue that he’d been back was the steamy washroom saturated with the aroma of his fruity soap.

Breakfast was a quick meal of some oaty porridge, where I learned it was up to our drohi to keep our timetables and accompany us to classes. Without Araz to guide me, I was forced to tag along with the sisters and their escorts. We met up with the rest of the newly paired demigods on the ground floor. There was only one exit here that also served as an entrance. There were also no windows. The only other door belonged to Dipika’s domain. As barracks master, she had a whole warren of rooms filled with stock which she allocated as necessary to the residents.

It was a bit of a squeeze in the foyer because every potential had a drohi with them, and I could tell they were wondering where Araz was, but no one asked, and I was grateful for that.

None of us potentials had any idea where we were in relation to the arena, but Priti brought the map that Umbra had provided. Apparently, everyone’s packs had been in their rooms this morning. Not mine, though. Another thing that I didn’t have going for me. Still, Priti was the only one who brought her map with her. Everyone else was relying on their drohi.

I spotted Remi, and she waved and hurried over.

“What floor are you on?” she asked.

“Fourth.”

“We’re first floor, and we have a little balcony garden.” She beamed up at her drohi, a tank of a male with a square bald head and eyes like mercury. “This is Crag.”

Crag lifted his chin in greeting.

She looked happy. Strange, considering the fact she’d been so cut up about never seeing her fiancé Chris again a mere day ago. She’d loved that guy, and now she was looking up at Crag as if he was the most fascinating male in the world.

My stomach quivered because wasn’t that what I’d been doing with Araz, even though he was being a dick? The only difference was that Crag had genuine warmth in his eyes for Remi, and Araz hated my guts.

A quick survey of the couples showed me variations of the same thing. Smiling, happy faces. Great. Just fucking great. Odd one out shouldn’t be a new thing for me, but it had been a while. It still stung like a bitch.

Dharma sidled up to me as everyone headed out of the door and asked the dreaded question. “Where is Araz? ”

I shook my head. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

She looked like she wanted to say more, but Chaya called her over from the exit.

It was time to go train. I just hoped Araz showed up for it.