Page 38

Chapter 37

COME OUT OF THE RAIN

I t rained late that night, and all I could think of was Araz on the roof. Surely, he’d have found somewhere else to sleep. But what if he hadn’t?

Urgh.

He was a grown man, male, drohi, whatever. He could take care of himself, but after ten minutes of trying to sleep, I gave up, pulled on my boots, and headed up to the roof.

I cracked open the access door to the sound of thunderous downpour and peeked out through sheets of rain to find Araz sitting on the edge of his soaking wet bed, steam rising off his body.

He had his back to me, but the muscles across his shoulders tensed when I stepped out under the awning.

He knew I was here.

“Go back inside,” he called out over the hammering of rain.

“Only if you come in with me,” I yelled back.

“I’m comfortable here.”

Stubborn idiot. “In the pouring rain? Are you insane?”

“I’m not cold.”

A chill breeze tightened my skin, and I hugged myself, rubbing my bare arms. “Your bed is soaked.”

He ignored me.

Fuck it. I gritted my teeth and ran out into the downpour, biting back a squeal as icy water drenched me instantly.

“What are you doing?” He shot to his feet. “Get back inside.”

“No.” I stood a few feet from him, chin up in defiance, water pouring down my face in icy rivulets, jaw aching with the need to chatter. “I’m not leaving. Not unless you come with me.”

His jaw worked. “You’ll catch a chill. We have the test tomorrow.”

“Isn’t that what you want? Me to die so you can be free?”

“Damn you.” He bridged the distance between us and wrapped me in his arms. His body heat dried me off in seconds. “Just tonight,” he said. “Because it is raining.”

“Then I hope it rains every night.”

He groaned, a sound of torment. “I hate you. ”

I pressed my cheek to his warm chest. “I know.”

“There is nothing better than the day after a storm,” Keyton said as we trekked up a hill to the picnic spot the drohi had chosen for us.

The sun was out this afternoon, warm rays beating down on us, a far cry from last night’s howling wind and punishing rain. Not that it had bothered me, tucked up in bed with Araz. He’d held me again and stroked my hair until I fell asleep, and much like the last time, he’d been gone when I woke. But unlike last time, it didn’t upset me as much because that was two nights now that he’d spent with me, and maybe there would be more. I wanted more. Even though I shouldn’t. Even though Araz didn’t.

And then there was Pashim…I didn’t want to hurt him.

Time, Chaya had said…but if Araz ended up in our bed too often, then would the bond ever fade?

Did I want it to?

“Here we are.” Keyton swept out a hand, puffing out his chest proudly as he revealed the gorgeous picnic spot. There was an old tree with a wide span of branches to offer shade, soft green grass beneath, and a blanket of purple and pink flowers around us. From this height, Prashikshan domain was spread out below us, a feast for the eyes, with its rolling plains and woodland surrounding the circular complex with its many spokes and levels.

Blue hopped off my shoulder and on to Ida’s back. The hound bounded about in the blooms while Blue whooped with delight. Lola, Joe’s cat, headed straight for the tree and settled on a branch above us.

Keyton and Chaya set up the picnic blanket, and I helped Dharma to unload the basket of goodies. Joe’s drohi, Mahira, set out cushions for us to lean on. It was an impressive spread and a cozy setup, but I wished that I could have had a drohi with me too. Pashim or Araz? an inner voice asked.

I didn’t want to choose.

“A picnic of The Four,” Priti said.

“I’m glad it’s you three that I’m doing this with,” Joe said.

We raised our glasses in a toast to us then spent the next hour in light conversation, but as the afternoon wore on, the mood sobered because it was almost time to leave.

“We’ll be okay, right?” Priti said. “I mean…if we’re attacked by revenants.”

“Then we let the elite fight, and we protect the humans,” Keyton said. “That is our objective. Do not worry. I will be with you.”

Chaya looked up at the sun. “We should pack up and get back.”

My heart sank but lifted at the same time because going on this mission meant having Araz with me, and I needed to slap myself because I couldn’t make the test all about time spent with him.

My focus should be on the task. Nothing more.

We were packing up when Ida went on high alert, her nose pointing down the hill, her tail straight out behind her.

“Someone’s coming,” Dharma said.

“Lola says it’s Leela’s rakshasa friend,” Joe replied.

“Ravi?” I ran to the trail and spotted him trekking up. “You’re all right.” I rushed down to meet him but stopped a couple of feet away, unsure how to greet him, because his usually open expression was guarded and wary today. “You are…all right?”

“You’re asking me that? Me? When you were the one that almost…” He swallowed hard. “I have no words to express how sorry I am for what?—”

I bridged the distance between us and hugged him. He jerked in surprise, but I held him tighter, and he relaxed into the embrace, burying his nose into the crook of my neck.

“I’m so sorry, Leela.”

“It’s not your fault. None of it. I’m just relieved that you and Prem are safe.”

He drew back slightly to look at me. “Prem told me what happened, and how you told him to run, and how he…He’s ashamed of his cowardice.”

“What? No! He’s just a boy, and there was no way he could have gone up against Bash and the other guy. Running and finding help was the wise choice.”

“I told him that.”

“Good. So…is everything sorted out now? With your pack?”

He snorted softly. “The Authority has ejected the alpha and those involved. New rakshasa will be arriving in a few days.”

“And a new alpha?”

He gave a self-deprecating smile. “You’re looking at him.”

“Oh…wow. Congratulations. I mean, it is good news, right?”

He gave me a lopsided smile. “I suppose it is. But the cost…what could have happened…”

“But it didn’t happen did it, Prince Ravi?”

He winced. “Yes, about that…”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would it have mattered?”

“No, but why hide it?”

“Because it means nothing. It isn’t my identity, and I refuse to claim it. They threw me away, and now that the royal bloodline on the ground is dying out, they want to claim me once more?” He shook his head. “No.”

“I’d like to learn more about you and your people when I get back.”

His expression grew serious. “Be vigilant down there. Stay close to your drohi. ”

“I will.”

The others passed us, heading down the hill, and a moment later, Blue scampered up my body and perched on my shoulder.

“We got to go, chickadee,” he said. “Time to suit up.”

We made our way down the hill as the sky turned red.

In a few hours, I’d be back on the ground.