Page 39

Chapter 38

ONE SIZE FITS ALL

M y black armor suit pinched under the arms and at the crotch. Was it meant to be this tight?

“Stop fidgeting,” Araz said. “You look like you have fleas.”

I did a wiggle walk down the bridge toward the meeting spot, in the hopes of dislodging a wedgie. “I think they got my measurements wrong.”

“No, they did not. The suits are one size.”

I looked up at him, encased in his armor suit and nifty holster, sword hilt peeking up from over his shoulder along with the hilt of my mace, which he’d insisted on carrying for me. “You’re telling me that you’re wearing this ?” I pointed at my suit.

“Yes. It will adjust to your body in time.”

But my brain was still refusing to compute. “ You managed to get this onto your epic frame? ”

“Epic?” The corner of his mouth lifted.

I rolled my eyes. “Seriously?”

“Yes. Now hush.”

Dharma and the other potentials were already waiting up ahead, along with a bunch of men and women I hadn’t seen before and some that I had, like Jasha and Pashim.

We joined them just as a gust of air hit us, and Guru Mihir landed a few feet away, his drohi, Padmini, in tow.

“The vortex will arrive in a moment,” he said. “Get ready to descend.”

Pashim took a step toward me, but Araz slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me close.

I caught the flash of hurt in Pashim’s eyes before he turned away.

“You should ride with me,” Araz said, his voice low. “I’m your drohi, but you’re free to travel beside him once we reach the ground. I’ll remain close.”

“What? I d?—”

“Time to move!” Guru Mihir said.

The whoosh of air drowned out my thoughts, and when Araz lifted me up and said, “Wrap your legs around my waist,” they completely shattered.

I obliged, stomach erupting in moths as our bodies fitted together as if they were meant to be.

His nostrils flared, and he looked me in the eye, his molten gaze darkening in increments that matched the beat of the pulse in my throat as one huge hand slid down to brace my ass. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to be naked with him. Naked and sweaty?—

“Stop that.” His command reverberated between us.

My cheeks burned. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Your thoughts are mapped out on your face.”

I dropped my chin. “Fuck.”

His grip on my ass tightened, and I swallowed a gasp.

“Make sure you grip with your thighs.” He carried us to the edge of the bridge.

I looked down at the vortex and the inky black abyss at its center. “Shit…” I clutched him tighter, burying my face in the curve of his neck.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes. No. Don’t let go.”

“Never.”

“Then I’m ready.”

My stomach shot up into my ribcage as we dropped, my scream vibrating against Araz’s neck. But he held firm, his body a cage that I was desperate to stay in.

“Look at me,” Araz said against the shell of my ear. “Leela, look at me.”

I cut off my scream and slowly lifted my head to meet his gaze, warm and smiling. “Look around.”

I did as he instructed, still clinging to him as if my life depended on it. A miasma of colors swirled around us. It reminded me of the tunnel in the ether.

“Oh…Oh wow…”

“There is nothing to be afraid of in a Pavan vortex. You are safe.”

I glanced back at him to find him watching me with an intensity that echoed the longing buried deep in my soul. He quickly looked away, shuttering his emotions, and I dropped my head to his neck once more, closing my eyes to find that look in my mind’s eye and etch it into my memory.

“Landing now,” Araz said. “Brace!”

I squeezed him tightly, teeth knocking together as we landed. The rush of air faded, and he gently pinched my waist, my signal to dismount. I slowly peeled myself from his body and put boots on the ground.

The stars were far away now, and it smelled different here too. Earthier.

“Move out,” Guru Mihir called. “Stay on the road. Stay together. Two hours till we reach settlement. Let’s go.”

We set off at a brisk trudge, but my legs felt like blocks.

“Dammit, I feel like I’ve put on weight,” Dharma said from behind us.

“It will pass,” Chaya said.

“The change in air density, and the closeness to the earth core—“ Pashim broke off quickly. “Or so I’ve heard.”

I shot him a warning look because he shouldn’t know such things. Such things were in the books that were restricted for drohi. I expected a wry smile, but his expression remained serious, flicking from me to Araz and back again.

My chest grew tight.

“Pick up the pace,” Guru Mihir called out.

Guru Mihir’s elite team and their drohi surrounded us as we broke into a light jog.

Thoughts and feelings would have to wait. I had a job to do.