Page 75 of Damned and Broken Gods
“I know.” My gaze is back on Leela.
She makes it across and leaps onto the wooden wall, catching it just right. That’s my demigod. Vick is above her, and she climbs until she’s parallel to him. The wind picks up; the rain falls harder. Vick climbs onto Leela’s back, and my strong,compassionate, brave warrior demigod carries him the rest of the way.
Bhartina yells something up to Leela, but the words catch on the wind and fly away from me.
“Leela has the heart of a Vijayroodra and the fire of Iblees,” Ramashi says. “I can see why Pashim loved her.”
I glance sharply at him, noting the way his gaze lingers on the scene. Onmydemigod. “Don’t get any ideas, Ramashi. She’s mine.”
“Is she?” Ramashi arches a brow. “Although she carries your scent and your bond, I don’t believe that you’ve claimed her body.”
Leela has finished the course and waves at me. I wave back. “Our relationship is not your concern.”
“Of course it isn’t,” Ramashi says. Why does he sound amused?
Leela runs over to me, a huge grin on her face.
“I did it!” she says.
“Third time in a row.” Ramashi hands her a towel before I can, and she turns the warm beam of her smile on him.
The urge to break his face is a tidal wave crashing into me. I allow it to wash over me, forcing my lips into a smile. “You did brilliantly, Leela. Now let’s get you back to quarters and dried off.”
She finishes wiping her face and starts on her bare arms, pebbled with goosebumps. I step closer, bringing her into the circle of my heat, and then I burn for her.
She sways toward me, her eyes fluttering closed. “That’s divine.”
Her clothes dry, and her cheeks flush with warmth. She opens her eyes and looks up at me as if I’m the center of her universe, and every inch of me is alive with longing to be just that for her. To be her center of gravity. Her anchor. Her pulse.
I swallow all those feelings and school my features into a polite, friendly smile. “Are you hungry?”
“Famished!”
“Then we should go eat.” I place my hand on the small of her back, reveling in the way she leans into my touch. But as we begin to walk away, she pauses and looks back at Ramashi.
“We still on for the temple tonight?” she asks.
He smiles and nods. “I’ll come for you after supper.”
A prickle rushes through me. “What’s this?”
“Ramashi offered to take me up the mountain to the temple,” Leela says. “I’ve been dying to visit ever since we got here.”
I shoot Ramashi a hard look. “I can take her.”
He makes an ‘o’ with his mouth. “I’m sorry, I did not mean to overstep. I assumed, since you had no interest in visiting, that I could provide an escort for Leela in your place.”
“No need.” I grind out the words. “If Leela wants to visit, thenwe’llvisit.”
“Really?” Leela’s eyes light up, and something inside me fractures.
A lump rises in my throat, and when I speak, my voice is thick with emotions I’m not quick enough to suppress. “Yes, really.”
“Well,” Ramashi says, “in that case, I shall see you both tomorrow morning for your introduction to the Shattiraksha.” He winks at me and walks away, leaving me with the distinct impression that I may have just been manipulated.
Chapter 26
Gods And Fire
