Chapter Twenty-five

Ravi glanced behind him as he followed Yaz down yet another hallway. They were a maze. She touched the stones a few times as they walked, her frown growing.

“What is it?” he asked.

She shrugged. “The stones can’t locate Neela.”

“Maybe she found a way out.”

“Maybe.”

But he heard the doubt in her words. Yaz kept walking. He watched her fingers trailing along the stones and wanted to ask if it was because she needed to confirm directions or if she simply needed to feel them. He was still coming to terms with the fact that she had such an ability. He had considered it before but quickly disregarded it. And why wouldn’t he? Humans didn’t have magic.

Until now.

Were there more humans with magic? Perhaps it was called something else. That could be why elves didn’t know of it. But if humans had such abilities, they would alert the elves. Yaz hadn’t wanted to impart her secret because she feared what might happen. But she had trusted him.

Ravi alternated between scanning the area around him and watching her. Whatever had happened to Yaz outside seemed to have passed, but he knew it could rear up again at any time. The past did that. Especially when it was as harrowing and atrocious as hers. He didn’t know what Yaz had experienced during her time at Shaldorn, but he could guess.

She stopped before a door and knocked quietly. When there was no answer, she tried the handle. It turned beneath her hand. Ravi gently pushed her inside to get them out of the hallway, immediately checking the room to see if anyone was there.

“This is Neela’s room,” Yaz said.

Ravi had an uneasy feeling. “We can’t stay here.”

Instead of replying, Yasmin picked up a discarded shoe near the bed. She examined it closely, her brow furrowing. She let the shoe drop and walked to the wardrobe, flinging open the doors. Her hands yanked the clothes apart before she dropped her arms to her sides.

“What is it?” he asked.

“These aren’t Neela’s clothes. She was my height but very voluptuous. Her feet were as small as a child’s.” Yaz pointed to the shoe she’d dropped. “That is much bigger. And these clothes are for someone much taller.”

Ravi strode to the door. “We need to go. Now.”

Yasmin shut the wardrobe doors and hurried to him. She placed a hand on the stones for a heartbeat before looking at him and nodding. They exited the room quickly and headed in the opposite direction. There was no time to ask where they were going as Yasmin quickened her steps until she was nearly running. She skimmed her fingers along the stones before taking a sudden right.

He heard steps coming toward them and looked over his shoulder. A guard walked along the corridor behind them, focused on the food in his hand. They turned a corner, safely out of sight. They walked down another section before Yaz turned left down another hallway and then another. Finally, she walked through a door.

Ravi entered the dark room. A moment later, Yaz found the lights. Ravi was surprised at the various wardrobes and trunks filled with clothes. An open door was on the far wall.

“Take your pick,” Yaz said.

He eyed the assortment. “What will you wear?”

“I’m still not sold on accompanying you.”

He dug inside his pack until he found the small vial with the clear liquid and then held it out to her. “I’ve used this before. All the agents have. It works on elves and humans without any negative effects.”

Yasmin looked at it silently.

“Durga suggested I bring it in case we needed to pass you off as an elf.”

Blue eyes slid to him. “I know what it is. I’ve seen it sold in the market upstairs.”

“That’s impossible. No one has this other than the DIA.”

“I’ve seen one of the guests take it and change from a Wood Elf to a Sea Elf. The spell only lasted a few hours, however.”

Ravi glanced at the container between his fingers. “Our scientists worked on this for years to perfect the formula. It gave us an edge. If it’s out there, then someone within our ranks betrayed us.” He shook his head to dispel those thoughts. Now wasn’t the time for that. “Ours is a better formula. It lasts for an entire day.”

“That does make me feel better. I’d hate to revert back to human in the middle of things.”

“Durga had this mixed for you. I don’t know if you’ll keep your coloring or if it’ll change your entire appearance. The point is, no one should recognize you once you take it.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve used it many times.”

She bit her lip.

Ravi was reminded of how much she detested elves. Changing into one might be as difficult for her as entering Shaldorn. “It’s been years. I doubt anyone will recognize you as you are, but I understand your dislike of my kind. If—”

“What do I need to do?” she asked over him.

“Drink it. You’ll feel the effects quickly.”

Yaz blew out a breath. “Then I guess I need to find some clothes.”

She walked to a wardrobe and began sorting through it. Ravi chose the first thing he found that looked like it would fit. Yaz took a little longer. He dropped his pack, ready to change.

“Not here,” she said, heading through a second door he hadn’t seen.

He picked up his pack and followed her into the next room. It held shelves of shoes and chests of jewelry. He found a pair of boots while Yaz rummaged for a while and set out her clothes. Finally, she beckoned him to follow her to yet another side door and into a chamber with two chairs, a toilet, a sink, and a mirror. He spotted a doorway and looked inside to find a square tub.

“We have to get the smell of the mountains off us,” Yaz said as she took his clothes and laid them out on one of the chairs. “Everything we need is here. We should be left alone. Do you wish to bathe first?”

“You go,” he told her.

He dropped his pack near the chair as she went into the next room and turned on the spout to fill the tub. He put his gloves, hat, and scarf into his bag, then removed and folded his coat. He sniffed it and wrinkled his nose before putting it away. Yaz was right. They did need to get the stink off.

Ravi made his way to the arched mirror and rested his hands on the edges of the square bowl atop the wooden table, while a spigot protruded from the tiled wall below the mirror before curving elegantly downward toward the sink. A tall, slim cabinet sat to the side. He opened the doors and looked at the different soaps, as well as some shaving cream and a razor.

Ravi glanced at himself in the mirror. He scratched at his beard before he grabbed what he needed and turned on the water. When he looked into the mirror again, he noticed that the door to the bathing chamber wasn’t shut completely. He could see the tub through the gap. He stared, wondering, hoping to get a glimpse of Yaz. He had held her naked body, but he hadn’t seen her.

He inwardly shook himself at his yearning and dragged his gaze away to begin the tedious process of removing his beard. It took longer than he remembered. Or perhaps he lingered on the chance he got to see Yaz.

After he’d rinsed his face, he patted it dry with a cloth as movement in the mirror caught his attention. His breath locked in his lungs when he caught sight of Yaz’s leg extending from the tub. His blood heated, rushing straight to his cock as he ran his gaze upward from her foot to her calf and toned thigh, only to halt at her hip because of the drying cloth she held against her.

His balls tightened as need thrummed like fire in his veins. Ravi lowered his gaze to the sink and braced his hands on either side. A hunger unlike anything he’d ever known pumped through him. Images of her bare flesh pressed against him only amplified the longing. He recalled how his hand had rested on her lower back, his fingers gracing the curve at the base of her spine. He remembered her sigh and the way her lashes brushed his chest. He felt the phantom press of her breasts.

He squeezed his eyes closed as blood pounded in his ears. His cock was hard and aching. The sound of a door closing snapped his eyes open. He lifted his head and searched the room through the mirror. He was alone. His gaze darted to the doorway of the bathing chamber. The door was open, and there was no sign of Yaz.

Ravi straightened and turned on his heel. He stopped at the threshold and looked at the tub and its draining water. Then he glanced over his shoulder at the closed door on the opposite wall. Yaz must have gone there to change so he could bathe. He blew out a breath before walking to the tub. It was larger than he’d first thought. Big enough for two people. What would she have done if he’d suggested they share it?

“Fuck,” he murmured and ran a hand down his face.

His palm met skin, jarring him from his musings. Ravi took a good look around the room. Nothing seemed out of place. Yaz must have put everything back as it had been without him having to tell her.

Ravi waited until the water was gone before he turned on the spout. As the tub filled again, he found soap and a drying cloth and stripped. He couldn’t wait to get the past few days off him. He didn’t wait for the tub to fill before climbing inside and quickly scrubbing himself. He would’ve enjoyed emptying out the dirty water and refilling it once more to lounge for a bit, but that would have to wait for another time.

He started the water draining as he dried himself. Afterward, he used the cloth to wipe down any water that had splashed. Then he replaced the soap. Only then did he grab his old clothes, fold them, and put them away in his bag. Once that was done, he dressed in the borrowed clothes, his gaze going to the closed door where Yaz had gone. He wondered who his clothes had belonged to. Or did those at Shaldorn have them lying about for anyone who might have need of them?

Ravi shifted his shoulders in the jacket. The elf he saw in the mirror seemed changed somehow. Nothing on the surface looked different, but he felt it. He grabbed a comb and raked it through his hair. He was debating whether to pull it back as usual when the door opened. His gaze locked on Yaz as she poked her head around the corner. Her eyes widened when she spotted him.

“Too much?” he asked, glancing down at his clothes.

He wondered what she thought as her gaze lingered on the long, dark green dress jacket with gold buttons and a high collar. The long-sleeved shirt beneath was the same shade of green, as were the trousers tucked into tall black boots.

“You look very handsome,” she said as she approached.

Ravi’s mind went blank when he caught sight of Yaz. She had chosen a gown in a soft purple. Not so light it could be called lavender, but too pale to be called purple. The ~choli~, or blouse, stopped just beneath her breasts to expose her midriff. The sleeves covered her arms to below her elbows. The entire garment was covered in embroidered silver thread. The long, circular, flared skirt, or ~lehenga~, had more of the silver embroidery starting at the waist and woven all the way to the hem. Draped across one shoulder was the sheer ~dupatta~ in the same soft purple, edged with embroidery.

Ravi’s eyes lingered on the exposed portion of Yaz’s stomach that highlighted the indent of her waist. He spotted the silver ~jhumkas~, or large, bell-shaped earrings amid the long strands of her black hair. That’s when he realized her hair was free of the braid and parted down the middle. A silver ~maang tikka~ ran along her part, with a crystal dangling against her forehead.

He fought the urge to reach out and stroke her hair. He hadn’t even realized he had closed the distance between them. It took him a moment to find his voice. “You’re a vision.”

A quick grin flitted over her lips as she looked away.

Ravi couldn’t stop staring. He cleared his throat and searched for the vial before handing it to her.

Her face gave nothing away as to what she was thinking. “What will this do to my… ability?”

“It doesn’t interfere with elven magic. You should be fine.”

“I hope so, because we’re going to need the stones.” She bit her lip before holding out her hand.

He set the bottle in her palm, letting his fingers linger on her skin for a heartbeat. When she hesitated, he repeated, “No one will recognize you.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Even if they do, I wouldn’t let any harm come to you.”

Their gazes met. “You wouldn’t be able to stop them. No one can.”

“I would.” And he meant it.

She drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. Then she removed the stopper and tilted her head back, draining the vessel. Her face scrunched up as she swallowed then gagged. “Shite. That was horrible.”

Ravi frowned. “I’ve never tasted anything.”

She swayed. He instinctively reached for her, pulling her against him to steady her.

“You should sit,” he said as he maneuvered her to the chair.

He spotted her bejeweled sandals after he lowered her and squatted beside her as she put her head in her hands.

“I don’t feel so good,” she mumbled.