Page 63 of Between Ghosts and Gods

“I’m doing this because I want to. It doesn’t have anything to do with you.”

Kasu spluttered. How could it not have anything to do with her? She couldn’t just turn a blind eye when Arun was quite literally ready to throw his life away.

For me. Kasu did not want to confront the uncomfortable cocktail of guilt and anxiety churning around inside her. She did not want to admit that a part of her was flattered that Arun was doing such a reckless thing on her behalf. It was for her. When was the last time anyone had done something for her?

Arun pushed Kasu behind him as the demon took another step towards them. The Sage of a Thousand Faces dug his hands into his satchel and pulled out what looked like a long needle. Ruo hissed and backed away, pressing their ears flat against their head. Even Arun balked at the sight. For a moment, Kasu was sure he would change his mind, but then he squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and nodded.

It happened too quickly for Kasu to catch. One moment the Sage was holding the needle-like instrument in his hand, the next it was plunged into Arun’s heart. In a blink, the Sage retracted the needle, which was now glowing a soft white and humming with power, and quickly dropped it into his satchel.

“Always a pleasure.” The eyeholes of the Sage’s mask were two perfect, mirthful crescents.

Arun nodded. There was no blood on his chest, no sign that he had been stabbed anywhere at all, but he kept his jaw clenched and his hands were shaking slightly with the weight of what he had lost.

His mortality was gone. He was dead.

He was a ghost.

Chapter Thirty-One Arun

All things considered, dying was fairly painless. Perhaps it was because he was still working off the numbing effects of the incense, but Arun felt strangely good for someone who had just died.

That was, until Kasu turned on him.

“You—! I can’t believe you! Of all the irresponsible, idiotic things you could have possibly done—!” Her voice was like nails raking against his eardrums.

“Leave it. Kasu, let’s just leave it for now.” Arun strode past her, his legs stiff like the wooden toy soldiers he used to play with as a child.

Ruo made a face as they circled him. “The human no longer smells delicious. Smells like a regular dirty old ghost. Probably tastes terrible too.”

Kasu glared at Arun. “I bet the Sage is happy. Not only did he retrieve one of his aura masks, but he’ll be able to make some incredible creations with your mortality. And what did we get in return?”

“We ensured your safety.”

“It was a bad trade.”

“The mask is back where it belongs now. Besides, what do your beloved Heavenly Principles say about stealing?” Arun asked pointedly.

“If it’s in service of a greater good then it’s fine.”

“And I’m that greater good?”

Something about the way Kasu looked at him made Arun’s thoughts stutter. He had never been anyone’s priority before – even his own mother had abandoned him for the heavens. Why did Kasu care so much? Because he was a human? Because he was a prince? What had he ever done to deserve her concern?

His gaze drifted to the carnage the Sage had left behind. He still had the iron key Ruo had pilfered from the body of one of the servants.

One by one, Arun began unlocking the remaining cages. The ghosts and demons were still too woozy to move, but he was sure that once they came to their senses they would flee the building.

“Come on,” Kasu said. “We need to leave before Lord Cobalt finds out what happened.”

Arun paused. His sword was missing. Their captors had not brought it with them when they had transported Kasu and him here – wherever “here” was. His nails bit into the palms of his hands hard enough to bleed. His brothers had given him that sword on the day of his coming-of-age ceremony. Besides the ball of star silk, it was the only thing he had brought with him when he left the palace.

Yet a cursory glance across the room revealed nothing except cages, and there was no time to search for it. The longer they lingered here, the greater the chance Lord Cobalt would return. He couldn’t endanger Kasu just because he had lost his sword.

“What’s wrong?” Kasu asked.

Swallowing back his regrets, Arun shook his head. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

Kasu’s safety was more important. He had just given up his mortality for her. He’d gladly give up a thousand swords too.