Star Daughter(88)

“As will your circlet,” Charumati added, “when we crown you after the competition.”

“Uh, thank you,” Sheetal said, “but what—what . . .” How was she supposed to just come out and ask her grandmother point-blank what she’d been hiding?

“What, beti?” Nani asked pleasantly.

“Tell her, Eshana,” Rati hissed. “Or I will.”

Nani turned sparking eyes on her. “You. Too long you have been a thorn in my side. You truly believe we do not know you have fed your champion your own blood, in flagrant defiance of the bylaws?”

The air in the room went cold as frost, or at least Sheetal did.

Wait. Nani knew? She felt like she’d been chucked out the palace window into the endless night, and no matter how hard she scrabbled, there was nothing to hold on to.

Rati’s haughty smile stayed fixed in place, but a muscle in her cheek twitched. “What an odd accusation,” she bit out. “Simply because you do not wish to be revealed as the self-serving hypocrite you are.”

“It is easy to call names. It is harder to believe that perhaps not everyone in your nakshatra is as loyal to you as you might wish,” Nani said. “And Rati, how careless, how arrogant you have been, feeding him so much so swiftly. You would have done better to be gradual in your dosing.”

“You can prove nothing.” Rati preened.

Nani, though, just laughed. “A simple inspection of the mortal’s blood, and we will have all the proof we need.”

Rati tossed her head, making the jewels in her hair flash. “You still cannot prove it was my doing, if indeed it ever even happened. Anyone might give a hapless mortal blood.”

Especially one as desperate as Jeet. Sheetal saw Dev’s despairing face, felt his inconsolable heart, all over again. How could Rati do that to anyone?

“And stealing the marionettes to frame our champion?” The condescension in Nani’s question could have shamed a statue. “You truly believed that would work?”

Now Sheetal just saw red, the scarlet of her human blood. Why had Rati even bothered to offer that bargain if she was just going to frame her anyway?

“Again, you can prove nothing.” Rati yawned. “Are we through chasing daydreams, or can we get to the point? Tell the truth, stand down from the competition, and I will spare you.”

“Ah, but you were not my only friend in your house,” Charumati said coolly, “or the only one to find in me a sympathetic ear. We have all the witnesses to your blood feeding we need; it would seem some in the Revati nakshatra fear the consequences of your embittered scheming.”

If Rati realized she’d been cornered, she hid it really well, only letting her skepticism show. Sheetal had to give her props for that; in Rati’s place, she’d be a puddle on the floor by now. “If you expect me to grovel, I am afraid you will be grievously disappointed.”

“Be that as it may,” Charumati continued, calm as if surrounded by a pond full of moonlight lotuses, “I will never permit you to harm my daughter in your desire to settle old scores.”

“It looks as though we find ourselves at a stalemate,” Nani said. “Should you attempt to expose us, be assured we will return the favor. That is, if your rash dosing of the mortal does not expose you in the meantime. Others, if they have not yet noticed his malaise, may still.”

Rati gripped the edge of the table, and both the table and the starsong vibrated with her wrath. “You truly believe you can do whatever you want, do you not? Step on whomever you wish to achieve your draconian aims?”

“Rati—” Charumati began.

“You are both monstrous. I rue the day I called you friend.” Rati collected herself with a visible effort. “Whatever you think of me, at least have the courtesy to remove your false champion from the running. You have taken everything else.”

“Perhaps you should see to your own champion? The competition will begin shortly,” Nani suggested, her voice mild.

“No?” Rati’s gaze sharpened, and her mouth became like the curve of a scimitar. “Well, then. I will tell her—and the court—myself. May the best house win.”

Her eyes shining with tears, Charumati took Rati’s hand. “Do not do this, old friend. I never meant for you to struggle so after I left, and I will always regret not returning sooner for you. That was my mistake.”

“Yes, it was,” Rati snapped, shoving her away. “You abandoned me without a single glance backward!”

As she glided to the door, she locked stares with Sheetal, and instead of the derision Sheetal would’ve expected, all she saw was pity. “No portion of this is on your conscience, and yet you must live with the consequences.”

Then Rati was gone.

Sheetal worked to gather herself. Wow. That was a lot. She focused on the most immediate thing. “Nani, if you knew about Jeet, how could you just let her get away with it?”

Nani regarded her uncomprehendingly. “What would you have me do, beti? He is not our responsibility. House Revati should have acted as better stewards.”

“But don’t you care about him? Can’t we do something?”

“It is revolting, it is unkind, and it will likely end badly for the mortal, but do not trouble yourself with him,” Nani said. “Blood or no blood, he cannot match the song in your heart. And once House Revati’s challenge to our authority has failed, Rati will have no option but to back down.”