Aru Shah and the City of Gold - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,51

worthy of anyone’s time or attention. Trust me, I tried educating them to no avail.”

Kubera waved his hand again, and the image faded. Aru tried to inhale and winced. It hurt to breathe.

Was this what it felt like to be heartbroken?

Aru had always thought “heartbreak” was something romantic and dramatic, like flinging herself against a balcony while wearing a gown.

No one had ever told her that heartbreak was a quiet unraveling inside, and so vast a feeling it was impossible to breathe through.

Ever since they’d found the true Tree of Wishes, Aru had known Boo had betrayed them. It was unforgivable, but at least…at least he had done it out of love. Or so she’d thought. Isn’t that what Sheela had said? That she would hate him for his love?

Those words didn’t mean anything now.

It was one thing for him to have betrayed them, but what she’d just seen in Kubera’s memory was something else entirely.

“Three days, Pandavas,” said the god, spinning a diamond over the tops of his fingers. “If I were you, I would go now.”

Biju glared at them, then hiccuped out a chunk of aquamarine stone.

“Well said, Biju,” said Kubera.

The next moment, Kubera, the mongoose, and the throne disappeared, leaving the Pandavas alone with the floating golden eye in the giant courtyard where they had first entered the palace. The sun was bright and warm, and it didn’t fit with how any of them felt. They were as shell-shocked as if the god had set off a bomb in front of them.

“He really did betray us,” said Brynne to Aru. “You were right.”

It should have felt like victory to Aru. Instead, she was cold and numb all over.

“I wish I wasn’t,” said Aru.

“But he—” started Mini. Her shoulders fell. “I don’t understand. How could he say those things about us? I can’t believe it.”

“I do,” said Brynne, her voice rising. “He was a liar! He was on the Sleeper’s side the whole time!”

That couldn’t be true…could it?

“But Sheela said—” started Mini.

“No,” said Brynne viciously. She was shaking a little. “He was always lying to us. I hate him. And I hate the Sleeper, and I hate everyone who ever helped the Sleeper!” Then Aru heard Brynne mutter something else under her breath: “He’s wrong. I’m not weak.”

“I’m just as hurt as you are, Brynne, but maybe we shouldn’t rush to judgment,” said Mini.

Brynne acted as if she didn’t hear her. “We have to lose Kara,” she said. “She can’t be trusted, either.”

Aru looked around. Where was Kara, anyway? Aru had told her to stay here….

“She’s the Sleeper’s daughter,” continued Brynne.

“So am I,” said Aru coldly. “Are you going to kick me out, too?”

“What? No!” said Brynne, turning red. “It’s just—”

“Kara has done nothing but try to be nice and help us,” said Mini firmly. “Without her, we wouldn’t have found out what the Sleeper was really after.”

“She could be a spy!” Brynne insisted. “She could find some other way to hurt us! She could—”

“Bee,” said Aiden gently. He took a step toward her, but Brynne stepped backward sharply.

“Don’t ammamma me!” growled Brynne. “It’s either us or them! How am I supposed to keep you safe if you don’t listen to me?”

She looked frantic. Her breath came in short, sharp rasps. Her wind mace, Gogo, created a warm breeze around her, as if trying to wrap her in a blanket.

“Brynne, I think you might be in shock, which is understandable, considering what we just saw,” said Mini. “But you have to stay calm.”

Brynne bent over and took a deep breath.

Just then, there was a little pop! as Kara appeared at the edge of the courtyard. She looked bright-eyed and excited, her arms full of neatly wrapped packages as she ran toward them.

“Hi, guys!” she said. “How’d it go?”

Aru frowned. “Um—”

“I figured out how to leave the palace, so I thought I’d surprise you with some stuff when you came back!” said Kara happily. She thrust a bag at Mini. “I noticed you were out of hand sanitizer, and this kind has gold flakes.”

“Oh, thanks,” said Mini quietly.

Kara handed Aiden a neatly wrapped package. “Aiden, I found this cool picture frame for you. I think the gold was melted down from some sunken pirate treasure,” she said, beaming.

Aiden took it, muttered his thanks, and quickly tucked it into his messenger bag.

Kara gave Aru a bag no larger than her hand. “Aru…this is for you. I asked them to custom-make it.”

Aru looked inside to find a golden keychain. When she