Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (Pandava Quartet #3) - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,135

a preposterous notion that you would be taken from my care! You’re mine now. Do you understand?”

“Welcome to the brood,” said Aru, grumpily smoothing down her hair.

“We’re not hens!” cried Nikita.

“You must have been manifesting powers since the beginning,” said Boo to the twins. “And no one thought to inform anyone?”

“We tried, and so did our foster parents…. They were really nice, but they had a lot of kids to look after,” said Sheela, lifting her head from Nikita’s shoulder. “Anyway, the OFCS thought they were lying, and so when I saw you guys in my vision, we…we ran away. We thought once we joined the Pandavas, things would be different.” Her face fell. “We thought maybe we’d be able to talk to our real parents again.”

A loud crash echoed from a hallway to the left.

“The police are coming to get us, aren’t they?” asked Sheela softly.

Aiden moved in front of the twins. He turned his wrist, and Aru saw the sharp gleam of his scimitars poking out from the ends of his sleeves. “I don’t think so,” he said.

Aru, Brynne, and Mini joined him to form a protective wall. Aru snuck a glance behind her. Nikita and Sheela were huddled together, but for the first time, the thorns spiking out of Nikita’s crown looked smaller, and when she met Aru’s gaze she didn’t look haughty or furious…but shocked.

“I’ve never heard of Maruts,” whispered Mini.

Aru turned her attention back to the hallway.

“They’re minor storm deities tasked with keeping rabble rousers out of the heavens,” said Boo, from the top of her head.

Mini bit her lip. “I hear they’re super-violent and aggressive—”

The floor began to tremble. The shouts grew louder.

“Yeah, they’re the worst,” whispered Brynne. “Gunky and Funky can’t stand being around them.”

Aru winced. Gunky and Funky were Brynne’s uncles and literally the friendliest couple in the world. If they didn’t like the Maruts, then the storm deities had to be seriously awful.

Just then, a stream of hulking warriors wearing gold-plated armor and pointed helmets marched into the room, their daggers sparking with electricity. One by one, they lined up against the walls, only their grim mouths showing under their visors. On each of their golden breastplates was a number from two to forty-nine. The last Marut to enter wore number one. He strode toward the group, even as Brynne, Mini, Aiden, and Aru closed ranks in front of the twins.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Boo demanded from the top of Aru’s head. “I’ll have you know that I am a member of the Council of Guardians, and we have been summoned for an appointment!”

Number One clicked his heels together. “Due to the circumstances, the crisis manager requested that you be held here until she is ready to see you, for she has much to discuss.”

Aru’s stomach sank even lower. Behind her, she sensed that the twins were on edge. They hadn’t yet used their telepathic Pandava link with Aru, but she could feel their anxiety like a candle flame held too close to her skin.

“While we wait,” said Number One, “my men and I have a question.” His head turned as he regarded the line of them. “Which one of you is the daughter of Indra, king of the gods and Lord of the Heavens?”

Aru held her breath. Had they pegged her as the sister that would ruin everything?

“Why do you wanna know?” demanded Brynne.

“It’s a simple question,” said Number One gruffly.

Aru imagined saying ME! with the same force as Lady éowyn in that scene from Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers when she flung back her helmet and shouted, “I AM NO MAN!”

Instead, she sounded like a hamster choking on air. “Me!”

Beside her, Brynne cringed. Even Mini, who could usually fake a smile, looked like she wanted to sink into the ground.

“We have something to ask you,” said Number One.

Aru waited.

A second later, the Marut pushed up his visor to reveal eyes sparkling with excitement. “Can I fight on your side in the war?”

“I was gonna ask that!” said one of the other Maruts.

“Too slow, bro,” said Number One.

In a rush, all the Maruts started lifting their visors and breaking ranks.

“Pandavas! Real Pandavas!” shouted Number Forty-Three. “Yo, this is so sick—”

“Dude, I’m so hyped for war,” said Number Thirty-One. “Like, so hyped. This place is way too peaceful and harmonious. Ugh.”

Someone else hollered, “Yeah! This party sucks!”

A sword was thrown to the floor, where it sparked loudly. The Maruts went silent, stared at the sword, and then started