“Will you ask me to trust you,” Malini said tightly, “now that you have spoken of yaksa? Now that you have claimed to talk to one?” Priya stared at her. “No,” she said. “No. Though you’ve asked me for more trust than that. Asked me to trust that you’ll keep your vows to Ahiranya. Asked me to risk my life, my magic, everything I am—” “You gave everything willingly.” “You still asked. I won’t do the same to you. Because I. I…” Priya’s eyes closed, and she swayed on her feet. “My power,” she said. “Comes at a price. And if I had known… Malini, I wouldn’t have paid it. But now I have to do this.
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