Page 138 of The Encore’s Crown

She turns my hand carefully, testing my fingers with hers.

“I don’t think anything’s broken,” I say.

Her grip tightens anyway.

“Sorry huh, for which part?”

“All of it.”

“That narrows it down.” Her voice trembles despite the sarcasm as she drops my hand. My stomach drops with the loss of her touch. Kasia rubs Natalia's arm.

Radhika stands several feet away, taking in the scene. Her eyes move from Natalia to me, then back again. She understands, maybe not every detail, but enough. She saw my face when Julian touched Natalia. Saw me leave her side the moment I thought Natalia was in danger. Watched the exact moment Julian’s insult became something I couldn’t walk away from. I don’t know what expression is on my face now, but Radhika reads that too. She's always been able to.

“I’m sorry,” I say to everyone.

Ronan looks at me.

“You should be. Your form was terrible.”

Rithy stares at him.

“Seriously?”

“He dropped his shoulder. My eyes had to witness it.”

“He still knocked him unconscious with one hit.”

“Doesn’t mean we just abandon technique.”

A laugh breaks out of Kasia before she can stop it. It sounds close to hysteria. Rafe looks at me.

“Fuck the technique. You should’ve hit the motherfucker harder. Broken his nose, maybe his spine.” His mouth twists. “Left the asshole with a permanent souvenir from The Riven Altar.”

That does it. Rithy laughs, then Ronan. Even Natalia makes a small sound behind one hand, though her eyes still look shaken. The tension releases as each laugh breaks free.

Rafe straightens his jacket.

“All right.” He looks around the corridor. “It's time for a terrible diner with burnt coffee and huge waffles. It fixes everything.”

“That sounds wonderful, but I think I’m going home,” Radhika says.

The laughter fades. She looks at me without accusation or even hurt, though she has every right to both. There’s only that same quiet understanding Mr. Malhotra always seemed to carry, the kind that speaks without needing words.

“I’ll take you,” I say. I owe her that much. That, and a real conversation.

Natalia’s gaze snaps toward us. I feel it without looking. Radhika hesitates, then nods.

“Okay.”

I turn toward Radhika. She falls into step beside me. Before we reach the end of the corridor, I glance back. Natalia is watching us leave. Her expression is flat, perfectly indifferent. Except I know her now. I know how much effort that face costs her, because it costs me just as much.

Then the door closes between us.

Chapter 47

Vasuki

Kiri