The cousins sized one another up. Unfettered by his disguise, Garuda blazed with vigor. Even folded, his wings cast shadows over a good chunk of the space around him. And his claws and his beak were the sharpest things she’d ever seen, promising anyone unlucky enough to meet them a quick but vicious death. “Give me Kadru,” he said. “I wish to look her in the eyes as I subject her to her own cruelty.”

King Vasuki drew himself up on his tail, which was thick and muscular enough to asphyxiate an elephant. Though the stories extolled the depth of his compassion, Tanvi only picked up on his menace. His fangs gleamed with venom, and his green-gold eyes shone with fury. “What you are saying is unfeasible,” the nagaraja thundered, “as convenient as it might be.”

Beyond them was a human woman who looked nothing like Madhu, but Tanvi could place the bitter triumph etched in her face. Not knowing what else to do, Tanvi listened as Vinata promised to let her go—or at least the girl Vinata thought she was.

Venkat nodded. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

Whatever he’d just agreed to couldn’t be anything good. Tanvi scanned the landscape, frantic to find help. There, on the mandap. Asha sat on her throne, bound in place by three garuda soldiers, their swords held to her neck and head. She hadn’t looked so terrified even in the quad at Nitya’s school.

The throne beside Asha sat empty. Tanvi idly wondered if the groom-to-be had abandoned her, then shook the question away. It wasn’t important. Getting to Venkat was.

“I will gladly release the girl, but there is one more thing,” Vinata informed Venkat, her voice pitched low. “A small stipulation.” She smiled sweetly. “My son fails to comprehend the true capacity of a revisioning. Simply reversing the wager is not enough. We must erase the existence of this degenerate species. Only then will I know peace once more.”

What? Too long steeping in old animosity had poisoned Vinata far more than naga venom ever could. That was abhorrent. Unspeakable, even. Tanvi knew Venkat would never agree to that.

No wonder Vinata as Madhu had threatened Tanvi if she told what she’d seen. Garuda would never have allowed it.

From Asha’s horrified expression, Tanvi could tell she’d heard Vinata’s condition and thought the same thing.

Tanvi stared as hard as she could at Asha until Asha snapped to attention. Luckily, she had the sense not to let on. Willing her to get the message, Tanvi kept staring.

“You will have your family,” Vinata cajoled. “I will honor the terms of your original agreement with my son. I only wish this one adjustment.”