The conflict had written itself on Venkat through his demoralized eyes and slumped posture. He was visibly wavering, one hand reaching toward a tapestry that sat on the easel. That must be the thing he’d presented, the thing Vinata wanted him to modify.

Tanvi had to get to him before he could say yes.

“You wish to parley?” Garuda asked. “Then tell us where you have hidden Kadru.”

The soil itself quaked before the nagaraja’s glower. “What do you want with her?”

“For her to bear witness. To know that her selfish betrayal is your undoing.”

“I am afraid that demand must remain unmet,” the nagarani said, her scepter raised high. “I will not permit you to harm her.”

Garuda nodded. “I assumed as much.”

Vinata shot the three of them an exasperated glance, then confronted Venkat. “You will begin now. Amusing as it would be, we do not have another minute to squander upon my faithless sister. She will learn soon enough the nature of the fate she has called down on herself.”

Asha hadn’t blinked once during her wordless consultation with Tanvi. Go, she mouthed now.

Then, so fast even her captors couldn’t interfere, she morphed into a snake and shot away from the throne. The trio of guards raced after her, but she easily eluded them, only stopping when she reached Garuda. Next to him, even back in nagini form, she was a toddler at the feet of a titan.

It was the stupidest thing she could have done, and Tanvi desperately longed to hug Asha for it. If they survived, she would. For now, she got ready to run.

“Nayan Uncle!” Asha cried, projecting her voice so it carried across the grounds. “Garuda Uncle! Why are you doing this? I do not believe that you hate me.”

It was now or never.

For the runners. Tanvi lifted her chaniyo and sprinted toward Venkat as fast as she could.

Garuda took in Asha’s quivering mouth, her shaking arms. “I bear you no ill will, child,” he said. “But these are matters much older than you could possibly fathom.” He laughed. “Besides, I thought you would be pleased to have this wedding you do not want interrupted?”

“Release her,” Queen Naga Yakshi commanded. She’d slithered to Asha’s side, and even the garuda soldiers who’d pursued her and stood hovering didn’t dare lay a hand on the nagini queen. “She has no part in this.”

“Give me Kadru,” Garuda said, “and I will.”

King Vasuki’s coils undulated faster. “I will not.”

“Kadru. Now.” Garuda’s smile had vanished, and his wings began to beat behind him, sending thunder cracking through the air with each vast flap. In the next instant, King Vasuki’s tail lashed out, taking down the garuda guards who’d originally captured Asha.

“Venkat,” Tanvi gasped, a stitch forming in her side. She grabbed his hands. “Listen to me.”