AYASHA'S POV
I slipped back into our room as quietly as I could, my heart still racing from the encounter in the garden. The scent of jasmine clung to my clothes, and I could still feel the ghost of Koda's touch on my wrist. I pressed my back against the door and tried to steady my breathing.
Pavati was sitting up in bed, her dark hair wild from sleep. She looked at me with raised eyebrows, taking in my disheveled appearance and the shawl wrapped around my nightgown.
"Where were you?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep but alert.
I walked over to my bed and sat down heavily. "I need you to do something for me."
"That doesn't answer my question." She swung her legs over the side of her bed and faced me fully. "You were gone when I woke up. Where did you go?"
"I need you to go see Koda after sunrise," I said, ignoring her question again. "He wants to brainstorm with you about how we can survive the next trial."
