# CHAPTER 7: Arrows, Sushi, and the Dangerous Art of Getting Close
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review CHAPTER 7 of "Of Curses And Kisses free digital audiobook." This chapter is a tense, sparkling little web of romance, rivalry, and secrets. Jaya Rao is playing a long game, Grey Emerson is trying not to play at all, and every smile hides a blade. So sit back, get comfortable, and let's step back into St. Rosetta's, where archery practice becomes a dance and a sushi dinner becomes a battlefield of unspoken truths.
Four days into the school year, everyone has settled back into the rigid rhythm of schedules, classes, and carefully maintained reputations. Even Alaric's arrogance has softened just enough to be tolerable—though he still reminds anyone within hearing distance that he is the heir to a multibillion-dollar company built on ideas so the common man does not have to think. Jaya finally asks Daphne Elizabeth what that actually means, and the answer is almost too absurd to believe: Alaric's parents made their fortune by commercializing thirty-six previously under-utilized parts of deceased cows. It is a detail so ridiculous it somehow makes him even more insufferable.
Jaya is on her way to the dorms to study with Daphne Elizabeth when Isha storms up to her outside the building, hugging a book to her chest like a shield. Her cherubic face is dark with thunder. She has been trying to talk about Grey Emerson for days, and Jaya has dodged every attempt with headaches, hurry, and promises of later. Now later has arrived.
Isha demands to know why Jaya is hanging around Grey Emerson after everything Jaya has said about his family. Jaya scrambles for an answer and tries the noble route: it is not right to judge people by what their family has done. Isha immediately calls her out. That is literally Jaya's own slogan—you are your family and your family is you. Jaya knows she is sinking. She cannot tell Isha the truth: that she wants to make Grey fall in love with her so she can break his heart. So she invents a different truth. She is keeping Grey close, she says, trying to find out what he knows. Isha relaxes. She asks what he knows. Jaya does not know. That is the maddening part. Grey is either the best actor she has ever seen or the most clueless human on the planet. Jaya smiles her big-sister smile and insists she has everything under control.
Later that week, Jaya sits in Daphne Elizabeth's giant papasan chair, Latin vocabulary open in her lap, while Daphne Elizabeth sprawls across her bed in a chaos of notebooks and pencils. After half an hour, Daphne Elizabeth declares she is bored. Jaya wanders to her desk and notices a photograph of Daphne Elizabeth and Alaric with a group of people, and beneath it, pictures of Leo, Rahul, her parents, and a beautiful horse. The horse is Polly, a Clydesdale, and Daphne Elizabeth's face softens just talking about her. Then Jaya spots a small silver medal embossed with a bow and arrow. Archery. Daphne Elizabeth explains she took second place in a competition last year because Bayer told her to join. Jaya admits she loves archery too. She won a trophy at a boarding school in Britain and has even considered doing it in college. For a moment, the two girls share something real.
But Daphne Elizabeth has something heavy on her mind. Rahul's advice is still working—Alaric and Caterina no longer sit together in English—but Daphne Elizabeth confesses she never thought she would be that girl. The other woman. She says it mockingly, but Jaya can see the pain beneath the joke. Jaya asks why she does not change it if Alaric is not worth it. Daphne Elizabeth laughs like it is not that easy. Jaya, thinking of Grey and her own instincts, says people's instincts rarely lead them astray. Daphne Elizabeth cannot tell if it is instinct or hormones that led her here.
Jaya presses gently. She does not understand why Daphne Elizabeth feels the need to be with Alaric. She remembers Alaric in the library on the first day, his face twisted with entitlement as he bullied Elliot—until Grey stepped in. Jaya does not tell Daphne Elizabeth that, but she does tell her she has so much to offer. She is funny, beautiful, kind. The unspoken thought hangs between them: when it comes to Alaric, Daphne Elizabeth seems to forget all that.
Daphne Elizabeth is defensive for a long moment, but then the fight drains out of her. She admits Alaric was the first person to really see her. Other guys dated her because she was the McKinley heiress, but with Alaric, she does not feel invisible. He tells her that when he saw her, it was like a gong went off in his head and he just knew. Jaya expects her to say he loved her. Instead, Daphne Elizabeth says he knew he had to have her. Jaya repeats it carefully. Daphne Elizabeth waves it off, insisting it sounded better when he said it. He pays attention to her. She is not invisible with him.
Jaya touches her ankle and tells her she is not invisible at all. Daphne Elizabeth smiles sadly and says maybe not to Jaya, but try telling that to her parents. Sometimes she swears she is half human, half a pane of glass. Her parents are busy and important, and they have told her that her whole life. Still, sometimes it is nice to be seen. Jaya forces a smile and turns back to her book.
Then Daphne Elizabeth asks if Jaya has her eye on anyone. Jaya admits there is someone, but she is taking her time with him. In her mind, she adds a darker truth: she is taking her time burrowing into his life like a little rabbit. A little, vengeful, heartbreaking rabbit. Daphne Elizabeth laughs and says whoever he is, he is a goner. Jaya is what they call a hot-tee with a capital T. Twirling her pen, Jaya says that is what she is hoping.
A few days later, Jaya stands on the outdoor archery range with Grey. Her hair blows in the light breeze, and she ties it back into a sporty ponytail. Then she turns to him and pretends she cannot remember a single thing Ms. Bayer said. It is agony for her. She has been the best archer at her last few schools. She could probably teach Grey a thing or two. But she giggles and plays the damsel, asking him to show her because she does not want Ms. Bayer shooting her with an arrow.
Grey tells her to pull the arrow under her chin. She deliberately holds it wrong. He steps behind her, looming in that impossibly tall, broad way of his, and guides her arms into position. Jaya relaxes against him and thanks him sweetly. Grey says nothing, but inside, something strange stirs. It feels good strange. It feels like she is finding reasons to touch him. They have built an acquaintanceship over the last week and a half—she is in all his classes, she sits with his friends at meals, and her story about her sister's scandal seemed real enough. But she is a Rao. Her pendant is still a question mark around her neck. If he knew what was good for him, he would stay completely away. And yet he does not.
Ms. Bayer calls for them to wrap up. Grey steps back quickly, pushing down the reluctance he feels. Jaya asks if he is going to the back-to-school mixer next Saturday. He says yes, tightly. It is mandatory. She teases that they get to dress up and mingle on the rooftop, which she has heard is beautiful. Grey says dressing up and mingling on rooftops is not his thing. She laughs and asks if she comes to talk to him, will he walk away? Grey hesitates, then turns away without answering.
Later that evening, Jaya and Isha plan to meet downstairs by the fireplace and go off campus for dinner. Jaya is late because she lost track of time reading a young adult rom-com in her room. When she finally arrives, she almost does not recognize her little sister. Isha is wearing a sweatshirt so baggy it slips off one shoulder, revealing the strap of a lacy halter bra. Jaya whispers in horror and tries to yank the neckline up, but it only slides down again. Isha says she got it at the airport store in Denver, the day they flew in, while Jaya was in the bathroom. Jaya warns her to hope their father never finds out. Isha retorts that Jaya would not tell on her baby sister.
Jaya sighs and puts an arm around Isha, mostly to cover the bra strap. Isha wants to go to a delicious sushi restaurant downtown that Elliot told her about. Jaya's eyebrows knit. Isha has been spending a lot of time with Elliot. Just yesterday, they lay on the hilly green by the astronomy building and watched clouds float by. Clouds. Float by. As if Isha has ever cared about floating clouds before. Isha insists Elliot is just her friend and that she invited him tonight, but he already had plans with Carlos.
Jaya tries to redirect, saying downtown is ten miles away and it is getting dark. Isha laughs at her, saying she sounds fifty. Jaya says their age has nothing to do with it. It is not safe to go traipsing around an unfamiliar town without an escort. Isha says St. Rosetta's has a car service and the office is open twenty-four seven. It is not that hard.
Then a deep, growly voice says, "I could be your escort."
Grey Emerson stands behind Jaya, hands in his pockets, dressed in a ratty long-sleeved T-shirt with an obscure band logo, worn boots, and jeans hanging just so from his hips. His hair is unbrushed and mussed, giving him a savage charm that Jaya finds annoying. Isha looks uncertain—Jaya had convinced her that Grey knows nothing about the scandal, so she can be less suspicious of him. Jaya turns with her sweetest smile and says they could not trouble him that way. Like she would ever let him near her little sister.
Grey shrugs his broad shoulders and says it is no trouble. Sushi sounds good. He is hungry. Jaya notices how he speaks in stunted sentences and abrupt monosyllables, like a cartoon Neanderthal. Strange for a nobleman. Isha glances at Jaya and says okay, let's do it. Jaya bows her head, giving permission. If Grey, the most committed recluse she has ever met, wants to come to sushi with them, then her plan must be working. The thought fills her with renewed energy.
In the Escalade, Grey tries not to stare at Jaya or at the pendant with one missing ruby. He still does not trust her. Both Rao sisters are here at St. Rosetta's in the middle of their high school careers, and that is more than a little unsettling. He clenches his fists on his thighs. Was that the only reason he volunteered as their escort? Grey does not lie to himself. Somewhere in a dusty corner of his mind that is beginning to light and spark, he knows the truth is more complicated. He steals a glance at Jaya—her smooth brown skin, her confident laugh, her protective love for her sister. Yes. Much more complicated.
At Sushi Me, the restaurant is dimly lit and a little grimy, tucked away downtown. Grey insists on tipping the driver himself and will not let Jaya reimburse him, which she finds both irritating and strangely charming. The waitress seats them by a window overlooking the parking lot. Grey admits it is not much to look at, but the food is good. Isha mentions Elliot again. A flicker of recognition crosses Grey's face, but he nods seriously and says Elliot has good taste. Jaya wants to sigh. Do not encourage her.
Jaya asks what Grey recommends. He says his favorite is a roe-topped roll, but the seaweed salad is most popular. Jaya orders his favorite. Isha orders eel. Grey signals the waitress and takes charge. Jaya notes it as a student of social patterns. Some women might find it attractive, but he is still the enemy.
Jaya asks Isha how her studies are going. Isha brightly announces she checked out a book about welding parts together to build a robot. Jaya tries not to look horrified. Grey asks if she has read about the origami method. Isha says yes, the paper practice before metal, and mentions a book by David Cook. They both say the title "Robot Building for Beginners" at the same time. Isha smiles at him. Jaya can see her sister warming to Grey simply because he shows interest in her completely inappropriate hobby.
Jaya tries to pivot the conversation. She says she did not know Grey was into robotics. He grunts. Isha presses on, asking if he has taken the robotics elective. He says Robotics I last year. Isha waits for more. Jaya thinks that the boy hoards his words like air and he is in outer space without a helmet. Then Grey shifts and offers more: he did not take Robotics II, but an engineer from MIT teaches the second half, where students set up a think tank and lab and brainstorm pressing problems in robotics. Isha is impressed. Jaya laughs politely. The last thing Isha needs is to join robotic think tanks. She should be focused on rebuilding her reputation.
Grey asks if Isha has heard of Next. Jaya wants to stuff a napkin in his mouth. Is Grey baiting Isha into revealing interests unsuitable for a young royal woman? Grey explains Next is a nonprofit based out of Denver whose mission is to get more women into STEM fields. Thankfully, the waitress brings their food. Jaya beams a little savagely and tells Isha to eat. Isha rolls her eyes and digs into her eel. She says she is going to look into Next. Jaya snaps, "No, you're not." Grey says they have a good website. Jaya says that is not the point. Their family has certain expectations, and it is important they adhere to them.
They eat in silence for a minute. Then Grey says familial expectations are not always the only way or even the right way. He says it like each word causes him physical pain. Jaya cannot hide her venom. She says that is strange for a British nobleman to say. Is not he governed by rules and etiquette? Grey holds her eyes and says that does not mean he believes in them. Jaya sits up straighter. He is making her angry, even though she knows she should hide it for the sake of the bigger goal. She says they believe in their family. Their family is everything to them.
Grey says family should not be everything to anyone. He stabs another roll into his mouth and chews violently. His eyes never leave hers. Family can be unreliable. Family can hurt you. Then he throws his napkin down, stands, excuses himself, and walks abruptly toward the bathroom. Isha asks what that was about. Jaya drums her fingers on the table and says she intends to find out.
Saturday night arrives: the night of the mixer. Jaya leans close to the mirror and studies her reflection. She has arranged her curly hair in a half bun and wears a wispy pink-and-gold dress that exposes half her back, paired with gold glitter high heels. The look says, in a very casually flirty tone, that she is gorgeous, funny, interesting, and into Grey. She is getting better at this. Maybe she is imagining it, but she swears he is beginning to respond to her. It is hard to tell with him. He spends so much time in silence, completely comfortable just watching the world. Still, if she can handle elephants in musth, she can handle one antisocial son of a duke.
Her phone rings with a video-chat tone. She shrugs into her shimmery bolero and answers. Her parents' faces smile at her from the screen. Homesickness twinges. Isha enters, wearing a black dress with lime-green bows along the back, her hair straightened to her waist. She bounds up and waves. Their mother says they both look pretty and asks if the mixer is tonight. Jaya says yes, it should be fun.
Their father immediately says, "Don't talk with boys. Just say it's against your culture." Isha snorts, and Jaya elbows her off-screen. Their mother says that means Isha too, and reminds her not to forget what happened not too long ago. Isha becomes serious and mumbles that she remembers. Their mother asks Jaya to take care of her. Jaya promises she will. That is her job. Isha rolls her eyes and groans, asking why everyone treats her like she is six years old. Their mother says she will always be her baby.
Their father takes a more serious tone and asks how things are. Has anyone said anything? Jaya says no, they are fitting in well. Isha almost mentions Grey, but Jaya quiets her with a look. There is no need to upset their parents. Their mother leans toward the camera and asks, "Even though what?" Isha quickly covers with a joke about gray skies prevailing. Jaya adds an equally bogus, cheery grin and says victory will be theirs. Then she ends the call.
Jaya feels a little sick at the lie. She turns to Isha and says, "Good save." Isha corrects her: "Mediocre save." Then Isha asks why they cannot tell their parents about Grey Emerson. Jaya says they do not want to worry them. What is the point when their parents cannot do anything about it? Guilt squirms in her stomach like a nest of snakes. Jaya abhors lying. It is crass and craven and behavior not befitting a royal. But is not all fair in love and war? This is definitely war. Grey Emerson may not know it yet, but Jaya certainly does.
Isha says, "Right," thoughtfully. Jaya asks if she is ready. They are supposed to be in the ballroom in seven minutes. Dr. Waverly will probably send out a search party if they are late. Dr. Waverly has been on edge ever since the mixer was announced, warning everyone that if they cavort inappropriately, she will put the entire school on lockdown. Jaya feels a prickle of sympathy for the headmistress. Managing students who are used to getting everything they want, while keeping their extremely powerful, wealthy parents happy, cannot be easy.
Isha looks at Jaya silently for a long moment, as if she can sense that Jaya is holding something back. But then she sighs and stands. The two sisters walk arm in arm out of the room. Jaya thinks, It will be all right soon, Ish. You will see.
Reader's Impressions & Star Rating: This chapter is a masterclass in double meaning. Jaya's revenge plan should make her cold, but her growing empathy for Daphne Elizabeth and her fierce instinct to protect Isha make her painfully human. Grey's quiet intensity and his sudden, raw confession that family can hurt you is the emotional heart of the chapter. The archery scene crackles with flirtation disguised as instruction, and the sushi dinner is a chess match played with chopsticks. I loved the humor—Alaric's absurd cow-part fortune, Daphne Elizabeth's "hot-tee" comment—but the emotional undertow is what lingers. The way Jaya lies to her parents while promising herself it is all for her sister is both heartbreaking and dangerous. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
Next Chapter Prediction: At the rooftop mixer, Jaya and Grey will be forced into close proximity, and the tension between them will finally snap into something neither can easily deny. I predict a dance, a near-confession, and a dangerous question about the ruby pendant. Isha and Elliot may drift closer, while Daphne Elizabeth's Alaric drama threatens to boil over in public. Grey will reveal another sliver of Emerson family pain, and Jaya's guilt will deepen as her fake flirtation starts to feel terrifyingly real. The mixer will end with a moment that changes the game—maybe a rooftop almost-kiss, an interrupted secret, or a confrontation with Alaric that exposes more than Jaya bargained for. One thing is certain: the war between the Raos and the Emersons is only just beginning.
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