Page 109 of The Divine Lies We Weave

Rajesh stormed into the room without knocking and slammed the door shut behind him.

25

LEELA

Leela glanced up from her pillow, her body aching from today’s training. Hema was a great teacher, but she worked Leela like a dog, and Leela’s body couldn’t keep up. Her muscles ached more as the training continued, and she wasn’t accustomed to being wielded like a weapon.

Leela jumped as her door swung open and Rajesh stepped inside.

Rajesh pressed his back against the door, the strip of moonslight cutting against his tense jaw.

“I need to talk to her,” Rajesh said.

Leela went to ask who, then stopped and clamped her mouth shut. “Why?”

“Because I’m sick of these fucking Flames doing whatever they want,” Rajesh said, storming over to her side of the bed.

Leela scampered back against the pillows. Was she talking to the Scorpion…? Had he taken over Rajesh? She assessed his eyes, but there were no signs. They were still the perfect toasted brown, like the sunset hitting a dune in the late twilight.

Rajesh stared at her beside her bed. “Tell the Viperess I want to talk to her.”

Viperess…?

The Viperess hissed, slithering from the depths of her mind. Yes?

Rajesh wants to talk

Took him long enough.

Leela’s spine warmed like a drop of honey in the sunlight. Don’t take control!

The mortal wants to talk.

You can project through me.

The Viperess chuckled, low and mischievous. Sit out for this one, Leela.

Leela had no time to push back. Warmth shattered her body, and she was suddenly looking at Rajesh through slitted eyes. She punched the invisible glass wall, trying to get back to her body.

Stop this! Let me back in!

“You called?” the Viperess said through Leela’s tongue.

Rajesh lunged at Leela, a blade to her throat.

Leela gasped. The hands that had touched her days before in such a way that it made her toes curl were now holding a blade at her throat. Rajesh seethed at her, his lips trembling.

No!

“Tell me,” Rajesh ordered. “Tell me what you want!”

“Is it not obvious?”

“But is it true? Or is this another lie you’re weaving?”

Leela pushed against her skull, trying to grab onto the Viperess. But all she could do was smash at the glass, urging the Viperess to play nice.

“The Scorpion hasn’t told you?” the Viperess said, words dripped in seduction.