Page 14 of The Divine Lies We Weave

Leela winced as the voice clawed its way inside her skull, as if fingers clung under her bone. “She says… to let us… go.”

Ishaan stilled, eyes unflinching. “As she wishes. But first, she must tell me what to do now?”

How dare he demand answers!

“She’s mad,” Leela said.

The light dimmed in his eyes. “Oh, no, I did not mean to displease her!”

“Then let us go,” Leela snapped. If it meant Leela could leave this place, then so be it. She would use the Flame to get what she wanted, as long as it meant not dying in the process. She had come here in search of a weapon to kill the lustisha. But she was leaving here a weapon.

Her dire circumstances would have to wait until she found a solution to get this Flame out of her head and out of this cell.

You may try, mortal.

Try, Leela shall.

Ishaan fumbled with the keys, and the lock clicked. He swung the doors open and rushed inside, helping Leela to her feet.

Leela let him, eyes narrowed. Could she kill a man where he stood?

When it came down to it, no matter how angry Leela was, she knew she couldn’t ever drive a weapon into someone’s flesh. She could never live with having blood on her hands, knowing she had taken their life and taken them away from people who loved them.

“I mean no disrespect when I ask, my queen. I merely wish to uphold your plans,” Ishaan said, bowing at Leela’s feet. “What else do you wish for me to conquer?”

Tell him to stick to the plan.

Plan. What plan…?

The Viperess was silent.

Leela ground her teeth but relayed the instruction.

Ishaan held her gaze. “As she wishes.”

Leela waited for something more to happen, but Ishaan continued to kneel at her feet, the door to her cell wide open.

Escape. You know you want to. I can help you find what you desperately seek.

Leela stilled. What do you mean? How could you know about that?

I am now a part of you. Whatever you want, I do too. I can help.

Leela bit her lip. It was too simple. Too easy. One leap and she was out the door.

Free.

She would be free.

Before anyone could stop her, Leela bolted. She ran. Ran as hard and fast as she could along the ground. She swerved around the corners, bruising her hip at one point and grazing her elbow on another, but she didn’t stop.

She ran.

And ran, until she stood in the area from last night—at least she assumed only a night had passed. Panting, she turned to the sky. The sun bathed her in its rays of heat.

“Wait!” Ishaan yelled. “I need more answers, my queen!”

Leela didn’t have time to stop and think. She needed to escape while she had the chance.