Page 150 of The Divine Lies We Weave

Leela tilted her chin, chest burning with anticipation.

The prince held his hand out as an invitation. “Do you wish to become my wife? From the Awakening to the Netherworld?”

She took a deep breath and stared into his eyes, aware this might be the worst decision she’d made. Despite it all, hope swam in her veins, and she was ready to finally win something. She clasped his hand. “From the Awakening to the Netherworld.”

38

LEELA

Leela clutched the ship’s edge and stared at the horizon on the fifth morning. The further they ventured, the warmer the air swirling over the dunes. Ripples of ridges and mountains spread before her in red shadows, aglow each morning underneath the pale moonslight before it disappeared. Every now and again, Leela was lucky enough to see the giant bones sticking out of the ground. Arched ribcages or smooth skulls with giant eyeholes staring back at her. Fingers split the sand as the dead Flames grasped the ground.

Most of the bones were stained red or buried below ground. But sometimes she would spot them in the distance. A constant reminder of what the Flames had lost to destroy the monsters.

“I haven’t seen you around,” Hema said. “I knocked on your door a few times, but you didn’t seem to be there. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Leela said, refusing to look at Hema. She didn’t want to talk to anyone about how her body worked. Most people didn’t believe her. Others just sat there and judged her, and that made her all the more panicked about it. It was one thing to have a hormonal condition. It was another to have to be in an unsupportive society when it occurred and have no escape.

“Are you sure? I’m happy to sit and listen,” Hema offered.

Leela gazed at the woman, the tiny black flecks in her eyes looking like constellations against the dark brown. She liked Hema. Leela might admit she was beautiful, and under different circumstances, she might have wondered if Hema would be interested in something more. But she didn’t have time to mess around with anyone, not when her head was a mess with Rajesh, the Viperess, and the Scorpion.

“Thanks.” Leela sighed and forced a smile. “But I’m okay. Really.”

“If you want to pick up where we left off, just let me know,” Hema said, nibbling on her bottom lip. “I wanted to be a teacher before I became a Vessel, you know. So I was really excited when Rajesh told me to personally train you.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“Anyway, I’m going to get something to eat. Do you want some food?”

“I’m okay, thank you.” Leela hadn’t had much of an appetite for the last week, and she was almost too scared to eat now. “You go on ahead.”

Hema smiled and then walked away.

Leela turned back to the dunes that looked like pregnant bellies and watched as they sped past them. The air grew hotter; she could tell they were making their way north across the Southern Deserts, the red sand turning yellow the further they reached the center. She had studied the giant map in her village’s room, the five continents slathered with oceans of all kinds. The desert island was divided into three parts, with Nihikia sitting right on the edge of the Southern Desert, and Kithium sat on the northern parts. Jhuna Rin was their third desert kingdom, situated further west. If she were to look at it on the map, the desert kingdoms were like a messy circle, split into three uneven parts while the storm blazed in the center.

“You look like you need a drink,” Rajesh said.

Leela looked over her shoulder as he approached. His black shirt billowed in the air, his soft mop of hair waving over his steady gaze. He held a dusty green bottle toward her.

Her gaze jumped between his and the bottle in his hands. “Fine. Thank you.” Leela grabbed it and sniffed the contents. A creamy, butterscotch smell hit her, and she crinkled her nose. “Actually, no thanks.”

“Not a fan of whiskey?” He took the bottle back with a smirk etched in the corners of his mouth. He tilted his head back, bottle to his lips, and downed a good mouthful.

The bulge in his neck showed the scar she’d left on his skin. She turned away.

“No. Not a drinker, really.”

“I remember a few times when we’d sneak a few.” Rajesh leaned over the railing.

Leela searched her mind for something else to say. She didn’t have time to draw on the old memories between them. Not after what she’d done.

“When will we find the monsters?” Leela asked. “We’ve traveled far enough.”

“At this time of the year, most of the monsters drive further south. Toward the waters and Kithium borders, to find sanctuary between the mountains,” Rajesh said. “Be glad we haven’t run into more.”

“What sort have you killed?” She glanced around the ship to make sure no one was nearby and leaned into Rajesh. “Or rather, made? How does it work?”

Rajesh dragged a hand over his face and heaved a sigh. “I had a feeling you were going to ask that.”