Page 39 of The Divine Lies We Weave

“He has a point,” Iravan interjected.

“Bu—” Rajesh started.

“We are not losing her again,” Nalini said, tone taut.

Rajesh turned his dark look to Leela.

Leela’s stomach churned. “Only if it is safe to do so.”

“We will keep as much distance between you two as we can,” Nalini said. “I will talk to the superiors about a solution as well.”

Leela sucked in a breath. “B—but the palace can’t know I’m here! They’ll drag me back to that shithole. I… I ran away from a marriage.”

Nalini locked her eyes on Leela, pity nestled within. “Then we will find another way.”

Rajesh shook his head and stormed out of the room.

Leela watched him leave, trying not to let the slight tinge of hurt affect her. She knew it was simply because Rajesh didn’t want to be around her, and there was a good reason. The Viperess could kill Rajesh, and Leela didn’t want that. The more distance she put between them, the more likely he would survive. Why would she put herself closer to the person the Viperess wanted dead?

“I don’t understand,” Leela said once Rajesh’s footsteps stopped echoing. “Why don’t you just let me go? I can survive in the desert.”

“No. You won’t,” Nalini said, stroking Leela’s cheek. “We have plenty of room and resources here. We will find a way. I promise. And besides, Rajesh will come around to the idea of having you here. He’s just in shock.”

“I don’t understand why you’d leave us together.”

Nalini sighed. “Because Rajesh knows the pain of having something inside you when you don’t want it and don’t know how to push it aside. Because of that, he is the strongest among us and a comfort when you need it.”

Leela wondered what Nalini meant. But she was too tired and overwhelmed to ask any more questions. The conversation was draining, as if it had sucked all the happiness from the room—and her.

“Get some rest,” Nalini encouraged. “Iravan can show you around the place and help you settle in.”

Leela swiveled to Iravan, noticing a broad smile plastered over his face, igniting his entire features.

“Pleasure,” Iravan said. “We have an amazing place here, Leela. I can’t wait to show you.”

“Sounds riveting,” Leela said, sarcasm dripping from her tongue. There was still one last question she needed answered. “Who else is alive? Did my family make it?”

Nalini’s expression told her all Leela needed to know. The older woman bowed her head and glanced at Iravan. “I’m sorry, Leela. If they are, we aren’t aware of it.”

Leela let the hope fizzle out. She grew silent, chewing the inside of her cheek. There wasn’t a lot of hope, only a small bit.

“It is great to see you, Leela. Under different circumstances, I would pull you in and hug you. I am sure Rajesh would do the same,” Nalini said.

Leela’s chest throbbed. She forced a smile. “I would hope so.”

“Right,” Iravan said, smacking his cane on the ground. “Where should we begin?”

10

LEELA

Iravan led Leela around the den for the next hour, occasionally stopping to sit and explain the different rooms. People everywhere were dressed in simple, loose clothes. Women wore swishing skirts or pants with blouses, their stomachs exposed. Men wore long shirts, scarves draped over their faces to keep the sun or heat out of their eyes. Some wore an assortment of both.

Iravan led her deeper into the depths of the den. It made Leela feel like an ant, crawling through the cavernous red walls, peering through the haphazard windows, or evading the scorching light blasting through the bigger tunnels. When they passed through, Leela gawked at the intricate carvings on the columns and walls—art of the Flames as they danced or fought one another. Each swirl and floral design was carved to perfection.

Leela grew silent as she stood before an artwork on a long stretch of wall depicting the Flames from the Awakening in formation with weapons raised at the Flames from the Netherworld, a beautiful blue stone embedded between the two groups. Foxes, Bats, Vipers, Elephants, Scorpions, Tigers, Ravens, Bulls, Hawks, Caracals and Peacocks all stood evenly opposite one another.

“Beautiful, right?” Iravan said, leaning over.