Page 63 of The Divine Lies We Weave

“Morning.” He cleared his throat too. “How did you sleep?”

“As well as one can, considering.”

He smiled faintly. “A fair point. Are you heading down for breakfast?”

“Yes,” Leela said.

“Need me to take you?”

Leela opened her mouth to retort that she didn’t need someone to guide her, but the truth was, she still had no idea where she was going. Even after spending days within this place, she still turned down the wrong halls. And best to get there quicker than wander around aimlessly and without proper protection.

“Fine,” she said.

Rajesh led the way. He paced over the courtyard into the hallway, opening the door for Leela and then shutting it behind her.

Silence choked them in its cage. Leela glanced at Rajesh whenever the hallways opened into a strip of light. His shadows continued to haunt her, a steady reminder of what ruined her entire life and stole the best thing from her. But Rajesh had said he wanted to find a way to get rid of the Scorpion and the Viperess, so maybe there was hope. Perhaps Leela could find a way to get rid of the Viperess…? Get Rajesh back…?

The Viperess snarled, uncoiling within her mind. Steady now. If I die, so do you.

I don’t quite care. If I die, then maybe this silly centuries-old lover’s spat would be over?

Not likely. If I really must, I can find someone else. And who wins?

No one. That’s the point.

Someone has to win, mortal. The Viperess said, almost purring.

Why?

Because none of this had to happen the way it did.

Leela ignored the Viperess and focused on Rajesh. His hair ran in curls along the edge of his jaw, bouncing as he paced alongside her.

His gaze locked on hers, and she quickly turned away.

“Something you want to say?” he asked.

“No,” Leela said.

“Are you sure? I am more than capable of listening.”

“Oh, I know,” Leela remarked. “I don’t think there’s anything I can’t say to you.”

“We can get over the awkwardness, and you could tell me about what happened to you in the last six years?”

Leela contemplated telling him and almost falling back into their familiar conversations. It was like the last few days where Rajesh was super pissed at her had vanished, and he was trying to reconcile with her. What had happened on that voyage for him to change his mind about her? What made him decide to find the artifact and destroy the Flames?

“I can’t pretend that everything is okay between us,” Leela mumbled. “That takes time. So no, I’d rather not speak. I’d rather walk in silence.”

Rajesh snapped his lips shut.

Leela was thankful the rest of the walk was quiet. He continued to guide her over thresholds and down long hallways, some with candles flickering on and sometimes with nothing at all. Red dirt coated her feet, staining them a gentle hue. The smell of something sweet and musky assaulted her senses and drew her deeper into the den. Heat wrapped itself around her, and she shied away from the rising sun through the pockets carved from the cave ceiling, then disappeared when they entered dark hallways.

When light blasted Leela after the third dark hallway, she asked, “How in the fuckery can you see anything?”

“Scorpion,” Rajesh answered simply.

“I don’t follow.”