Page 142 of The Divine Lies We Weave

The Viperess steadied her gaze over the wounded and dead. Those who survived prayed the mortal’s souls into the Awakening. Others picked up weapons, wiping them off with grains of sand.

Leela bowed her head, wishing those who were severely injured a swift end.

“My queen, are you okay?” Ishaan asked, limping over.

Unfortunately, to Leela’s disgust, he was still alive.

“Perfectly fine,” the Viperess said, eyes narrowing at the crowd. Their numbers had dwindled, and Leela felt her disappointment shimmer like hot coils. “We keep moving. There could very well be more monsters. We need to keep our strength.”

Ishaan nodded. He motioned to the group to keep moving. Some stayed back to help the wounded, but the rebels all moved on.

We need to stop. We need to help them.

There is no time.

No time to mourn the dead? Leela scoffed. Cruel, yes. Vengeful, yes. Even spiteful. But heartless? I guess I can add that to the list.

You keep trying to wound me with words, mortal. Have you not realized yet, I cannot be hurt? Words are nothing but tiny lashes against my skin. I have felt endless pain. I know pain. Your words are not painful. More of a nuisance.

Leela clenched her hands, wishing she could show the Viperess what pain really was.

Instead, the group collected itself and moved toward the exit.

36

LEELA

The walk felt like it lasted for hours before they finally reached an exit. Leela sat, watching the scene unfold behind the yellow hue of the Viperess’s vision. She kept wondering what would happen. What did the Viperess plan? Why here? She thought she understood the Viperess, but how could she? The Viperess had shown her time and time again that she was an enigma. Even in their early days together, Leela couldn’t understand whether the Viperess was evil or good. Kind or hurtful?

At times, she cared for Leela. She gave her advice and told her to keep moving. In the end, she’d ruined her entire life.

Keep thinking, and you’ll make me want to fully control you.

Leela peeled her eyes from her twiddling hands. Have you not been doing that?

Oh no, mortal. I could fully consume you and have you not exist at all. Why do you think you have two shadows and not the one? One is my animal. The other is my Flame form.

Leela shuddered. She supposed she should be thankful the Viperess hadn’t decided to do that. The prospect of her body being around but her soul gone…. scared her.

Do not worry. I have what I wanted. I am close. You can have your mortal form back.

How generous of you.

What would Leela go back to? A world ravaged by monsters? A world without Rajesh? Would she go back to the den and become a Gilded Thorn and hope to seek vengeance? No. Revenge never led to anything. She had started this journey wanting to destroy the lustisha, and what had that gotten her?

A broken heart.

An uncontrollable Flame.

A mess of a relationship.

The Viperess froze. Leela snapped her gaze to what the Viperess was staring at.

She sucked in a breath. A giant silhouette stood in the clearing. Fog rolled around its feet.

Fear and adrenaline coursed through Leela. She knew the monster that had ruined her life. How could she not after what it had taken from her?

A lustisha.