Page 144 of The Divine Lies We Weave

Leela stared off into the distance. I don’t understand.

Best to have friends in high places, mortal.

Leela scoffed. You mean this thing is your friend?

How else do you think I was able to get a lustisha to smash through the walls of your village? The Scorpion may push them through the earthen channels, but I am aware of the monsters and their habits.

Leela didn’t understand. Was this another part of her devious plan? A part of her doing…?

Of course it was.

Of course this monster was the Viperess’s making.

Or choosing.

“How do you wish to proceed, my queen?” Ishaan whispered, eyes bulging.

“We walk around,” the Viperess replied. “It will not harm us if we do not give it a reason to.”

“Of course, my queen.”

The Viperess turned and surveyed the ground with a tilted chin. “We proceed around the lustisha and toward the break in the gardens.”

The Gilded Thorns exchanged wary glances.

They walked down the graveled hill onto the grass stretching between the mountains to the other side. The lustisha stood, as if peaceful. Leela wished the Viperess would look up, so she could see what it looked like as the fog continued to roll, but then again, why would she want to look at her nightmare?

Besides, she had bigger concerns.

What do you plan to do with the wish-fulfilling tree?

The Viperess stayed silent.

Leela scoffed. Typical. You always shut up when I need you the most.

Since when were you desperate?

Not desperate. Annoyed. Frustrated. Angry. Those are the emotions I am feeling, or are you pushing those back too?

The Viperess smirked. Oh, I feel your emotions, Leela. Your soul may be pushed to the back of your mind, but I still feel you.

Good.

A shriek filled the skies, and the Viperess snapped around.

A Hawk shot to the skies. Everyone watched with bated breath as it flew toward the lustisha.

“NO!” the Viperess screamed.

But it was too late.

The Hawk attacked the lustisha, claws digging into the thick leg.

The ground rumbled. A scream louder than anything Leela had ever heard shook the earth. A hand reached out and snatched the Hawk from the sky—a quick snap, and its neck broke. A Gilded Thorn man at the back of the group fell, as did the Hawk in a whirl of feathers.

Leela’s heart thumped. Shit.

“All hands to weapons!” the Viperess called. “Attack! Bring it down!”