Page 73 of The Divine Lies We Weave

Leela bit her lip. “C—can’t I stay with you?”

“We’re meant to hate one another, remember? And, no offense, but you did just cut my neck.”

Leela glanced at the ground. “How did I come to?”

Rajesh turned to the windows before he met her gaze. “I—uh—was able to disarm you, and it somehow pulled you back.”

“Oh…” Leela said. “Well. Thank you.”

Rajesh nodded. “My pleasure. Now, go back and sleep.”

Leela nodded and stumbled out of the room, still clutching her arm. She stopped at the door and turned back, as if wanting to say something, but shut her mouth and left instead.

Rajesh sighed and slumped into the chair. His face rested in his palms, fingers tightening at his skull. He had almost died. His worst nightmare had come true, and the Viperess had attacked him. What if he was sleeping? Or in a more vulnerable position? What if, next time, he wasn’t strong enough to protect himself or bring Leela back?

Where were you?

Thinking, the Scorpion droned.

Wow. Really? You left me to die. Need I remind you, if I die, so do you because of this damned curse.

I am aware of the curse and its limits.

So where did you go?

Did you not watch her? He hissed.

Rajesh frowned. I was a little busy trying not to get stabbed.

Her movements were awkward. She couldn’t control Leela. Her body is a Viperess, and I know her body, trust me.

Ew.

The Scorpion hissed. Train Leela while she has the chance. While she is still weak. At least now, we know she will attack at any moment and isn’t actually sitting idly by.

But why now?

She saw an opportunity and took it. She will do it again.

Rajesh shook his head. No. There is something more to this. Why did she wait so long?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Rajesh leaned back on the chair and glanced at the flames flickering in the fireplace. His heart was finally steady and his head was finally clear. He had never felt that scared before. The fear of losing her, of knowing the Viperess had her, was almost too much.

If he lost her because of this feud between the Flames, he would never forgive himself. But where could he start? He didn’t know the first thing about the Viperess, and he was too scared to get close now that she could strike at any moment. He had to train Leela. But how could he without getting himself killed in the process?

He put his hand to his neck once more. The Viperess was playing a deadly game—a long, drawn-out game he needed to understand. She was going to use Leela’s beautiful brown body to control her. Images flashed within the flames, of Leela staring down at him as the katar struck true, as the poison from her tongue slithered through his veins and sucked the life from him. He was going to have to lose something along the way.

He just wouldn’t let it be her.

You’d better find a way to get her back to me. Or I will kill you myself.

17

LEELA

Leela didn’t sleep for days as the Gilded Thorns traveled over the dunes. She couldn’t sleep. Not properly. She barely spoke to the Viperess too. She was mad. Mad at the situation. Mad at the Viperess. Mad at herself.