Page 111 of Damned and Broken Gods
Leela’s eyes are still sad, but she smiles and nods.
I add a final mission to my list, to be completed before I leave. A full-beam smile from Leela, one that I can capture in my mind’s eye and take with me.
Yes. That’s the only thing I’ll take from this place when I go.
Chapter 41
Will This Be A Night To Remember?
LEELA
Bina invited a bunch of us to her quarters to get ready for the ball, and for a little while, it felt like getting ready for a night out, minus the pre-club drinks, of course. No one discussed the upcoming labyrinth. No one accused me of being the cause, even though it had obviously been moved because of me.
I was grateful, though. To not be blamed.
So we primped and preened and helped each other with zippers and lace. Our anchors either helped or watched from the sidelines, until finally we were ready.
I stepped in front of the full-length mirror to take in my efforts.
The lehenga fit perfectly, black and gold fabric draping me like a starry sky.
“Oh, chickadee.” Blue clasped his paws together, his eyes glittering. “Ya look like a princess.”
I felt like one too. Remi had helped to put my hair up, leaving wavy strands to frame my face. My neck looked slender and graceful, the pendant from the fire trial glittering at my collarbone. Bina had loaned me some makeup, and I’d rimmed my eyes in kohl, lightly rouged my cheeks, and stained my lips a soft blush.
I looked…beautiful.
Not like me at all.
“All right, you’ve hogged the mirror enough,” Bina said with a smile. “My turn.”
I stepped away from the glass to make way for her.
She looked amazing in a blue and silver outfit with bangles on her wrists and dangly silver earrings. Alia adjusted Bina’s dupatta, the scarf that hung from her shoulder.
Remi and Dharma fiddled with each other’s hair across the room, and Sylvie busied herself packing away all the makeup and hairbrushes. Regina, Poppy, and Evie hadn’t been invited to the dress-up because Bina didn’t know them. Not that Evie would have come. Remi hung out at Dharti Ghar enough for Bina to feel comfortable with having her here.
But Priti’s absence was felt acutely.
Remi, Sylvie, and Evie had completed the earth test but still had the sea test to complete, so they wouldn’t be taking the labyrinth with us, and I was relieved they hadn’t been dragged into the mess of an early test like the others.
But the others…I glanced across at them now, claws of guilt digging into my chest. I had no idea how the labyrinth would test us, but if we got to stay together during it, I was going to make damned sure my friends survived it…
There was a tentative knock at the door.
Bina frowned. “Are we expecting anyone else?”
The drohi had been instructed to meet us at the ball.
Ione had explained that all demigods were to enter via the main staircase and would be met at the base by their drohi and escorted onto the dancefloor.
We all shook our heads.
The knock sounded again.
“Come in!” Bina called.
The door opened, and Keyton stepped in. “Ladies, it would be an honor for me to escort you all to the ballroom.”
