Page 132 of Damned and Broken Gods
I lifted my chin, chest tight. “Just do it.”
He reached up and gripped my jaw, and as he leaned in, his face blurred and changed to something regal and commanding—high cheekbones, full lips—and his eyes bled from jade to a glowing topaz.
A wave of longing rushed through me, swelling like a balloon in my chest and bursting to form a sob that rushed to climb up my throat. His mouth claimed mine with devastating urgency, as if this was the first and last kiss we’d ever have, as if it was the beginning and the culmination. This kiss was a dam breaking that would lead to?—
Memory crashed through me, of skin that burned and callused hands that claimed. Of a hum in my solar plexus and a clenching low in my belly.
A name cracked through the veil in my mind and sprang to my lips.
I pulled away, gasping. “Araz!”
My legs buckled, and I fell to my knees as more memories rushed through me, bright and beautiful, dark and devasting. Tears burned my eyes. Laughter shook my chest. Until I was whole once more.
Me once more.
A shadow fell over me, and a moment later a finger hooked beneath my chin, nudging me to look up into jade eyes. “Ah, there you are.”
“Who are you? Where’s Araz?”
He smiled, but this time it was sad. “It doesn’t matter who I am, but Araz’s time is running out. I’m sorry.”
He turned into mist.
Around me, the others cried out and fell to their knees. I stood on shaky limbs and hurried over to Number Three, to Joe. “Hey, I got you. You’re okay.”
He looked up. “Leela…what the fuck?”
“I know.”
“Chaya!” Dharma said. “I have to get to Chaya.”
I took a step, intending to get to Bina, who was on all fours, but the world stuttered, and I was yanked away from my friends and into darkness.
Chapter 49
Take A Seat, Love
LEELA
My face looked back at me, a reflection in polished crimson marble. The floor was smooth and cool beneath my palms, yet hard and unforgiving beneath my knees. Golden pillars laced with fiery fractures lined the chamber that floated in a night sky, and in the center of it all satthethrone, its obsidian form glowing with glyphs as if to welcome me.
The base of my skull prickled, and warmth spread up across my scalp.
Arise,it said, its voice a stilted echo in my head.LeelaVijayroodra…success. The labyrinth is over. Take your place. Seated.
I stood slowly, wariness tightening my belly as I glanced about the room. “Where are the others? Where’s Araz?”
Take your place. Be queen. Others summoned. Serve you.
“Serveme?”
Yours to command. Your will. Your law. They follow. One word for peace. They bow. They submit. You keep heart’s desire. All as you imagine. As you speak into being.
Wait…what was he saying? That I’d make people do what I wanted? Make peace by…what? Subverting their will?
“I want peace, yes, but I don’t want to take the will of others. How would that make me any different than the Authority?”
You want peace. Then claim it. Make them kneel.
