Page 2 of Damned and Broken Gods (Labyrinth of Gods #2)

A Goddess Of Flame

ARAZ

L eela floats between the pillars, head thrown back as she looks up into the swirling darkness that has opened above the circle.

Shock reverberates around the arena, and I look to the gurus, all on their feet now.

I can’t see their expressions from this distance, but their shock is evident in their postures.

“What’s happening?” Priti asks. “How come the fire and spirit pillars are lit?”

“It can’t be,” Keyton says softly.

“Royal…” Chaya steps forward, her eyes bright. “She’s a royal.”

The air hums, the sound growing louder and louder, drowning out the tantriks’ chants. The ground trembles beneath my boots, and the tantrik fall back, the resonant buzz of their unified melody cutting off abruptly.

An eerie screech fills the air, raising goosebumps over my skin.

“What is that?” Dharma asks.

Above us, in the arena seats, demigods are being ushered to exits by the gurus, but Chandra stands still, his head tipped up to the sky, wings flexing as if in agitation.

I follow the regent’s gaze, and ice pools in my belly at the sight of several dark shadows hurtling toward us, their leathery wings beating the air with urgency.

My heart shoots into my mouth as the Rak, the ancient sentinels created to protect against an attack on Aakash, zoom closer. Arms and long-taloned fingers extend from their wings, but they maim and attack with their serrated beaks and lethal taloned feet.

My gaze flicks between them and Leela.

The anomaly she’s creating must have woken them. They think she’s a threat.

The Rak are almost overhead, red eyes gleaming as they catch the sun, lethal beaks snapping in anticipation of attack.

I break into a sprint toward Leela. The tantrik have fallen back, but the ground continues to tremble. Leela remains oblivious, trapped in the power of the nexus, floating serenely above it all.

The Raks’ scream is a battle cry preempting attack. I’m almost at the circle, almost to Leela when the air thickens, pushing against my skin, crackling and pinching.

Power.

It surrounds me.

Nipping at my flesh as I close the distance between Leela and me.

A shadow passes overhead—a Rak arching down toward Leela, its beak open, ready to snap her in two.

“NO!” I throw out a hand, a desperate, futile action, because what can I do at this distance? Heat rushes down my arm, fire blooming at my fingertips, and in the next moment, Leela is ablaze. My heart stops for a moment until I realize that she’s not burning up. Not hurt. She is the flame.

Like me.

She’s at one with the fire.

The Rak twists away from her with a shriek, repelled by the heat, and I shoot into the circle, coming to stand beneath her.

There’s an audible pop, and Leela falls, her fire winking out. I catch her as another shadow passes overhead.

Several Rak shriek and dive at us. I make to turn, to drop to the ground and cover Leela with my body, but Guru Chandra lands in front of me before I can move.

His wings flare wide to protect us as he faces off with the Rak. “Begone!” His voice booms, echoing around the arena.

The Rak twist mid dive, compelled by the command, but their eyes flash hungrily, their beaks snapping in agitation.

“You will sleep!” Guru Chandra orders them.

They let out a unified scream before rising into the air and flying away.

My ears ring as silence settles around us. I look down at Leela as she stirs in my arms. Blue clings to her neck, his eyes closed, his body rising and falling with deep breaths.

“Leela?”

She groans softly and cracks open her eyes. “Araz…what…” Her eyelids drift closed, and she falls back into unconsciousness.

I hug her to me, striding out of the circle. I need to get her back to the barracks. To keep her safe.

Chandra cuts me off and holds out his arms. “Give her to me.”

I take an instinctive step back, a low growl reverberating in my chest.

Chandra’s eyes narrow. “Do not forget your place, drohi.”

My place? My fucking place. I can’t defy him. Not now. Not yet. I take a deep breath and school my features into submission. “Apologies. My desire to protect sometimes overtakes me.”

His shoulders relax. “Understandable. And I assure you that Leela will be safe with me.” He arches a brow, his arms still outstretched as if waiting on a prize, and it takes every ounce of willpower I have to hand her over.

“What happens now?”

He cradles her to his chest, his brow furrowing. “Now everything changes.”