Page 36 of Damned and Broken Gods (Labyrinth of Gods #2)

Authority Rules. They Also Suck Butt

LEELA

“ T he sea trial will take place in two days,” Bhartina informed us.

“You will sail the Shattiraksha while they are asleep. The creatures are warriors, but they are unable to steer themselves when dormant. You will be provided with a route to follow, and you must use the knowledge and skills you have learned the past two weeks—both on your voyage here and during training, to navigate your Shattiraksha safely to your given location, then back to Shantivan. The voyage will take a day and a night if you follow the route given.” She ran her gaze over us.

“You’ve all met the requirements to take the trial—the ability to sail, navigate.

And you have all confirmed that you can swim.

You will be provided with maps and supplies and?—”

Ramashi jogged up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. She broke off to lean in as he whispered something, her gaze traveling to meet mine.

A chill slid up my spine, and beside me Araz tensed.

Bhartina nodded, her lips pressed in a thin line.

As Ramashi stepped back, he caught my eye, his gaze dark with…pity?

What the fuck?

“What is it?” Araz asked bluntly. “What’s going on?”

Bhartina took a breath. “We’ve received a message by sylph. The Authority has ruled that, as Leela has already bonded with a thunderbird, she should forgo the air trial.”

“Which is good news,” Araz said, “so why do I sense something more?”

“Because there is,” Bhatina said. “They want her to take the fire trial instead.”

Beside me Araz stills, which can only mean that this is bad news.

“What is that?” Dharma asked before I could.

“And why does she have to take it?” Priti demanded.

“Bhartina, this can’t happen,” Araz said.

Ramashi answered, “If she doesn’t take the trial, then she won’t qualify for the labyrinth.”

“The trial is for gods,” Araz said. “Gods who wanted to awaken the hidden flame inside them.”

“I know,” Ramashi said. “I know…”

But I had no clue what was truly happening. “Can someone please explain what the heck is going on?”

“The trial of fire is an ancient rite of passage,” Bhartina said.

“It has only ever been taken by gods who wished to awaken their inner flame. As I’m sure you’re aware, the deva have an affinity to fire, which they passed on to one Asura bloodline—the one that became royal.

The flame burns in them. A higher enlightenment that is sewn into the fabric of their being waiting to be unlocked.

And the trial by fire allowed them to do that.

Every royal has taken it. Not all have survived.

” She pressed her lips together. “I’m sorry, Leela. ”

It took a moment for her words to sink in, and when they did, fire licked at my chest. “I’m a demigod. They know there’s no chance I’ll pass.”

“We need to speak to Chandra,” Araz said.

“The message came with Chandra’s seal,” Ramashi said. “And this…” He stepped forward and handed me a tiny scroll with my name on it.

I unfurled it and read.

Leela,

I did my best to prevent this motion from passing. But you do not have to comply. With time we can convince the Authority to allow you to take the test once you have ascended. I have hope.

Chandra.

I handed the note to Araz. “What does the order from the Authority say? What does it say exactly ?”

Ramashi pulled another scroll from his pocket and read.

“By order of the Authority,

Leela Vijayroodra must undertake trial by fire. If she refuses to do so, then her ascension and subsequent claim to the throne will be forfeit.”

Araz looked down at me, his expression filled with emotions that I felt as a storm beneath my ribs.

Everything we’d planned hinged on my ascension. His freedom, the liberation of the enslaved drohi, pari, and rakshasa. Everything depended on me being queen.

Chandra’s promise to change their minds might never come to fruition. He could fail—heck, it was obvious they wanted him to fail.

What use was I to anyone if I didn’t ascend?

“No,” Araz said softly, reading the thoughts on my face.

I ignored him and looked at Bhartina. “Where does the test take place?”

Bhartina blinked sharply. “On Jvalantar Island. The volcano…”

“Leela, no,” Araz said, louder this time.

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat. “Then let’s get it over with. Now.”

I had an hour before my journey to Jvalantar. An hour to change into a jumpsuit made of thin, breathable material that, according to Bhartina, was super strong and resistant to heat. An hour to compose myself. To say goodbye.

I stared at myself in the washroom mirror.

With my hair pulled back, my eyes looked too large in my pale face.

I forced my jaw to unclench and my mouth to soften.

I could do this. It sounded simple enough.

All I needed to do was navigate a tunnel burrowed into the mountain housing the volcano.

I didn’t have to descend into the mouth itself, simply pass through the tunnel and exit on the other side.

Somewhere along the way, there’d be an ember burning, waiting for me to find it and carry it out. That was all anyone knew.

It had to be enough.

I blew out a breath, slapped my cheeks, and glared at myself, making a grrr face before stepping out of the washroom and smack bang into Araz’s chest.

I bounced back, but he grabbed my shoulders to steady me. “This is insane,” he said. “You’ll die.”

My stomach knotted. “Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

His grip on me tightened. “I don’t…” He exhaled. “Don’t fall into humor. Don’t deflect. You. Could. Die.”

I wanted to say I’d heard him the first time, that enunciating didn’t help, but I bit back the flippant retorts and spoke from the heart instead. “Then I die. But I have to try.”

His jaw ticked, and he exhaled through his nose. “I don’t want you to die.”

The urge to melt into him, to surrender to the terror that was clawing at my insides rushed over me, but I batted it away. If I softened now, if I allowed him to hold me, then I might cave. I might change my mind, and then…then the Authority and the regime would win.

I couldn’t, wouldn’t, allow that to happen. I pushed him away, putting much-needed distance between us, and the way his face fell made the knots in my stomach tighten.

“Araz, I have to do this. I have to try. You know it. Deep down you fucking know it. And I know, if the roles were reversed, if you were me , you would do it too.”

He made a sound of exasperation and dragged a hand down his face. “Dammit.” He paced tightly, his hands flexing. “I can’t…I can’t watch you go in there and do nothing.”

“Then come with me.” I lightly touched his arm, and he stilled. I took his hand and pressed it to my chest, over my heart. “Come with me here.” Heat bloomed in my solar plexus. “Ah…there you are.”

He closed his eyes and took a shuddering breath. “Leela, I…Fuck.” He swallowed hard and opened his eyes, fixing me with a look that was fire and brimstone. “You will not be a hero. If things start to look bad, you will leave. You will retreat. Do you understand me?”

My mouth trembled as I forced a smile, injecting levity into my tone. “I mean, how can I disobey when you use the big boss voice?”

“Leela…” He groaned, pressing his forehead to mine. “Please…”

I sighed and allowed myself a moment, just one, to lean into him. “I promise.”

And I had every intention of keeping it.

Honestly, I did.