Page 52 of Damned and Broken Gods (Labyrinth of Gods #2)

Give Me Back My Guy!

LEELA

T hey say time flies when you’re having fun, but I didn’t have fun. I ached, yearned, and stressed, and time still flew by. Thank goodness for Blue; his quips and witty comments kept me from abandoning my smile completely.

I was a woman torn between the greater good and the needs of her heart.

A heart which walked in muscle-bound skin, with eyes like flame and a smile that, when it flashed, flipped my stomach and made my knees weak.

Time slipped like grains of sand, moving in and out—day and night—like an unstoppable tide, until I was standing at the threshold to the very thing I’d vowed to be.

A god.

Except now that path led to a crown, a throne, and more responsibility than I could ever have imagined or wanted.

I stood in the middle of my room, dressed for the Calling—the test before the test where I would claim my holy weapon—and all I could think about was Nani.

Of our kitchen back home in the cottage, and the way the buttery warm sunshine would turn it into a haven just for us. And if I closed my eyes and focused real hard, I could hear her singing softly under her breath as she rolled out chapatis for supper.

She’d had power, and I couldn’t help but wonder how much she’d truly known about this world. About the blood that ran through my veins. Had she simply known I was a demigod, or had she known my bloodline?

Maybe when I freed her soul, I’d get a moment with her. To thank her for keeping me safe and to ask her all the questions I never got to while I had the chance.

“Chickadee?” Blue said softly, tentatively. “You ready?”

I opened my eyes and met his beady gaze across the room where he stood on the dresser.

“You look like ya gonna kick ass,” he said.

“I hope there isn’t much ass kicking required.”

I adjusted the fingerless gloves I’d been given and smoothed my hands down the black and gray jumpsuit that molded to my skin.

I’d pulled my hair back into a braid and pinned it into a knot at my nape to keep it out of the way.

Goodness knew what challenges we’d be facing once we got into the labyrinth.

Araz had been summoned this morning, along with all the other drohi, and wasn’t back yet, but they’d told us to be at Eben’s courtyard at rising sun, so I needed to get moving.

Araz would find me. He always did.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in!” Blue called out.

Dharma popped her head in. “It’s time to go,” she said. “Ione just gave the order.”

Her expression was tight with nerves. I pulled her into the room and into a hug. “We’re gonna be fine. We stick together.”

She nodded. “Yeah, if they let us.”

Ida hovered behind her, large dark eyes taking me in. Her head whipped left, tail wagging to greet Joe.

He stroked Ida’s head. “I can’t find Mahira. Are Araz and Chaya back yet?”

“No,” Dharma and I said in unison.

“They’ll probably meet us at Eben’s,” Dharma continued.

Lola appeared at Joe’s feet, winding her blue body between his legs and purring. He scooped her up and laid her across his shoulders.

“Yeah, I know it’s time,” he said, stroking under her chin.

I held my arm out to Blue, and he leapt up and onto my shoulder. “Let’s get this done.”

Bina and Alia joined us once we got down to the main lounge.

Bina’s python, Garu, was draped loosely around her neck like a scarf, and Seema, Alia’s hummingbird, perched on her shoulder.

Their drohi weren’t with them either. The other demigods, ones who hadn’t made the labyrinth yet, had gathered to wish us luck.

Remi, Sylvie, Poppy, and Regina arrived just as we were about to leave. There was enough time for hugs before Ione ushered us out into the late morning sun.

“The labyrinth proper won’t be till later, will it? So we’ll get to come back, right?” Alia asked.

Ione pressed her lips together. “It doesn’t work that way,” she said. “Umbra will explain. Now go.”

My stomach trembled. “Wait, what does that mean?”

But she’d already closed the barracks doors.

“Great,” Dharma said. “Thanks.”

Ida nudged her thigh as if to say, It’s okay .

“Come on, chickadee,” Blue said. “We got this.”

Dharma led the way, and we followed. The walk felt like it went too fast, like time was playing tricks. We reached the courtyard too soon.

I expected to see Araz and the other drohi waiting for us, but there was only Umbra and Guru Mahir standing by beside Eben’s stone frame.

“Where are our drohi?” Joe asked.

“Your drohi are waiting for you in the labyrinth,” Guru Mahir said.

Was it my imagination or did he look pissed?

“There have been a few alterations to the process for this test,” Umbra said. “You will not have your drohi with you in physical form, but their essence will guide you. You must make your way to the center of the labyrinth where your drohi’s physical body is resting and liberate it.”

“Liberate? What do you mean?” Dharma stepped forward. “What have you done to our drohi?”

Panic flared my belly, like the beginning of a wildfire. “Are they hurt?”

“Calm down!” Guru Mahir said. “We don’t know. We do not have access to the labyrinth or its workings. The Tantuvaya guard it. They plant the seeds of the test.”

I looked to the others, seeing my fears reflected in their faces.

“This is bullshit,” Joe said. “All these changes, and why? Because the Authority’s afraid of Leela becoming queen?”

Umbra flinched, but Guru Mahir went completely still. “Why would you say such a thing?”

Bina let out a harsh laugh. “Do you think we’re stupid?

It’s obvious what’s going on here. They want her dead, and so they’re making everything harder for the rest of us.

” She walked forward, her eyes narrowing.

“Maybe they think they can turn the native demigods against her by forcing us into difficult situations, hoping that we’ll blame her.

But they’re wrong. We see through it, and we stand by her. ”

My throat pinched as I stared at the woman who, up until now, I’d believed simply tolerated me.

“The Authority does not set the seeds of the labyrinth,” Guru Mahir said. “The Tantuvaya do.”

“Yeah?” Joe said. “And who controls them?”

“Enough!” Umbra snapped. “You will take the Calling and complete the labyrinth and respect the rules set. We have no wish to lose demigods and drohi unnecessarily. If you are ready, if your mind, body, and will are strong, then you will survive. But survival alone does not mean ascension. You must complete all three tests hidden in the labyrinth and be deemed worthy by the scales of divinity.”

And who manned those scales? Were they even real? Or a tool for the Authority to have control? What if, after everything I did, they deemed me unworthy for ascension?

But if that was the case, why make it so hard? Why try to end my life? No…Maybe they didn’t have as much control over who was ascended as I’d suspected.

Once again, we all exchanged glances. There was nothing more to say. Our drohi were in the labyrinth, and it was up to us to find them.

“Are you ready?” Umbra asked.

I lifted my chin. “Yes, we’re ready.”

Umbra pressed her palm to one of the smaller stones and whispered something. The stones lit up one by one, green light filtering out from the runes etched into them. Golden light bloomed on the ground, spreading out to touch Eben and sweep up over his stone form.

A cracking sound filled the air as a bright aperture opened inside Eben. It widened to form a glowing doorway.

“This is the doorway you will use to enter the Calling. Once your weapon chooses you, you’ll be transported to the entrance of the labyrinth.”

“Wait a second,” Blue said. “They don’t get ta come back first?”

“No, they do not. And you, the anchors, will go to the nest and?—”

“Hell no!” Blue said. “We ain’t going nowhere. We wait here.”

Ida moved forward to stand beside me and Blue, and Seema fluttered forward to hover above him. Lola hissed at Umbra. Garu raised his head from around Bina’s neck, his pale eyes fixed on Umbra, tongue tasting the air.

Umbra looked up at Guru Mahir.

He sighed. “Your disconcertion is understandable. You may remain here until the sun sets, and then you will return to your nests.”

“Deal,” Blue said.

The glowing aperture in Eben pulsed, and his craggy voice rose to echo around us.

“Enter, chosen ones. Your weapons await, and the labyrinth calls.”

Blue kissed my cheek. “You got this, chickadee.”

I nodded, fire burning in my chest because Araz was somewhere beyond that aperture, and I was going to find him.

Blue hopped off my shoulder.

I took a deep breath and walked into the stone circle and straight into the light.