The Lotus Empire (The Burning Kingdoms, #3)

by Tasha Suri

Because you are more than any elder before you—not because you are deserving, but because you are chosen.”

“Priya. I have no faith in gods,” Malini said. “I never turned to the guidance of the nameless god. I do not worship the mothers as I should. Every iota of faith I have professed, I used to my own ends. For my own survival, and my own power. So visions and prophecy say I must die. So your sister’s visions dredged from the deathless waters say you must die. I reject it all.

“I have won an empire, and we will kill your gods,” she said. “If we want a future together—a life together—where we no longer need to wear masks, or shape ourselves into monsters, then we will have one.”

She felt no pain at the thought yet. She knew now from experience that a grave wound was often painless when fresh because the hurt of it was too great for the mind to grasp. The agony would come later.

I remember a dream of garlanding you and I think— —I think it is more powerful and strange than any crown. To live without masks. To swim through rage and grief and rise, alive, on the other side.