She felt a terrible realization slide its way between her ribs. She could not tell Priya the truth. She would ask Priya to fight for her, maybe die for her, on the basis of lies. To enter battle for the sake not just of the bonds between their nations but for love. For the trust she’d placed in Malini long ago, when she’d allowed Malini to hold a knife to her heart. When she’d kissed Malini in a forest and told Malini she did not have the power to hurt her. But I do, Malini thought. Her heart hurt. She wanted to be sick.
