The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms, #1)

by Tasha Suri

“Here,” said Malini. Abruptly, her voice was in Priya’s ear. She was right there, standing in the water alongside her, the folds of her sari billowing around her. “Let me help.” Malini touched her fingers to the end of the braid, tentative. There was a question in her eyes. And Priya… nodded. Turned her back. Malini took up the sodden weight of Priya’s braid and began to unravel it, working her fingers through it with care. “My hair is easier to manage than yours,” Priya managed to say. “No curls.” Malini worked slowly, sliding her fingers gently through the tangles. “I know you’re trying to avoid talking about us.” Us. “Will you let me?” Priya asked. “Do you really want me to?” She could feel the tug of Malini’s hands—the tingle of it in her scalp. She shook her head, and knew Malini could see it, feel it. “I was never lying about wanting you,” Malini said in a low voice. “Never with my eyes or my words. Never when I touched you. All of that was true.” Another tug. Priya felt the last of her braid uncoil, the pressure on her scalp releasing. “You’re already helping me. You’ve saved my life, Priya. I’m free. There’s no benefit—nothing I gain for the empire, for my goals—by telling you this. Do you understand?” Malini placed her hand flat against Priya’s back. The water was cold and the heat of her skin—of her outstretched fingers—burned. She’d placed her hand against Priya’s blouse, under the drape of her sari, between her shoulder blade and her spine, where her heart thum...

LESBIANS !!!