Page 103 of The Divine Lies We Weave

And what was she waiting for?

Okay, so why the vengeance?

She split the realms to get to me. To get her own vengeance on me. Why would I not want to stop her from destroying me, again?

Have you actually spoken to her since?

You are asking some quite personal questions.

Have you?

You know I haven’t.

Rajesh scoffed. Maybe, and this is just a suggestion, you should.

Why would she listen to me? The Scorpion seethed. She tore the realms apart, causing this entire havoc. She is the reason you are now a monster hunter and your world is trapped in this relentless chaos.

It’s just that, well, the divine lies you two are weaving is eventually going to catch up to you. How do you know she isn’t sorry and hasn’t come to say that?

No. Not her. She knew what she was doing, and she stomped on my heart doing it.

“Captain.”

Rajesh blinked and met Navya’s emerald eyes. “Yes?”

She stepped closer, arms folded over her chest, and nestled against the bench with a look Rajesh expected and was not ready for.

He sighed. “What is it? Spit it out.”

“You going to tell us where we’re heading yet?”

Rajesh frowned. That was not what he was expecting her to say. Nevertheless, it was a conversation he was glad to avoid. For now, anyway. “I told Tanmay before.”

“And he was very vague in his response.” Navya grabbed the wheel under his hand, stopping it. “You and I both know where we’re going. The sands are turning yellow, and we’re heading into very dangerous territory. Are you not concerned about putting our lives at risk?”

Rajesh’s gaze turned deadly then. “Of course I know. Why do you think I told people to leave if they needed to?”

“Because this isn’t going to end well.” Navya huffed. “You haven’t even spoken to me about her yet.”

Yep. There it was. His hope was short-lived.

Sweeping a hand through his curls, he stepped back from the wheel and glanced over the deck. Most of his crew were below deck, either pulling vegetables and fruits from their tiny greenhouse, preparing dinner, or resting. It was during quiet days that his crew finally got to rest. At least no one would hear this conversation.

“What do you want me to say?” Rajesh whispered. He held her gaze, her emerald depths flickering with spite, one he hadn’t seen in her before.

“Just tell me we’re through.”

“We’re through.”

There was no hesitation. No hitch in his words. He knew as soon as he laid eyes on Leela, he was never going to kiss Navya again. He was, and always would be, unequivocally in love with Leela. Navya was an escape and a quick release, and she’d known that from the very beginning. He never thought Navya would catch feelings.

“I am sorry,” Rajesh continued. “You knew the moment she was back.”

Navya looked at him like she was a monster about to eat its prey. It was the look he’d been predicting since the moment Leela returned.

“Navya—” he started.

“Forget it,” she snapped. “You and I were just looking for a quick fuck. I get it.”