Page 110 of The Divine Lies We Weave

Rajesh hissed. “He refuses to. And I want to know why you refuse to act. Why do you both refuse to kill the other? What are you waiting for?”

The Viperess smiled, forcing Leela’s lips to turn up in a taunting manner. “He refuses to also attack…? Has he said that?”

“He doesn’t say much. But he has refused that.”

“Has he said why he hasn’t?”

Rajesh’s hand tightened on the hilt, and the blade dug deeper into Leela’s neck. “Don’t make me kill her. I will if I can’t get some fucking answers.”

Leela told herself Rajesh was acting this way out of fear. Because he wanted to scare the shit out of the Viperess and make her confess. Rajesh was never going to hurt her. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t because he cared for her… Or had he changed his mind?

She had to trust Rajesh knew what he was doing. If this was Rajesh and not the Scorpion. Although, how could she? He had let fear dictate his emotions and actions before. He broke up with her, crushing her heart, leaving her to pick up the pieces.

Leela hissed. She was kidding herself for ever thinking they could go back to the way they were. Rajesh was tied to the Scorpion, and he wanted the Viperess dead. The rage in his eyes told Leela all she needed to know—they weren’t going to like the outcome.

So maybe Leela should get out of this first. To stop the carnage before another lustisha was born.

The Viperess eventually hissed, tongue flicking against her teeth. “You are aware of why I was cast from the Awakening? Yes?”

“You cheated on the Scorpion,” Rajesh said.

The Viperess pushed herself into the blade, and Leela cried out as pain laced her neck. A surge of overwhelming anger leaped through her.

“I did not cheat on him,” the Viperess snarled. “I was made to look like I had, when my fiancé, the Viper, found out about my lover, the Scorpion. And what happened? Men. The Viper refused to acknowledge that he was not wanted and cast me out, telling the Scorpion of my betrayal. Because I wanted to run away with the man I loved, I suffered the consequences, and the Scorpion did not listen to reason. He believed the lies of my fiancé and turned his back on me.”

Rajesh loosened his hold on the blade. “Why didn’t the Scorpion just ask?”

“I still ask myself that question. He refused to believe me or even listen. I was cast out before I could stand trial. They pushed me into the Netherworld, and I was never able to give my statement. I was trapped with the monsters. So I plotted my vengeance. I got back at the Flames above and broke the realms, cast a curse onto the Scorpion for his treachery, and the rest is history.”

Rajesh flew back, stumbling and dropping the katar with a clatter. He gripped his head, shutting his eyes.

Leela held steady, watching as Rajesh fell to the ground, teeth grinding as he cried in pain.

“Rajesh…?” Leela asked, surprised to hear it projected through her own lips. She felt the glass wall shimmer, and she stepped forward in her mind.

But as soon as the Viperess felt Leela’s release, she slammed the glass wall back into place, and Leela ran into it, landing back on her ass. Let me in!

Hold steady, mortal. This is the answer we want.

Leela smashed against the glass until her fingers were bloody. She bashed and bashed against it, trying to get out and help Rajesh as he writhed in pain. A piercing scream tore from his throat.

Let me go to him! Please!

No, mortal. It is the Scorpion’s doing.

Let me out! Let me help him, please. Please!

The Viperess stood and slunk over to where Rajesh continued to writhe and twist, his spine moving in unfathomable ways. His sweat was dripping, his fingers bending backward like arched branches.

Leela couldn’t help it. She fell to her knees, eyes widening as all she could do was watch from behind the wall of glass.

Whatever had a hold over Rajesh finally stopped. He sank to the ground, breathing rapidly.

The Viperess knelt beside him, her hand hovering over his chest.

When Rajesh’s eyes finally met hers, they were a bright, glowing gold.

Leela gasped.