Page 148 of The Divine Lies We Weave

“You forget—” the man’s eyes flashed a familiar gold, like a snake sliding over the dunes, “I am as powerful as you are.”

“Oh, I remember,” the Viperess hissed. “What do you want?”

He waved his hand, standing. “I don’t like it when my wives run off. I am here to collect you, one way or another.”

A unified schwwing echoed around Leela as the soldiers raised their godsblades.

“Go on,” the Viperess said, teeth grating.

The man grinned. “Come with me, and I will show you. I will make all your wishes come true.”

“Absolutely not.” The Viperess wrestled against the soldiers, but something cold pressed against her spine.

The man knelt once more. He held the fruit closer to the Viperess, illuminating the dangerous spark in his eyes and the quirk of his lips. “You didn’t even hear the best part, my Viperess.”

The Viperess tensed.

“I ordered a wife. And I shall get a wife. I don’t tend to like it when my women run away.”

“I am not your woman.”

“Nor are you the Scorpion’s. I hear a little lover’s quarrel is the reason for all this mess.”

The Viperess hissed. “Need I remind you, you threw me into the Netherworld.”

“A formality I thought would have suppressed you, yet it made your rise into this glorious being. Mark me curious to what else you can do.”

“You asshole!”

Arjun merely crossed his arms behind him. “Marry me, and I will help you find your lover. He also has something of mine I wish to collect.”

Leela frowned.

“The Scorpion is dead. I killed him,” the Viperess said.

The Viper arched a brow. “Are you so sure?”

What’s he talking about? Leela’s chest wrenched. Hope. Could it be…? No. She had watched the Viperess kill Rajesh where he stood. Watched the blood spill out of him and the life get sucked out of his eyes as he took his final gasping breath.

Impossible. He is lying. He’s a liar, remember?

Leela did. But she couldn’t help but want the words to be true. Flames, she wanted those words to be true.

“Don’t believe me?” he arched a brow.

“No.”

Arjun grinned. “Well, maybe I will just have to show you. Your little Scorpion very much lives, I saw him with my own eyes.”

Leela’s heart thudded. Ask him for details!

Do not fall for this.

“That is impossible.”

“Is it…?” He extended a hand. “I will search the ends of this earth for him, and I will retrieve your elixir of immortality. On one condition.”

The Viperess fought against the soldiers, but the blade dug deeper into her spine. “No. I will never make a deal with you.”