Page 28 of The Divine Lies We Weave

He shrugged. “I’m not sorry. Because this moment has led you to me, and that look on your face is priceless.”

Leela’s mouth opened and shut several times, trying to find an explanation, but she came up short. “I am not… I… I don’t have an expression.”

“If I had a mirror, I’d show you that look. Or I could paint it. At least it would last longer,” he said. “Or better yet, I could⁠—”

“Stop talking,” she snapped. “You’re deflecting.”

Rajesh glanced around the room as if searching for something. “Deflecting what? Need I remind you I just saved your life?”

Leela scoffed. “I was doing fine.”

He shook his head. “Still as stubborn as ever.”

“Still as annoying as ever.”

“Oh, I haven’t even begun.”

Leela’s cheeks flushed. She had forgotten how quick he was with his comebacks. How could he pull her in, just like that, and make her forget everything? He managed to wriggle under her skin and fester in her emotions, making her feel.

“Now that is a new look,” Rajesh said. He tilted his head back and chuckled. “Oh, I forgot how easy it was to piss you off.”

“Then you remember what happens when you piss me off?”

A sparkle glistened in his eye. “Exactly why I’m trying⁠—”

“Sir!” The door slammed open, and Tanmay stood in the doorway.

Leela jumped, hand to her heart.

Rajesh rubbed his face and shook his head. “Tanmay, how many times do I have to tell you not to slam my door?”

“Sorry, sir. But there are more drakion on the horizon. We have all the people who are alive on the ship and ready to fly, Captain.”

“As second mate, you have the authority to set sail, Tanmay.” Rajesh pushed himself from the frame with his hips and sauntered over. He put a hand on Tanmay’s shoulder. “But thank you. We need to go home. How many survivors did we take on?”

“A dozen or so.” Tanmay bowed his head. “There were quite a lot of deaths.”

“Any of our own?”

Tanmay shook his head. “We’re all accounted for, Captain.”

“We didn’t get here soon enough.” Rajesh sighed and shook his head. “But we will be better next time. This place was further from our outpost than we normally travel.”

Tanmay nodded.

“Alert the crew to set sail.” Rajesh glanced over his shoulder at Leela, a small smirk riding his lips. “We can talk more when we’re home. Now, are you ready for the best part?”

She frowned but silently followed Rajesh out on deck. Those injured from the attack leaned against the railings, tears streaking down their cheeks and cuts and bruises riding their skin. Marks of haunted memories.

Rajesh ascended a set of stairs onto the quarterdeck and curled his fingers over the railing.

Leela frowned, watching and waiting for whatever it was Rajesh had seemed eager to show her.

“Let’s set sail!” Rajesh called. He raised his arm, finger pointed ahead. “Full sands ahead, before the drakion attack!”

The woman standing at the mast held her hands up again. Leela focused on her, watching her shadows waver with the Green Peacock, and realized the rest of the crew all had different shadows too. Some had Bulls, others had Hawks, others had Flames with multiple mortals housing the same animals.

“You ready?” Rajesh asked.