Page 94 of The Divine Lies We Weave

Rajesh rubbed his eyes, confused. He met Tanmay’s expression, who was just as confused and was gawking after Leela.

“What the fuck just happened?” Rajesh asked.

Tanmay shook his head. “I have no idea, Captain.”

What was that?

You tell me.

No. She’s your fucking issue too. What was that? Why did she just stand there?

I wish I knew.

Rajesh cursed the Flames and their fucked-up mind games and ran off down the hall. He hoped to find Leela, but she wasn’t down the velvety halls or even in her room.

She can’t have gone far.

When I find her, I… I…

Will what? Try to get yourself killed again?

You said it yourself! To get her out!

And now she knows the game. Play this sensibly or die.

This wouldn’t be happening with you.

Too bad. I am.

You two are as fucked up as the other, you know that? Quit playing these mind games. It’s an endless pit of waiting.

I will not attack until I can understand what she’s planning, because she is. I have no doubt.

Fuck. You.

Rajesh shook his head and stormed all the way to his captain’s quarters, slamming the door behind him.

Why had the Viperess just stood there? What were her intentions? There was a look, and Rajesh knew there was something else going on. There had to be, because why else were these Flames toying with their emotions? To make them squirm? Make him weak?

It was working.

He could barely breathe as he’d looked at her, imagining her lips pressed against his. Fuck, if she wasn’t possessed by something that wanted to kill him, he would have had her. All her amazing edges, built from years of pain he knew too well.

He leaned against the bed and ground his teeth. His entire body was writhing with the want of having her, the need.

Leela. His precious Leela.

He imagined a life with her, back in their village. He knew, without a doubt, they would have been happy together, perhaps with a child of their own by now. Sure, the monsters would have still wreaked havoc and maybe he would still have had the Scorpion’s curse, but he just needed a minute to imagine it. To revel in the bliss of how things could have been.

What’s the point in wishing for things you can’t have? It just leads to heartbreak. Didn’t you say that yourself?

His own words came spinning back to him, and he punched the bedframe. Anger flashed, swarming him and hurtling him into the sandstorm. Sand spun into a two-headed beast, a head at each end. Horns grew. Beady eyes snapped open. Emerald scales glistened against the sun.

An angstent formed and sucked out all his anger.

When Rajesh came to, he was lying on the ground. Arms spread and a tear sliding down his cheek.

Fuck. Fuck it all.