Page 81 of Damned and Broken Gods
“Maybe you should keep your deck tidier,” she says.
“Maybe you should look where you’re going,” he sneers, leaning down a little too close for my liking.
I step forward slightly, a warning for him to back off, but he ignores me and continues, “Are you still pining over Araz? Still desperate for him to see you?”
She flinches, and the pain in her eyes, an accumulation of everything that can’t be and all the things unsaid, undoes me. I step into Jasha, forcing him away from her.
His brows go up, his eyes widening. “Ohhh, I see. I see how it is. You finally got a taste of her cu?—”
My fist meets his face with a jarring precision that sends him flying backward to land on his ass. I want to leap on him and pummel him until his face is nothing but a bloody mess. It takes every ounce of will not to. I take a slow step so I’m looming over him, fists at my sides.
He glares at me, eyes blazing, one hand over his bloody nose, the other flat on the deck at his side.
“Disrespect her again and I’ll rip out your tongue. Touch her, and I will cut off your hand. Look at her in the wrong way, and I will tear out your eyes. Are we clear?”
Jasha’s chest heaves. He knows better than to challenge me. Knows that I’ll win. Every. Fucking. Time.
I wait him out. The silence is loud even with the rush of elements around us.
His shoulders sag, and the challenge in his eyes dims. He nods. “Understood.”
“Well,” Bhartina says brightly. “Let’s get on with the knowing, shall we?”
I turn away from Jasha to find Leela staring at me in wide-eyed wonder—eyes misty, mouth parted, and in that moment all I want to do is kiss her.
Instead, I fix a frown on my face. “You heard Bhartina. Do a circuit. Let Rajnanga know you.”
She snaps her mouth closed, nods, and hurries off.
Vick makes to follow, but I place a hand on his shoulder to stall him.
He looks up at me warily.
“Leela cares for you, but if you take advantage of her kindness, you will have me to answer to, am I clear?”
He blinks rapidly and nods.
I let him go, but I’ll be keeping an eye on him.
Chapter 29
Authority Rules. They Also Suck Butt
LEELA
“The sea trial will take place in two days,” Bhartina informed us. “You will sail the Shattiraksha while they are asleep. The creatures are warriors, but they are unable to steer themselves when dormant. You will be provided with a route to follow, and you must use the knowledge and skills you have learned the past two weeks—both on your voyage here and during training, to navigate your Shattiraksha safely to your given location, then back to Shantivan. The voyage will take a day and a night if you follow the route given.” She ran her gaze over us. “You’ve all met the requirements to take the trial—the ability to sail, navigate. And you have all confirmed that you can swim. You will be provided with maps and supplies and?—”
Ramashi jogged up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. She broke off to lean in as he whispered something, her gaze traveling to meet mine.
A chill slid up my spine, and beside me Araz tensed.
Bhartina nodded, her lips pressed in a thin line.
As Ramashi stepped back, he caught my eye, his gaze dark with…pity?
What the fuck?
“What is it?” Araz asked bluntly. “What’s going on?”
