Page 35 of Damned and Broken Gods (Labyrinth of Gods #2)

My Fist. Your Face

ARAZ

A s we stand on the beach on the eastern side of the isle waiting for the drohi troop and the Shattiraksha to arrive, Leela’s excitement is a buzz against my skin.

I have to admit, I’m a little intrigued myself. Shantivan is new territory for me, and although I’ve heard of the Shattiraksha, I’ve yet to see one.

The demigods stand close by with their drohi, dressed in the dark green training outfits of loose pants cinched at the ankle and waist and tunic tops that are loose enough not to restrict movement but not so baggy as to catch.

The females have their hair tied back, as instructed, and eager eyes look out to sea. Three small boats are anchored offshore, ready to carry us to the larger vessels that will be housed atop the ocean beasts.

“You’ve seen them, right?” Priti says to Vick. “What are they like?”

He shakes his head. “No. When I did the trial, we didn’t use the Shattiraksha. They were out to sea patrolling.”

“So what did you do?”

“A navigation test. We were given a route and a map.” He points far east. “There are a bunch of islands that way, close together, and we had to navigate small ships between them.”

It sounds tame, but people died anyway. A basic test turned lethal due to the weather.

Bhartina joins us on the beach, using her hand as a visor to look out to sea. “There they are!” She points toward a row of black dots bobbing toward us. They approach fast, growing larger. Six ships, much smaller than Vairanya. No sails, just bare masts. And clinging to the masts are figures—drohi?

As the ships reach shallower water, the sea erupts around each one as the Shattiraksha lift their heads out of the water.

My breath catches as the true face of the entourage is revealed.

They snap at the air with beaked mouths, triple horns gleaming in the sunlight, water falling off the wide ridges that project from their cheeks.

Their heads are built for battle—to slice and maim—while the warriors on the ship react with tridents and arrows.

An ascended would use his astra—the divine weapon that chose him or her. And an astra can do a lot of damage.

Bhartina ushers everyone toward the boats. It’s time to meet the creatures up close. Leela looks at me, bright-eyed, and makes a face. The one that I’ve come to know means, We’re doing this, right ?

I smile down at her and nod before scooping her off her feet.

She cries out softly, her arms going around my neck on instinct. Warmth flushes my veins as her eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, I’m back in our bedroom, watching her unravel. My heart too large for my chest. My body on fire to claim her.

Her mouth parts on a breath.

Is she remembering too?

Playing with fire…

The words flit across my mind. And yes. Yes, I am. And it isn’t fair to either of us. I rein in my thoughts, tear my gaze from hers, and carry her into the water, to the waiting boats.

She deflates in my arms, sensing my withdrawal. And as much as it hurts to pull away like this after what we shared last night, it’s the only way to reset boundaries. The only way to protect both our hearts.

The boat rocks as I set Leela in. Priti climbs in next to her, and Joe joins them. Keyton, Mahira, and I get in last and begin to row.

Bhartina’s boat has already sailed ahead carrying Vick, Bina, and her drohi Thanu. Dharma, Elata, and Alia, along with their drohi, sail beside us.

The Shattiraksha grow larger, and the magnitude of their power hits me. They snort mist and glare at us with inky eyes ringed in gold, waiting to take in our resonance and know us.

Bhartina brings her boat to a halt in front of one of the majestic creatures and waits for us to join her.

“This is Rajnanga, the leader of this bale. You will climb aboard and allow him to know you by the echo of your boots and the resonance of your voice, and through him, the others will also know you.”

We row the boat around the Shattiraksha. The sides of the shell are steep, but there are ridges for climbing. I stay close behind Leela as she hooks her hands and feet into the nooks and ascends. She does it effortlessly, and pride balloons inside me.

The deck is slippery from sea foam, the masts dotted with algae, and ocean flora clings to the sides of the hull.

When not in action, the Shattiraksha sink fully below the waves.

But the ship is part of the beast, born from it, the wood a living thing connected to it, so it withstands the element just as well as the shell does.

A bare-chested drohi I’m unfamiliar with approaches. His skin is speckled with salt, and his dark hair is wet. “Welcome to Rajnanga. My name is Hulani. Take a moment. Walk around. Let him know you.”

Behind us, Vick appears on deck, and Priti helps him up. Leela joins them. I track her while Hulani speaks to Keyton and Mahira.

“Araz?” a familiar voice calls, and I turn to find Jasha striding across the deck toward me. “Well met.” We grasp forearms, and Jasha grins.

His attitude hasn’t bothered me too much until recently.

I don’t like the way he speaks to Leela.

My gaze goes to her now. She’s with Vick portside.

He’s walking backward, a grin on his face.

He doesn’t see the rope coiled behind him, but Leela does.

She grabs his arm to stop him from tripping, and he grabs on to her in turn, pulling her forward just as she shoves him to the side. She stumbles and trips over the rope.

I’m too late to catch her.

“Fuck!” She groans and pushes up on her palms.

I hook an arm around her waist and haul her up. “Are you hurt?”

“Just my pride.”

“I can’t believe it,” Jasha says, walking over to us. “ You ? A royal? A female who can’t even stay upright on a stationary deck?”

I look to Vick, waiting for him to explain that Leela had been saving him, but he looks away, his mouth pressed in a tight line. I wait for Leela to explain, but instead she crosses her arms and glares up at Jasha.

“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.