11. Rajesh #3
The angstent tossed the Flames to the sands and then reared back. This was it. The angstent was going to wrap itself around the ship and split it into two.
Time seemed to slow as Rajesh notched another arrow. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He looked at the tip of the arrow and envisioned it hitting the angstent in the eye, blinding it for life. Cold air nipped at his ankles and neck, dispersing the heat flaming through him.
Then, he let it go just as the angstent’s eyes widened. The creature froze, a scream piercing the skies.
Done.
Realization shook him. “Get the wheel! Tanmay! Navya, get us out of the way!”
The angstent began to fall, its scales glimmering over the entire ship.
“RUN!” Rajesh yelled.
Navya stretched her fingers out, and the Peacock at her side fluffed its feathers as they surged forward tumultuously. Tanmay took the wheel and guided them away from the falling angstent.
Rajesh clambered onto the quarterdeck and steadied himself at the railing. He watched as the ship sped through the sands and narrowly missed the falling angstent.
Relief flooded Rajesh, and his entire body collapsed against the wood. His crew whooped and hollered, and someone slapped him on the back. When he peered over his shoulder, he caught Tanmay beaming at him.
“We did it, Captain,” Tanmay said. “We killed the angstent.”
Rajesh glanced one last time at the angstent as it smashed into the ground, sending clouds of red dust into the skies.
His breath steadied, blood still rushing through his body.
But they had done it. They had killed an angstent, something he really wished they wouldn’t have to do again.
He sagged against the banister and beamed.
“Yes. Yes, we did,” Rajesh said. He slapped Tanmay on the shoulder and squeezed. “Good job, second mate.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be anything without your guidance, Captain,” Tanmay said, waving him off.
Rajesh rolled his eyes. “As chivalrous as always, May. Take the compliment.”
Tanmay only nodded and then returned to the wheel. “Where to now, Captain?”
“Home,” Rajesh said. “And get everyone a drink. They deserve it.”
Tanmay nodded. He always did what Rajesh ordered. It was one of the reasons he made Tanmay his second mate—that, and he needed the reassurance. Rajesh could never have asked for a better mate by his side.
As the adrenaline lowered, Rajesh glanced back between the rocky dunes and slipped his hands into his pockets. The wind brushed the loose curls by his face and dried off the sweat from the fight.
The Scorpion leaped from the back of the ship and turned into a puddle of darkness before reattaching himself to Rajesh as his shadow.
What a fight that was.
Indeed. Thank you.
Pleasure. I want these monsters as dead as you do. I want the Viperess gone as well. Have you given my proposal much thought?
Rajesh let out a breath. He steadied his gaze over the dunes as the ship wisped up waves of sand in its wake. Once his heart was no longer wildly thundering in his ears, he could think.
The obvious answer was yes—Rajesh should train Leela. He was the strongest. The most capable. The most knowledgeable about the Viperess and Scorpion. But to have them together? It worried him, knowing the Viperess could very well unleash her fury at any given point.
But he had to try. For Leela’s sake.
For his sake.
Yes. I’ll let you help me train her.
The Scorpion clicked its pinchers in a harmonious tune.
That was one thing they had in common. Being a Flame from the Awakening, the Scorpion wanted the monsters churned from the sandstorms as dead as he did.
Especially when the monsters were of his making.
His lip drew into a straight line.
If it wasn’t for the Scorpion harnessing Rajesh, they wouldn’t have any monsters anyway. If it weren’t for the monsters, Rajesh never would have lost Leela.
He ground his teeth and cursed. He knew he was weak. Leela had made him weak, and seeing her again brought up all the lingering feelings. They pressed on him like a giant hand, suppressing him and gripping his ribcage.
It was too late. He knew what he needed to do.
And neither he nor the Scorpion were going to be thrilled with it.
Deciding he needed to simmer off, Rajesh stormed downstairs. By now, his crew had settled and were heading below deck to recoup. He decided to join them because Flames he needed a drink, and better yet, a fuck.
He somehow found himself standing in front of a door, one where he’d constantly find himself over the years. Navya was an easy outlet, a sad release. She didn’t mind; he was her outlet too.
Rajesh stared at the door, his fingers inching over the doorknob. Part of him wanted to rip the door off, barge inside, scoop Navya into his arms, and forget all the whirling emotions swarming inside him. But another part—the part settling after the adrenaline, knew it was a terrible mistake.
Navya wasn’t going to fix his problems. He couldn’t just forget everything with a mindless fuck.
Biting his lip, he hissed at himself and returned to his room without a drink.