Page 34 of Heavensent & Hellbent

“Rabiya,” he whispered. All was quiet—not even a bird sounded. The moon alone watched us; no one else would know what we were about to do. The boundaries we would cross. “I need to hear you say it.”

His lips carefully brushed the base of my neck, then the side, where it was most sensitive. His lips were close to mine, and the anticipation of a kiss made me open my eyes. He was taunting me.

“Why won’t you kiss my lips?” The words were so quiet, I wasn’t sure if he heard me. But of course, he did.

His hand found my cheek. Despite his strength, he handled me gently, with care. I closed my eyes, and he finally pressed his lips against mine. The kiss was gentle, but in moments, it gained momentum. My arms entwined around his neck, closing any distance between us. His tongue caressed mine, and I could barely breathe. Then, suddenly, stopped the kiss, resting his forehead against mine.

“I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he said, his breathing ragged.

“I’ve made the warrior breathless,” I mused with a smile.

His face mirrored mine, the smile touching all his features in a way that rendered me, too, breathless. But the moment ended when footsteps sounded, and we sprang apart.

Jolting back to the present, I needed a moment to realize where we were. Evening had set into the Red Rocks, and I could only make out the outline of Zain as my eyes adjusted to the dark.

The intensity of the flashback left me speechless. I had never had such a visceral memory before. It was like I was taken out of my body and put into Rabiya’s. I felt her emotions strongly.

With Zain still close to me, I felt the urge to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him, like in the flashback. I wasn’t surewhether these feelings came from Rabiya—or whether they were my own.

“I saw us in the past just now. Why is this happening?” I asked shakily.

“I don’t know,” Zain said. “Reincarnation happens, though not for everyone. Some people are reborn, while others pass straight over to the other side. We don’t know why, exactly. And while it’s normal to dream about your past selves, it shouldn’t be this regular. As for your sleep demons…I don’t think they’re just dreams.”

“This all began after my mum died. Could they be linked?” I said the words, but my mind was still in the courtyard. With Zal, who kissed my neck, who wanted me so desperately. I was glad for the dark, so Zain wouldn’t notice my flushed cheeks.

“I don’t know, but I’ll find out. I promise.” He reached out and rubbed the top of my arm lightly. “You’re cold. Let’s get you back home.”

The rest of the journey back to the car, flying through the night air, went by in a blur. Zain pointed out that we could hear Boygenius playing, but I closed my eyes as he flew us down, burrowing my face into his chest. I pretended it was because I was afraid of the height, but really all I could think about was the flashback, and how this was the first time I had ever longed to return to Rabiya’s world.

14

A red-stone castle loomed largeahead that night after I slept. My feet slid along the tile leading to the entrance, the sandals I wore lacking any grip. My face was wet with sweat, the scorching Persia heat beating down on me. The sun was undisturbed by any clouds, hellishly hot, following me, taunting me.

When I finally reached the entrance, my stomach plummeted. It was like I knew what was to come. With slick hands, I pushed the double doors open, skidding to a halt when I saw a row of grim-faced jinn at the center of the room.

“Where is he?” I asked, somehow managing to keep my voice steady. They continued to stare, eight pairs of soulless black eyes watching me. The silence rang on. “Where?” I shouted, calculating whether I could run up the spiral staircase behind them. The entrance wasdecorated ornately, the ceiling colorful with artwork depicting Persian gods. A gold-and-diamond chandelier sparkled above.

“What did you do to him?” I snarled.

That was when the group parted to show a smaller man, also wearing a black cloak, its hood covering his face. He pushed it back to expose his bald head, decorated with henna. His beard was long, unconventional for jinn, though his trademark. It was believed to be ironic, an inside joke.

“Rabiya, azizam,” he hissed. “Your angel isn’t here.” Beneath his cloak, his shoulders wiggled. The snakes upon his neck, which he attempted to repress, wanted to speak for him. It was a battle between what he wanted and what they wanted.

When realization of his words dawned, I spun on my heel and pushed on the door. It didn’t budge. Possibly laced with magic I couldn’t break.

Behind the door, I heard sniggering.

“Soon he will not be of the Earth,” he continued. “And then, my dear, neither will you.”

The other jinn took slow steps toward me. I raised my arms, concentrating on my palms. Balls of fire erupted from my hands and flew through the air, tight and whirling, toward the horde of jinn. The leader, however, flicked his wrist, extinguishing the balls of flame to nothing.

I attempted to run, but arms appeared as though out of nowhere, restraining me. No amount of elbowing orattempting to knee them in the balls worked. My magic had dampened, like someone had thrown water over the fire that burned within me.

I was trapped.

I was fooled.

No, I was a fool.