Page 74 of Heavensent & Hellbent

“And how old was he when he was killed?” I asked.

“Eight years old.”

I snapped my gaze to Castiel. “He was just a child.” Younger than Ehsan.

“He was an abomination,” he said levelly.

Zain’s grip around my waist tightened. “And what? We were killed, and now we’re reborn to suffer the same fate?”

“A treaty was made between jinn and angel. No romantic union between a jinn and an angel can ever be forged again, to stop whatever Armeen was from existing once more. The problem is, as you know, some souls are reborn into new bodies each time they pass. And sadly, your souls are tied to each other. I’m unsure if Rabiya put a curse on you, Zain, but you two inevitably find your way back to each other, despite external efforts to avoid it.”

“We were both born in Shiraz,” I said slowly, ignoring his accusation. “But I moved to England and you to America. Was that on purpose, to keep us apart?”

Castiel shrugged. “Probably. But like I said, no one told me that my mentee was Zal reborn. I know as little about yourcurrent predicament as you do.” His tone was laced with bitterness.

“We obviously don’t plan to have a child—we just want to live like somewhat normal teenagers,” Zain said.

Castiel leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “If you want to live, it’s simple: Stay away from each other.” He turned his gaze on me. “You go back to England. Forget you ever met each other. That’s the only way. Being together will only alert them.”

“Alert who?” I asked.

“The elders, the highest power of greater good,” Castiel said with reverence. “They’re immortal and remember all too well the destruction Armeen created. And Zahhak, if he knows you two have met…”

“Zahhak?” I asked, faintly recognizing the name.

“The Jinn King,” Castiel said.

“He already knows,” I said.

Castiel shot me daggers. “You’vespoken to the Jinn King?”

“He’d been coming to my dreams, even before I knew what I was.”

“He organized a group of jinn to try to kill us in the middle of the road over a week ago,” added Zain.

“Well,” Castiel said. “You’re shit out of luck.”

Silence ensued. I turned to Zain, who looked somewhat devastated until he noticed me staring and softened his expression.

“What? That’s it?” I snapped.

“You’re already in contact with the Jinn King; there’s little that can be done. He knows you’re together. It doesn’t reallymatter if you’re together in that way, just being in the same room is enough to trigger feelings. To restart the cycle.”

“Why did you think he would help us?” I asked Zain, irritated. Castiel seemed to just want to rub how dire the situation was in our faces, and I couldn’t stand it. “And itstinksin this room.” I mumbled the last part, sick of the stench of sage.

Castiel made a clucking sound. “It’s meant to repelyourkind.”

I shot him a dark look, which he ignored, directing his attention to Zain. “Listen, it might not be too late for you. As long as you stay away from each other. Zain, remember your purpose. Remember, Hassan. You’ve been chosen to lead him. You, no other angel. What love you have for this girl cannot be worth throwing away what you were born to do.”

Despite my distaste for this man, his words rang true. No love could be placed before Zain’s duty, the good he had the potential to bring. Even as a part of me insisted he could have it all: love meandfulfill his destiny as an angel.

“Let’s go,” Zain said, standing and taking my hand.

“Wait,” Castiel said, voice strained, like he found this very difficult. He was clearly warring between wanting to help Zain and wanting to end me, which was just great. “You’re my charge, and I have to guide and protect you, no matter what.”

Zain’s jaw was set. “I can protect myself, protect Hassan, protectus.”

Castiel didn’t seem convinced. “If you insist on being with her, he’ll have to be reassigned to another angel. But look, I’m going to go up later this afternoon and find out what they know.In the meantime, don’t do anything hasty.” He sighed, like what he was going to say next was very difficult for him. “I’ll give you the details for a high-level sorcerer. She can retrieve more details about your pasts.”