Page 97 of Heavensent & Hellbent
“You put us in a fucking maze?” Azar hissed.
It was only then that I noticed my surroundings. Large hedges, tall enough to hide us from view. The patch of grass we stood on was at the center of the maze, with a statue in the middle. A statue of Zahhak, crown on his head, snakes around his neck.
A memory reached out to me, briefly, like a caress. Of Zal and Rubiya here. Zal with his large wings, holding me and landing us gently at the foot of the statue. His nose wrinkling upon looking at it while I cackled, raw and unrestrained. “He’s a bloody fool,” I drawled.
“He’s sick,” Zal had amended. “But I didn’t come here to speak about him…”
“Focus,” Keyon barked at me now, his tone so sharp that I was pulled right out of my memory.
He stood between me and Azar. My sister was crouched, like she was ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.
“Why did you take us here?” I asked.
“I’ve already said, numerous times now,” Keyon said. “You just don’t seem to be listening.”
More roars sounded from across the garden.
“My sister isn’t marrying you,” Azar shot out, her Northern accent particularly strong in this moment. It always became more pronounced when she was pissed. “So you can fuck right off.”
“I don’twantto marry her,” he said, not cruelly, more matter-of-fact. “I never wanted that.”
“Well, that’s one good thing,” a voice said from behind us. “Though I would kill every jinn here before I let that happen, anyway.”
My legs threatened to give way as I turned. Crouched on top of the hedge behind me was Zain. He wore dark combat trousers, a dagger sheathed at his side, and leather armor fitting tightly to his body. Wings spread out behind him, a large imposing mass. I was struck, once again, by how beautiful he was, especially with his hair pushed off his face. His dark eyes swept over us before they lingered on me, tightening.
I let out a sigh, like I was finally able to breathe again, unable to look away from him. His lips quirked up at the sight of me, until he noticed what I was wearing. Then he frowned.
“I wondered when you’d get here,” Keyon said. “I thought surely the angel would comebeforethe wedding, but no.”
Zain’s jaw twitched. He jumped down into the center of the maze with us, his wings dragging along the ground as he took three long strides over to me. I could see his eyes calculating the dynamic between us as he stood between me and Keyon, his hand lightly brushing mine in the process.
“I should kill you,” Zain said, his sight set firmly on Keyon.
“Yes, I’m sure you’d like that—and the ladies would enjoy the show. However,” Keyon hissed, voice lowering, “we are on borrowed time here.”
“What’s going on?” I asked, glancing between the guys. I was clearly missing something. “What are those things?”
“Div,” Zain answered.
A chill swept over me, and I know Azar felt it, too.
“The things that killed my mum?” I said, stepping backward until my shoulder met the tall hedge. I rested against it for support.
“They’re working with us,” Zain said.
“What?”Azar yelled before I could. “Why?”
“It’s complicated,” Zain answered.
“Not really,” Keyon added, rocking back on his heels like he found all this vaguely amusing. He unbuttoned the top of his tunic as he said, “They want you and the angel together. They’re banking on your spawn of the devil being reborn and causing the destruction they’re desperate for.” He looked at Zain. “See? Not that complicated.”
“And you’re working with them? After they killed my mum?” I asked.
Zain’s face was pained when he saw the devastation on mine. “The alliance I have with them is temporary,” he said. “Necessary to get through the palace walls. I’ve been trying to get to you ever since you went missing, and when they came to me…I had no other choice. I had no other allies.”
“Well, now what?” Azar snapped. “Apparently, you”—she pointed to Keyon—“somehow aren’t Zahhak-in-training, and now you’re acting like you’re onourside. It makes no sense.”
Keyon took a step closer to Azar, and rather than cower from him, she stood her ground, staring him down. He smiled at that.
