Page 99 of Heavensent & Hellbent

“Well, it is, actually. Because if you kill the Jinn King, Azar is next in line for the throne,” Keyon said, turning to her. “You would rule the Underworld.”

I expected Azar to be shocked, to claim she wanted no part in this jinn kingdom, but instead she simply nodded and said, “Deal.”

43

Zain wrapped his arms around my back and legs as he flew us low through the open skies. Azar and Keyon had opted to fly over to the palace using their own powers. The scene below was bloody. The guests that had chosen to stay—and fight for Zahhak, or against the div, whatever their reasons—were now dead, their bodies in tatters around the grounds. The mirror on the table by the altar lay smashed into tiny pieces in the garden. Walnuts and fruit scattered, trampled on.

There were few div in the garden, though they didn’t approach us as we flew over them, instead patrolling the area, sniffing around like wild dogs.

“Where are the rest of them?” I asked into Zain’s chest.

“Presumably trying to get to the king.” Just like we were.

His gaze swept to my dress, as it had when he’d first seen me. “You’re wearing a wedding dress,” he said quietly.

“It’s not very conventional. I wouldn’t really call it a wedding dress.”

He continued to look at my gown like it was his nemesis.

“You don’t like it?” I asked when he didn’t say anything.

“No,” he said. “I don’t.”

We stopped just outside the doors leading into the palace, where Pouran had hinted about our powers not working inside the walls. Azar and Keyon came a few seconds after, and when they appeared beside us, the air smelled even more heavily of smoke.

As we went into the palace, I was surprised to see Pouran still in the room, arms crossed, almost like she was waiting for us. How hadn’t she been killed by the div?

“Leave,” Keyon barked at her.

But Pouran did no such thing. In fact, she ignored him, which was probably the best and worst thing you could do to someone as arrogant and entitled as Keyon. She was the one who had praised him as a reputable khan, and now she was acting like he mattered little to her.

“You need to destroy his soul,” Pouran said to me, voice fierce. Zain wrapped his hand around mine. When she noticed, she groaned.

“Whose soul?” I asked.

“The Jinn King.”

“And why would we believe anything you say?” Azar said, pushing us aside. “You work for him.”

Pouran let out an exasperated breath. “Not by choice.”

“You said his ruling is better than what’s out there,” I said. “The div are the rebels you were afraid of, right?”

“I helped your mother escape, you know that. I left the diary for you to find. For you to learn from. I would never betray Zahhak unless I thought it might work. The palace is under attack now. If there was ever a time to end him—to break his spell of immortality—now is our chance.”

How does one even destroy a soul? The thought passed me by before I recalled the words from Mum’s diary. Zahhak’s soul was contained within an object.

“Where is it?” I asked.

“His soul is in one of the rooms in the deepest depths of the palace. It is warded against anyone other than the royal family…”

“So only Roxana and I can get it?” Azar continued. She huffed. “Of course.”

“It is heavily guarded, but I can take you there,” Pouran offered.

Zain crossed his arms. “I still don’t trust you.”

“I was brought here against my will! This isn’t the life I wanted.” Pouran’s usually icy tone cracked.