Gods, he was stubborn. “And if we don’t then?—”
“Then we will formulate a new plan. And if that fails then I will cross the threshold to Mizikiel’s realm with you.”
“You can’t,” Blue said. “Only Deva can?—”
“I am Iblees,” Araz snapped, then he pressed his lips together and exhaled through his nose. “Iwillcome with you,” he said to me, his tone softening. His eyes blazed, the green ring around the irises brightening. The same shade of green as C’ael’s eyes.
My throat pinched. He was a part of Araz just like he’d promised, but it didn’t change the fact that he was gone…No longer C’ael.
I swallowed hard and exhaled. C’ael had sacrificed his autonomy, hisself,notto free Araz but to save this world. I wouldnotlet that sacrifice be in vain.
I lifted my chin. “Too many have died for us not to see this through. We do whatever it takes to stop Mizikiel. You said it yourself in the dreamscape, Araz. You were willing to lay down your life. Preparing me to end you to save this world. Now it’s my turn, and you have no right to stop me. Now get me to Aakash Sansaar. Fast.”
For a moment I thought Araz would argue further, but his shoulders sagged. “We stop him before he escapes over the threshold,” he said before striding off, barking orders to get the ship moving.
“Leela!”
Dharma, Bina, and Joe jogged toward me, their drohi and anchors close behind.
My pulse quickened as I stumbled forward to meet them, heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my ears. “Gods…you guys…”
I was enveloped in hugs, soft laughter, and tears.
“Gah,” Blue squeaked against my neck. “You’re squishing me.”
“Shit, sorry,” Joe said.
We broke apart, and Blue scampered down my arm and onto my hand. “I told ya I brought backup.” He pushed his chest out.
I grinned down at him. “You did. Yes, you did.” I scanned the beloved faces around me, and my heart sank because one was missing. “Keyton?”
“He’s still in the bastard’s control,” Dharma said. “But we will get him back. We’ll find a way.”
The only way to get him back was to end the primordial evil. And that’s what we would do.
The ship lurched into motion, moving faster than ever before.
Thewhoomp, whoompof wings filled the air.
I ran to the side of the ship, my heart lifting at the sight of Pakshiraj. His wings beat the air, creating gusts to propel us forward.
The other thunderbirds did the same in a coordinated maneuver that created enough wind to shift us fast.
Pakshiraj’s gaze zeroed in on me, eyes gleaming with love and recognition. A shadow fell over us, and he looked up, a horrific screech blasting from his beak.
Araz grabbed me, crushing me to him as a thunderbird bore down, talons aimed at us. My heart shot into my mouth, a scream locking in my throat. The air bloomed golden as Araz cast a ward protecting us and my friends.
Cries of alarm rang out.
The bird was almost on us when its form shrank and morphed, and a woman landed before us. Tall and powerfully built with golden hair, her sharp features held beauty that wasalmost painful to look at. She fell to a knee in front of us and bowed her head.
I stared at her, lost for words for a moment. “What the fuck?”
“Oh, yeah,” Blue said. “They can do that now.”
Araz’s grip on me slackened. “Ilara?”
She glanced up, wide eyes fixing on him with such open longing that it made my chest burn. She masked it quickly, her gaze flicking to me.
