Cool air riffles through me fur, and we’re outside in a part of the garden that I haven’t seen yet. We’ve got ta be on the northwestern side of the palace. I look back at the building to get me bearings and freeze as a red gaping hole in the wall behind us closes up.
“What did ya do?”
“Opened a short path to where I needed to be.”
He says it as if it’s the most common thing ever, but it’s not. It’s power, and it’s not information I can file away. An eerie green glow blooms ahead of us, and the urge to shrink fills me again. It’s a dome. A huge green dome covering the grass ahead, and sitting in the center of it is a brown-skinned naked man. He watches us with yellow eyes.
Fuck, there’s somethin’ familiar about this guy.
Mizikiel comes to a halt by the dome. “Good evening, Pakshiraj.”
Fuck. What the?—
“Mizikiel.” Pakshiraj inclines his head in greeting.
“So you remember now?” Mizikiel says, a slight sneer to his tone.
“Yes, I remember. I remember it all.”
“Good. Then I can end you knowing that you understand why.”
“You believe that I betrayed you.”
“I know it. You…We were friends, and you did not stop them. You didn’t warn me what would happen.”
“No. I didn’t. I had no choice but to keep my silence. Just as I have no choice but to sit in this dome now and wait for my end.” He stands slowly. “But I remember you, friend. I remember what was done to you, and I am sorry for it. For my part in it, however unwilling.”
Tension rolls off Mizikiel, making my whiskers twitch. “You think apologies will suffice?”
Pakshiraj exhales and closes his eyes for a beat. “No. Nothing can erase or soothe what was done to you. I understand why you believe this world should end.”
“The balance must be restored.”
“Is that what you tell yourself?”
Mizikiel’s eyes narrow dangerously. “It is the truth of it.”
Pakshiraj inclines his head. “If you say so, friend.”
The air goes thin and then expands.
“It is! It is the truth!” Mizikiel bellows, spittle flying from his lips.
My stomach contracts. This is the first time I’ve seen him lose his shit. The first time that he’s been less than controlled.
“The existence of this world has upset the balance of this universe.” He spits out the words like bullets, then inhalesthrough his nose, closing his eyes for a moment, obviously grounding himself. Thank gods. When he opens his eyes to speak next, the crackle and tension have gone. His voice comes out smooth and even and completely sane. “Worlds that should have been born, stories that should have been told have been left to darkness, and fractures have formed in the fabric of being. This world takes energy that must be siphoned elsewhere. You stopped me from my duty once, but you will not stop me again.” He moves closer to the dome, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “This world will die. I will see to it.” He looks up at the sky. “New stars await to be born.”
Pakshiraj’s gaze flicks to me for a beat, then to the far left of the dome before going back to Mizikiel. I follow his gaze and spot the pillar on the other side of the dome barrier. There’s a glowing green gem embedded in it.
Mizikiel drops his chin to look at Pakshiraj. “Youwilldie, but not until you watch your bonded die by my hand.”
Ice floods my veins. He’s talkin’ ’bout hurting Leela. My Leela. A hot coil expands in my belly.
“I won’t let you hurt her,” Pakshiraj says.
“You’ll have no way to stop me. That dome is impregnable.”
“This dome surrounding me might be, but the one around Aakash Sansaar isn’t. Not to me or my kind.”
