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It’s when the thought of him in pain makes you want to hurt for him.
Mrs. B. made it sound like love turned her into a martyr.
But this was different.
When she thought of the sheikh risking his life in battle, it made her want to pick up a gun and throw a fucking bomb under the enemy’s ass.
That was not love.
That was...love for country, which she, like the sheikh, possessed in spades.
That was all –
The doors to the van suddenly opened, and Hyacinth’s head jerked up.
The sheikh, once again bloody and bruised, but still so damnably beautiful, blue eyes filled with mirth –
Something in her snapped.
“You fucking asshole!”
Gadi stood in stunned horror as he watched the girl lunge for Al Afea like a rabid cat, screeching and clawing at whatever she could reach, and even more confusing was how the sheikh didn’t do a thing to stop her.
It took a long time for Gadi to recover from his shock, but when he started to reach for Hyacinth, a cold warning look from the sheikh abruptly put a stop to his movements even as his confusion grew.
Did that mean the sheikh was fine with his future bride assaulting him –
Oh.
Hyacinth’s arms had fallen to her sides.
And then she was sliding to her knees, her shoulders rocking with silent sobs, and Gadi realized in appalled dismay how he had completely misread the whole situation.
Rayyan slowly crouched down. “Maehdina.” I’m sorry.
“Damn right you should be sorry,” she sobbed. “Fucking asshole.”
His lips pressed together to keep himself from smiling. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Too late.” Hyacinth could barely breathe. The tears just kept falling. “You already did. Asshole.” She felt his arms slip around her, and she couldn’t even find the strength to struggle.
The sheikh rose to his feet, Hyacinth in his arms, like a prince carrying his princess.
Yuck.
But she was still crying too hard to even manage a grimace, and when she felt his lips brush her forehead, all hell just broke loose.
“Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you.”
Love you. Love you. Love you.
“It’s going to be alright, majamira.”
“No. It’s not.” Her heart felt fit to explode. “B-Because I think I really love you, after all.”
His lips touched her hair once more. “I’m sorry about that.”
Her fist struck his chest. “Why can’t you just fall in love with me?”
Nothing.
“At least tell me...” Her voice broke. “Tell me I have a chance.”
Silence.
Her eyes squeezed shut.
And then she heard the sheikh say, “You do. And more than anyone else in the world—-” His arms tightened around her. “I’d want it to be you.”
Nine
In the time of Great Hunger and Hardship, the One Above heeded His people’s cries for help. He called forth his strongest and bravest angels, and to each one He asked –
‘Are you ready to give your life to those in need?’
The winged warriors went down on their knees, laid their swords on the ground, and placed their right hands over their hearts.
‘Command us as you will. Our lives are yours.’
‘It will not be an easy journey,’ the One Above warned them.
‘You will be made to take the image of The Serpent, the mask of which Hell once wore and mortals now see as the symbol of evil and perfidy.
For you are not called upon to merely save their souls from mortal death but from eternal damnation as well.
You are tasked to open their eyes and remember what they have forgotten.
That what they see is immaterial, and that truth still lies within.
You will be reviled and scorned; you will be made to feel dumb or cruel;
You will be seen as Different and therefore Wrong –
And so knowing all of these, do you still say yes?’
The angels replied, ‘You only have to say the word, and Thy will be done.’
And so the angels fell from the heavens, and the air turned them into serpents that slithered on their bellies. The people they came to save cursed and spit on them, hunted and killed them without an ounce of mercy merely because they were Different.
But even so, the serpents did not waver, and they sank their poison-tipped fangs into the throats of mortal oppressors, and upon reaching the desert, they impaled themselves on the jagged edges of nature so that their cold blood would flow out of their veins, and from where it seeped into the barren, sunbaked ground welled oases that freed the poor and the persecuted.
Finally, when it was time to Rise, they shed their scaly skins, and they soared to the skies as soon as their wings broke out. They flew over the desert, spears raining down on the unrepentant –
Those who have dared harm the innocent in the name of the One Above,
Those who have dared to sow discord in His Name,
Those who believed that who and what they were made them rulers of this world,
