Page 155 of The Moon's Fury

He was truly a mighty lion.

But she had focused too hard on him, and not herself.

Because she hadn’t heard the footsteps that crept up behind her.

A rough hand closed over her mouth, a muscular arm locking her waist. “Hello,habibi,” the man whispered in her ear.

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Themanwrenchedherarms back and dragged her from the shadows. “That’s enough.” Layna tilted her head to look at him—his lips were pulled back in a violent smirk.

Zarian’s eyes landed on them, and he froze, eyes panicked and wide, blade hovering midair.

He looked as if he’d just walked into the scorching flames of hell.

“Ruslayn.” He breathed the name like a curse. Ruslayn pulled her arms back farther, and a pained gasp escaped her.

Zarian’s jaw clenched, eyes frantically scanning for an escape. He swallowed, dropping his sword and raising his hands in surrender. The remaining three men flanked him; two held him captive, one holding each arm. The third, coward that he was, hauled back and punched him in the abdomen. Zarian doubled over, his breath escaping in awhoosh, but didn’t make a sound.

He straightened, sucking in sharply. “Ruslayn, we can—”

“Talk?” the man behind her finished. She could hear the smirk in his voice. “Oh, I have plenty to say. Worry not,Prince.”

“What are you doing?” hissed one of the men holding Zarian. “Kill her now. You saw what she did in Shahbaad.”

Zarian growled, pulling against the men. They tightened their grips, muscles bulging against leather to keep him restrained.

Ruslayn hummed. He ignored the man and addressed her directly, his breath a hot whisper against her ear. “Ididsee what you wreaked upon Shahbaad Palace.” Hetsked. “Naughty girl.” He pulled her against him, her back flush to his chest.

A shaking wave of revulsion shuddered through her.

Layna’s eyes fell to Zarian. He was focused on Ruslayn with pure, unadulterated hatred, and she knew the only thing preventing the man’s death was the fact that he had her at his mercy.

“I think,habibi, that something has changed since Shahbaad. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been cowering in the shadows whilehedid the dirty work, hmm?”Fuck, fuck fuck. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t let me do this.” He licked her face, wet and slow, from chin to temple.

“Don’t fucking touch her!” Zarian roared, lunging forward with so much force that the two men skidded alongside him.

Ruslayn only laughed, reveling in Zarian’s rage.

The man behind Zarian looked concerned, a deep crease between his brows. “Ruslayn. It’s too risky. Finish this.”

But Ruslayn paid no heed. He tugged the satchel from her body and tossed it toward them. “Check the bag. His, too.” The third man came forward and dumped the contents of both satchels, sifting through them.

“Medjai texts.”

Ruslayntsked again. “We can’t have those falling into the wrong hands, can we? Burn them.”

Layna’s blood ran cold as she watched helplessly while the man piled the parchments against the stone wall.

No.

No, no, no.

He uncorked a flask, dousing the parchment before grabbing a torch and setting fire to her last hope.

Her eyes met Zarian’s, flames dancing in their furious depths.

She had been a fool to insist on coming here.