Chapter 32
Shall I not tell you who is even stronger than him?
The man who, when he is mistreated by another,
controls his anger, has defeated his own shaytaan
and the shaytaan of the one who made him angry.
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—Fath al-Bari, 10/519
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MIKHAIL
I gradually become aware that Pareesa has plastered herself against my chest, hugging my ribcage so fiercely it's a wonder she hasn't crushed me. She reeks of blood and vomit, but none of it belongs to her. I touch her sobbing head.
"I've got you, I've got you, I've got you," she weeps. "Everything's going to be okay. Just stay with us, okay?"
I stumble forward, my wings so heavy and filled with water I can barely stand. Pareesa props me up. I want to curl up into a ball and fall asleep, but if I do, I know my dreams will be filled with nigh
