But which,Lucifer mused.
“Which?”Saer wheezed, eyes blinking to clear the flash of bright lights behind his lids.
Yes, Saerkhanum.Which lives, and which is destroyed.You’re welcome to partake in this decision.
Neyu stood before the fallen angel finished, her voice raw.“Me, Master.”
“No!”Saer choked on the denial as realization dawned.He struggled to stand, blood trickling down his chest and torso.
“Yes, Saer,” Neyu hissed.
“Like Hells,” he snarled, the words gravelly and breathless.He’d be unmade a million times to save her.
Lucifer’s laughter sparkled bright in their minds, but the expression Errshek’s body wore didn’t match the amusement.Enough arguments.My decision is made.Errshek’s head tilted, his gaze shifting to the First.You’ll do it.
Saer coughed again, ribs seizing.“What?”
You’ll destroy Neyuukhan.After all, she cannot do the same in turn.It seems fitting to establish your position over her.Over—Lucifer used Errshek’s body to gesture to itself—all of your kin, Saerkhanum.
Saer’s jaw slackened, blood draining from his face.
“Master, there has to be another way.”He staggered to Errshek and fell to his knees.Throat tightening, Pride shoved away his core instincts, the sin he’d been molded from, and pulled instead upon surging desperation.“I’m begging you, Master.She’s been loyal, she’s returned to you when summoned, she’s done everything you’ve asked.Our best ideas, our greatest conquests have been hers!Why would you keep me when you can haveher?Please…take me.”Saer’s voice rose as he made his case, desperation dripping off each syllable.
“Saer, don’t—” Neyu whimpered, but Saer thrust an arm out to silence her.Me!Focus on me.
Errshek’s legs crouched.His blood-stained claw reached forward and pushed Saer’s hair away from his face while Lucifer’s voice hissed in his mind,Say ‘please’ again, Saerkhanum.
Voice catching, fighting unimaginable terror, Saer begged, “Please, Master.Please, I’ll be unmade to save her.”
The voice sighed.Errshek’s eyes fluttered closed and a faint smile graced his face, like he took a bite of the ripest and sweetest fruit.Truth.
Those void-like eyes opened again and locked with Saer’s.You’ll destroy her, Saerkhanum, or I’ll unmake her—and the rest.
Frigid realization poured through Saer’s veins, his lungs seizing.Neyu—and the rest?And the rest?!A lie.It had to be a lie.
Errshek’s head tipped, the movement like a slow-motion mockery.All your kin suffer unmaking if you deny me.
Some high-pitched noise keened in Saer’s ears.All…?
You’ll live,It whispered, drawing out the words like a long, indulgent pour of sweet wine.With their destruction on your shoulders.
“No!”Panic took over and Saer lurched towards Errshek’s face.Neyu lunged at the same time, locking both arms around his elbow.
“Saer!Stop.Stop.” Somehow, she turned Saer and wrapped her arms around him tight enough to steal his breath.
Didn’t she understand?They had to scrape, and claw, and twist, andfight—
“Dearest,” she whispered, breathless.
The word halted him.He clamped his arms around Neyu.Squeezing for all he was worth, his eyes fixed over her shoulder and on their impassive maker.
Neyu shook, but she whispered with stoic resignation, “I’m unmade, no matter what.”She leaned back.“Look at me.”
Saer’s eyes snapped down.All savagery crumbled to the steel in Neyu’s gaze, despite how her eyes swam with tears.She looked exactly the same when he’d said goodbye to her after their first night together.Fractured and fierce.
No.No!
“Ican’t,” he growled, though an edge of a whine slipped through.“I can’t do this without you.”
