‘They’re gaining, Melek! Following my trail! I can’t—’
She cut off and a growl and yelp broke through the trees just feet ahead of me. I snarled, aiming for a nearby opening in the tree canopy where I could drop through, praying I’d time it right and put myself between her and the beasts so they were distracted while she fled.
Then the trees flashed past, space opening—black shadows rippling across silver grass—and I dove, snarling to divert the hound’s attention with a dominance challenge, finally breaking through the canopy and—there!The lithe figure of my mate sprinting towards the trees on the other side of the clearing.
I dropped like an eagle on prey, hands outstretched—if I could reach her before she made it under the trees, I could sweep her up and we’d both be—
My head rang like a gong had been struck.
My wings folded.
There was barely a moment to register that something was desperately wrong, before I dropped out of the sky like a stone thrown to earth, and planted, face-first, straight into the rocky soil of the small clearing, bounced bodily, then slammed into the dirt again, every last pocket of air shoved out of my lungs by the impact.
Instinctively, I tried to snarl, to growl, to warn the hounds away before they realized I was hurt—I could barely move. Couldn’t lift my head. My body sang with pain and my head was scrambled.
I couldn’t breathe.
My sight blurred, the edge of the tree canopy above became a black, fluttering line between me and the sky, where I should have been free.
I blinked and tried to roll, but something flat and heavy suddenly landed on my wrist, crushing it into the earth. I tried to pull free, to see what or who had come for me, then froze.
The tall, lean form of Lucifer was silhouetted against the indigo sky. But his eyes glowed with an unholy light to show me his smile.
“The prodigal son, finally returned,” he said softly.Joyfully.
“I amnotyour son,” I growled.
Lucifer smiled, then squatted slowly, letting his full weight come to rest on my wrist, smiling and propping one elbow on his knee as he reached for me with the other hand. I snarled and tried to suck at the air, jerking my face from his grasp as he stroked my cheek.“Why so surprised, Melek? Did you think you’d outwitted me? Oh dear.No.I just needed to flush you bothout—and look. I did.” He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “They call themhellhounds for a reason. Because they’remine.”
I fought a shudder. The hounds were a monstrosity that chilled the soul. There were several legends about how they’d come to be—though most believed Lucifer created them. Turns out, they were right.
“Now, don’t fight,” the Fallen went on in a tone like a good-natured mother to a disobedient child. “You should be pleased. I’m going to reunite you with Gall—that’s what you wanted all along, correct? Your so-called son isveryeager to see you again, Melek.”
35. Rivals
SOUNDTRACK:Warby Tribal Blood
~ MELEK ~
I remained sprawled in the dirt, not fighting, as Lucifer straightened, his foot still pinning my wrist, while several Neph figures dropped from the sky, one-by-one to land, shaking the ground under me with their impact.
I blinked and breathed, focused on regaining control of my scattered wits and pained body. I was hurt, but not seriously. Mostly dazed and breathless. I just needed time, but couldn’t let them know my strength returned. I kept my expression pained, and my struggles weak.
It shouldn’t have been a shock when the third figure to shake the earth, then straighten and push back his hood, was Jann. We’d planted him in the Advisory Council for exactly this purpose. Only Diadre wasn’t with him, which made my blood run cold. Was she out here, too? With Yilan? Had they been discovered? Was that why Yilan had run?
With my eyes squinted closed against pain, and to mask my recovery, I couldn’t see Jann’s face clearly—but I saw enough—the rock-hard jaw, the tension in his shoulders.
My brotherraged.
As the Council arrived, they surrounded me—even Althok, which was a surprise. Jann told me he’d been absent a great deal since Diadre’s encounter with him through the medium. Lucifer shifted his weight, and ground my wrist into the dirt before stepping off me and beckoning the others closer. I rolled over with a groan that was only half-faked, and had just pushed up on hands and knees, when the circle of Neph around me shifted aside.
I looked up, and recognized the set of his shoulders a blink before Gall pushed back the hood he wore and stared down at me, expressionless.
My heart went cold.
No one spoke—including Gall—but I caught the eerie light in Lucifer’s eyes as he looked back and forth between us.
I pretended none of the others were there. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I croaked.
