Gall’s eyes narrowed. “Tell youwhat?”
“About Istral. That I’m going to be a grandf—”
The blow landed with the speed and skill of any of my best fighters. Perhaps as quickly as I could have delivered it. I heard the ring in my skull, and my head snapped sideways before I registered any movement. It took seconds of blinking and rolling my jaw before I realizedGallhad struck me.
When I looked up at him through watering eyes, his expression was dark. “You aren’t my father—you’re my rival. Myenemy.You think I’m stupid? I’ve heard the rumors, and I know where they started.”
It was gratifying that the other Neph shifted on their feet, and looked at each other when they thought I wouldn’t notice.
They’d heard the rumors, too. And maybe they had listened.
I had to fight not to smile. Instead, I sighed, and continued speaking to Gall as if we were the only males here. “I’ll never be your rival,” I said bluntly. “Or your enemy. I’ve spoken not one word of rumor about you. If that’s happened, it didn’t come from my lips.” I almost winced at the manipulative truth worthy of Lucifer himself. But it was important that Gall was reminded that I was his greatest allybecauseI was his father.
Lucifer could fuck all the way off.
Gall hesitated, and for a moment I thought I’d broken through. But he only took a step closer to me, putting himself in my space so I knelt over his feet as he leaned down to snarl at me through his teeth.
“Youmadeyourself my rival, by declaring for mythrone. Then you made yourself myenemyby staying here to fight. You had two options—I gave you the chance to leave through the shadows with your mate. That was your opportunity for mercy. But you didn’t do that. So now, I’ll kill you both.”
I had to fight to keep myself from reacting to the cold determination in his tone. “You won’t kill me, Gall. I love you.”
Several cynical huffs and grunts rose from the circle of Neph around us.
Gall’s upper lip peeled back from his teeth. “Try me,Papa,”he sneered, and my heart broke as he spat the name like a curse. “You always told me a Nephilim King must be strong, powerful, andruthless. Guess what? I listened well.” Then he tipped his head in a posture eerily reminiscent of the Fallen himself. “After all, what’s stronger than hanging the former General from the city gates by his throat?” He straightened and gestured behind him, towards the city in the distance. “I’ll make you a spectacle of my strength and power—hang you from the walls so every Neph is reminded of what happens to men who think I’m stupid, and who assume a claim tomythrone.”
“I made my claim before you’d even—”
The words cut off in my throat, as shrieking, jangling pain began in my head and traveled down my spine to radiate out through my limbs. Like fire rode my veins.
The searing pain was acute. I couldn’t measure time in it, so had no idea how long I writhed before I fell into the dirt, panting, and Gall wrinkled his nose and stepped back, nudging me with his toe to roll me onto my back, when I sprawled on my stomach.
When he leaned down to grasp my hair and yank my head up, the expression on his face was one I’d never seen before.
Malicious delight.
“Gall,” I gasped. “This isn’t you—”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“You aren’t my son,” I said hoarsely. “Whoareyou?”
“I’m yourking,”he seethed. “I’m going to prove it to you, and to everyone else.”
It was the only glimpse of the old Gall that I saw—a flash in his eyes of the childish hurt and insecurity thatinsistedon proving himself. But it was there and gone in a blink until I wasn’t sure I’d seen it at all.
“You had your chance, so now I’m going to hunt and kill you.”
“I won’t run,” I croaked. “You can’t hunt what’swillinglyright in front of you—and I will always bewillingto be close to you, Gall. You know that. I won’t run.”
Gall smiled. “Yes, you will. Because I already released the hounds and guess whose trail they picked up right away? That cunning little mate of yours—Yilan.” Then he leaned right into my face, and shook my head by my hair. “Her scent is thicker now that she’s carrying a babe—two souls for them to smell, I suppose.”
My being lit up with equal parts fear and ecstatic joy—I was stunned.
Was he telling the truth? Was Yilan pregnant? Or was it just one more deception from Lucifer to undermine my resolve?
Taking a grip on myself, I held Gall’s gaze and didn’t break eye-contact. Didn’t even react.
In another telling moment, Gall glanced at Lucifer, his jaw tight.
