‘I love you, too.’
It was so hard to let go of that link, but she moved beyond reach, sweeping through the dark palace, felling Nephilim as she went. Very soon, both forces would organize, and with Lucifer to coordinate them, the Neph would have the strength to overwhelm.
We’d discussed this, and agreed. If it came to fighting in the palace, the circumstances favored us, because the Neph needed more room to move than our Shadekin soldiers—and half our Neph were lowborn. They knew the hidden servants and merchants routes between floors and wings—something the noble Neph would not.
We would have to use every ounce of our skill and knowledge to take out the palace Neph—and then face the population of Valgorath.
Armed with this knowledge—and with Yilan and Diadre out there showing them the truth, we’d find more allies along the way. I was certain of it.
We had to. Our numbers weren’t going to be great enough to take the entire city unless some of them submitted, or joined us.
I prayed as I groaned, drawing Gall’s attention again.
Jann ignored me. Bastard. He’d enjoyed smacking my head, I was sure I’d seen a smirk on his face.
Prick.
I’d be glad when this was all over, and we could insult each other with a smile again.
Gall tensed when I rolled onto all fours and began to crawl towards them, but Jann only stood at his side, one hand gripping his shoulder, murmuring at him to calm.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Gall,” I muttered through thick lips.
Without Lucifer there, Gall seemed more himself, though he still trembled, and his eyes were sharp. Still, I caught the uneasy glances he shot between me and Jann, and his grip on the spear tightening and loosening.
He only had one hand on it.
My heart ached.
I continued crawling, slowly, shaking my head—the dizziness was real, but it would pass. Jann’s blow had only been glancing, in case anyone watched from the shadows.
“Stop!” Gall instructed me, taking a step back. “Stop moving!”
“I can’t. I have to show you—”
“You don’t have to show me anything—’
“Yes, I do Gall. There’sso muchI have to show you. I just wish I’d known sooner.” When I was barely two paces from him, I pushed to my feet, groaning.
Gall stepped forward, but Jann caught him, cursing. “Don’t let him taunt you—”
“I’m not taunting, and I won’t let Gall kill me—we’re going totalk.”
Gall sucked in and brought the spear up, but Jann grabbed his shirt and stepped between us. “Leave this to me.”
I gave him a glare. “That isn’t what I meant. I just need you both to listen. I’ve figured out Lucifer’s weak point.”
“He doesn’t have one!” Gall insisted.
“Yes, he does. And I’ll teach you how to exploit it.”
When Gall turned to look at him, opening his mouth to argue, I whipped to his side, twisted the spear out of his grip and turned, bringing it up. Gall swore, but I backed away as Jann hissed, shoving him behind and sank down in his stance, drawing his own spear forward, eyes furious and the razor-edge of his spear gleaming.
“I’m sorry, Gall,” I said softly, never looking away from Jann. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”
“You’re going to die,” Gall muttered.
“No. I’m not. And you’re both going to listen to me. We could be in thistogether.”
