She sat back on her heels and lifted her hands from Melek’s chest—then looked at them, covered in blood.
Like a terrified child, her eyes went round and she gave a cry, turning, raising her hands to Gall who rushed forward and swept her up, running her out of the room and back to their bedchamber.
Confused and afraid, I looked between them and Lucifer, then down at Melek.
My heart sank like a stone. She failed?
I should have known, Lucifer wouldn’t heal his enemy—
A thick, calloused hand landed on my thigh, and I sucked in a clawing breath.
Melek’s eyes opened, and he stared up at me as he pushed himself up to sit, then pulled me into his chest.
I threw myself at him, sobbing and scared and ecstatic all at once. He hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe. But I didn’t care.
I clawed a hand into his hair, and held him to me, whispering my love through numb lips, thick with tears, and thanked God that his chest rumbled with his responses.
Then I opened my eyes, and found Lucifer staring at us… smiling.Beaming,though his eyes gleamed with that sick, evil delight.
When he caught me staring, he licked his lips and turned to look after Istral and Gall.
“I knew she could do it. She’s truly mine.”
I gripped Melek tighter, a whole new wave of terror gripping me, but also impossibly grateful that Melek was there and breathing and no longer bleeding…
Still, something inside me went cold as Melek and I held each other.
Had that really been Lucifer’s power?
What did it mean if it was?
43. Too Much
~ MELEK ~
I trembled like a newborn kitten, and clung to Yilan who sobbed, her face buried in my neck. I blinked rapidly, assessing myself. A soldier knew—adrenaline, thrill, fear… it could all mask pain. Convince a body it was safe when it wasn’t.
But I’dfeltit. Felt myself fading.Dying.I’d felt the pain of that mortal blow, and I’d been unable to fight the slow chill that dragged me into oblivion.
Then I remembered Istral’s whispered voice, so tremulous and afraid.“…the greatest power in the world islove.Gall loves you. Yilan loves you. I love you. Don’t let us go. Please… Resist…”
I blinked again, and my mind cleared.
Lucifer. Jann.Gall.
With a muttered curse, I leaped to my feet, still holding Yilan to me, and whirled, searching frantically for a weapon.
Lucifer chuckled at my shock, and opened his mouth to say something—just as Gall bellowed from the next room. TheFallen looked aside and cursed, then stormed towards the bedchamber.
‘What happened? Where did you go?’Yilan sent.
‘I don’t know. But Istral was right—I’m healed. I’m safe—I promise.’
We both tensed as Lucifer appeared again, dragging Istral out of the bedchamber by her arm, Gall hurrying in his wake, bellowing and shouting, hands in his hair.
I stepped forward as Lucifer turned on Gall.“Silence.”
Gall froze like he’d been turned to stone.
