Then Lucifer turned to Istral, reached for her chin and cupped her face. “I knew you could do it.”
Istral’s expression was horrified, and Yilan tensed. I reached for her in the bond.‘It’s a lie. What she did… it didn’t come from this dark fuck. Don’t believe him, Yilan. He’s still scrambling for control. Resist. Remember?’
There was a hanging silence in the room, as Lucifer stroked Istral’s hair in an awful parody of comfort, and looked like he had more to say—but then the sound of a melee rose nearby.
Outside the chambers, in the nearby halls, the clash of weapons and shouts of men in battle echoed. Lucifer’s face went hard.
Here in the room, Jann sprawled on his hands and knees, shaking, Diadre hovering over him, weeping. I couldn’t tell if she held him, or shook him.
Gall came back to life, jaw tight and fingers clawing into his own hair, his eyes wild—he had reached his limit.
Through it all, my mate stood at my side, clinging, the jangle of her fear reaching me in the bond, yet except for her unwillingness to move away from me, she gave no outward sign.
“Can no one in this realm finish a fucking a job? Must it always be me?” Lucifer snarled, and dropped one hand from Istral’s face. She gave a little gasp as he tugged her behind him,storming through the room. “Gall, while I take care of the idiots outside, you will finish your so-called father, and take his head to the balcony over the courtyard so theentire fucking worldhears of his demise.”
Gall’s eyes drew so wide the whites showed all the way around. “But—”
“Do it. Or she’s mine.”
Then he blinked out of sight… taking Istral with him.
Gall froze, then fisted both hands at his stomach as he roared with such force, his face went purple and he trembled.
“Gall, just breathe,” I said quietly. “We’re here to help. You don’t have to—”
“He does.” Jann choked, pushing to his feet, but staggering towards me. “He has to at least make it appear—”
“We are not out-lying thePrince of Lies.We’ll figure something out. But, if we could agree to stop trying to kill each other now, that would be ideal,”I drawled with far more confidence than I felt.
“No. No. Nononononono.”Gall shook his hands, then shook his head, then turned a circle, then stopped… and his eyes locked on mine.
I shook my head. “Son… think this through.”
Gall’s jaw tightened, but his eyes began to dart around the room—looking for a weapon? I slowly nudged Yilan behind me and sank once more into a defensive stance.
Jann spluttered. “Melek—I’m… I’m so sorry. It wasn’t supposed to… I didn’t… I had to make certain Lucifer sawnothingthat made him suspic—”
I didn’t respond, because Gall launched himself at me.
~ YILAN ~
I almost screamed when I felt the sing of pain through the bond, and Melek grunted.
Then, at the sight of Jann rushing forward, Ididyowl and throw myself after him—but Diadre caught me, still crying, her voice high and shrill.
‘He’s not going to hurt him, Yilan. He’s horrified with himself. Shamed. Sick. He’s…’She stopped, wrestling with me to keep me from going after the men, forcing me to watch and see how Jann positioned himself to assist Melek, and continued to talk Gall down.
Except Gall was losing his shit.
“He has my Izzy! I can’t let you stay!”Gall screamed, frantic, weeping, but every ounce of his strength coming to bear, as he tried to reach Melek, who continued to dance out of his way, and Jann, who kept placing himself to block, hands up in surrender, begging Gall to listen.
So, reluctantly, wincing, with one eye on Jann, Diadre and I stepped in too, all four of us working to herd Gall away from Melek, and attempt to break through.
Throughout it all, Melek spoke to his son in low, even tones, his deep voice soothing and reassuring…
“…he needs you to believe that you can’t resist him, Gall. But he’s a liar.”
“He has Izzy!”
