“We’ll get her back. He can’t kill her, Gall—”
“He’ll hurt her! He’ll kill the baby! He’ll—” Gall’s words broke off into a terrifying, trembling roar as he stopped in his tracks, screwed his eyes shut, and began hitting himself with both fists—first in the stomach, then clawing at his head.
We all rushed forward, but it was Melek who roared for us tostay back.He leaped on Gall, grabbing his hands and wrestling with him, pleading with him to stop, to listen, to breathe.
When Gall finally ceased hurting himself, Melek blew out a breath, then began issuing orders.
“It’s time forallof us to be free of this,” he muttered. Then he looked over his shoulder at Jann, whose expression grew haggard, but he nodded. Melek’s eyes were sharp on his friend.
‘You can’t trust him!’I insisted.
Melek’s jaw flexed.‘There’s no greater ally, than the one who knows he’s been forgiven. He didn’t want me dead. He’s afraid—’
‘He’sstillscared. If you let him—’
Shouts and pounding feet rattled through the hallway outside, and we all jerked. Gall groaned, and Melek had to soothe him again. Then he reached for me in the bond.
‘We have no choice. We need him. Pray his change of heart is real, and will withstand. There’s no more time.’
I sent a wash of the fear and disgust I felt when I looked at Jann, but also a thread of hope that was there. Diadre rarely took her eyes off Jann, but there was hope in her eyes now, too.
“Jann… keep Lucifer distracted,” Melek muttered. “Yilan, you and Diadre need to get out there and create as much havoc as you can—and reach any mind that’s open. Show them that Lucifer can’t touch them directly. That is, if you’re certain yourselves. Do we all see it now?”
I nodded, but none of us spoke. He turned his head to scan all three of us. “Do you?!”
Jann nodded first, then dropped to one knee and clasped his fist to his chest. “Yes. I see it,” he croaked.
Diadre made a tiny noise when he did it, but she stepped forward to put a hand to his shoulder and nodded at Melek too. “I can see it.”
Melek looked at me and I knew he felt my conviction—but also my fear. We both nodded.
“Then go,” Melek muttered. “Go give that prick as many battles and fires to fight as possible. Show anyone who’s open what we all missed. Make sure any of the Fetch who are capable know, and are informing, too.”
“They are,” I said confidently. “Jhonas made sure.”
Melek nodded.
“What about Gall?” Jann asked warily.
We all looked back at the poor, sweet boy who’d been so used and manipulated, and who now stood, shoulders hunched, face red, and twitching.
“Gall and I are going to… talk,” Melek said grimly.
Jann was the first to move, jerking into a bow, muttering something to Melek I didn’t catch, then turning and freezing in front of Diadre.
Stepping past them, I went straight to Melek, finding myself very,veryreluctant to leave his side.
He whispered to Gall, who had his chin down almost on his chest, but his hands still fisted at his sides.
When I put a hand to Melek’s back, he murmured one last word, then slowly let go of Gall’s wrists and turned to me.
‘I don’t want to leave you,’I sent, because it was the plain truth.
He tensed, but took my face in his hands and kissed me, then didn’t pull away, but whispered against my lips. “You’re my love. That won’t change. I’m still here. We have to do this—it’s the only way to be free.”
I knew he was right, but I still despised it.
Behind me, Jann rushed out first, Diadre running shakily in his wake. When he pulled the door open, she took one look back at me, then disappeared into the shadow next to it.
