“We’re winning,” he said.
Thank God.I looked down at Gall. “I should get out there, but—”
“I’ll stay with him. He’s safe, don’t worry. The battle you fought here was more important than the bloodshed in the corridors. You and your family are far more powerful than you can imagine, Melek. Gather… Remain together… Resist…Love.While enemies must be toppled, this is not, at its heart, a battle of flesh and blood—and you have doneverywell to uncover the enemy’s limit. Gall isn’t the only leader who deserves accolades tonight.”
We’d been talking for a few minutes, when I realized Gall hadn’t convulsed in some time.
I looked down to find him murmuring to Yilan, both of them looking very worried. I was about to ask, when I heard one of them whisperIstral.
Of course.
“We need to find her,” I said grimly, desperately, against all hope, praying that somehow she’d been able to resist in a way that brought her back to the palace, and we could remove her completely.
“When the rest is done. We’ll do it. We’ll do whatever we have to do—no matter what,” Yilan said fiercely, meeting eyes with Gall again, and stroking back his hair. He nodded, but tears shone at the corners of his eyes.
I turned back to Hever. “Gall is… weak right now. We need—”
“He’ll be safe,” Hever said quietly, nodding. “I brought friends for both of us. Don’t worry. Go. I’ll make certain of it myself.”
Then he nodded behind me where Jann had just entered, blood-splattered and ragged, tears and slices in his clothing, andbruises on his body—but he walked confidently, and without apparent pain, leading a group of allied Neph and Shadekin soldiers that included Jhonas.
I quickly clasped Gall’s hand, and whispered assurances to him that we wouldn’t be gone long, then jumped to my feet to meet Jann coming in.
Unaware of what had happened between us, the men with him beamed, all talking at once about Jann’s escapades through the palace.
“…we gathered behind him because he hewed through them like grain in a field. We barely had to fight!” Jhonas exclaimed, then turned to scan the room, and his smile faltered. “Where’s Diadre?”
Jann hunched, but glanced over his shoulder. “She’s on her way. She was held up helping some of the servants.” He said the words quietly, but they soothed Jhonas, who returned to joking and celebrating with the others, who clearly believed the bulk of the fighting was done. And they were likely right. But there were still sounds of clashing and shouts filtering through the walls and ceilings. There were still lives to save, and some to take. And we had to ensure the rest of the city bent the knee, or the battle cry would rise again.
As Hever settled himself at Gall’s side, and I assured my son we would find Istral, we prepared to make a final advance on the palace, to sweep the halls from top to bottom. We opened the doors along the side of the banquet hall, with guards posted to ensure only allies made it in, and told the present Shadekin to reach as many as they could, telling them all to gather here and we would advance together.
While Jhonas and Yilan conferred about whatever means it was they used to reach the minds of those open to change, Jann sidled up to my right and a flickering tension began in my shoulders.
For a moment we both stood silently, watching my mate and her Captain. But I knew we would move soon, and I was too tired to hold questions, or fight worries.
I turned to my best friend, the man I called brother, and looked him in the eye.
He met my gaze, but his was dark. Shadowed.
Shamed.
“I did as you asked,” he said quietly. “I took as many of those bastards out as I could. And I protected the others. But… no sign of Istral. Yet.”
I sighed. “Thank you.”
Neither of us spoke. He bowed his head like he might turn away, so I grabbed his shoulder and made him stay.
“I know why,” I said. “I don’t agree. But I understand.”
His jaw flexed. “I… I will serve until… until I can’t anymore. I won’t waver again. But, Melek… Diadre and the baby—”
“When the day comes that you leave us—when you’re old enough to look like Hever—I’ll make sure your mate and family remain safe.”
He nodded, but his eyes were far away. “Thank you,” he murmured.
I sighed. “Jann—”
“It was too much, Melek. I wasn’t strong enough. And I hate that I know that now… but I suppose I can take some comfort in the fact that I was right.”
