“At your hand?” I pressed.
Gall twitched. “Probably,” he replied sullenly.
I was stunned. I’d been certain he’d resist that. “What has he done to make you so sure you have to do this, Gall? Did he threaten Istral? Or you? Me? What did he say that made you willing to become this—”
“He told me thetruth.The truth you never said: I was born to be a king. But you weren’t. You’re a use—ausurperand a rebel. Iwillkill you, because I’m king and you aren’t.”
I took a breath to give him space to think. “No matter what happens… You have a mate. Take care of her.”
Gall eyed me uneasily. “She’s my good. My balance. I’dneverhurt her.”
“I hope that’s true, because if he gets the chance, Luciferwillhurt her. And watch out. Because I won’t lay hands on you, Gall.However, if you touch Istral in any way that isn’t loving, I can’t say the same for my mate.”
Gall leaned back, his eyes sliding around the room like he thought Yilan would pop out of a hiding spot. Which wasn’t unlikely. “She’s here too?”
“Of course. Would your mate leave you?”
“Never.”
“Neither will mine. You just remember that. If you come for me, you get her as well. And she’llkillyou if she believes you hurt Istral. Or me.”
Gall tensed, then frowned like he was angry at himself for his fear. “Leave. Now. I’m not warning you again.” His voice was so dark, so cold, a pang flashed in my chest.
Before I could reply, the door into the bedchamber opened. A clean and teary Istral trotted out with Yilan on her heels.
To my relief, Gall turned—and softened immediately when he saw his mate. But my unease ratcheted up at the expression on Yilan’s face. I turned my attention to the bond and felt her—still sick and fearful. Clearly grieving. What had happened to Istral?
“Don’t go. Don’t leave me,” Gall said quickly, trotting to meet Istral. “Please.”
Istral’s brow furrowed, and she reached for him as they met in the center of the room. “I never would.”
Gall sighed heavily and wrapped his arms around her. She was dwarfed by him, but it was clear who offered the comfort, and who received it. Her tiny hands rubbing up and down his back, as they whispered to each other.
Then, with Yilan and I staring on, Istral stepped back and took Gall’s hands. “Come with me. This is our time.”
Gall gripped her, his fists completely consuming her hands, but instead of giving in to her tugging, he turned his head to look at me over his shoulder, his brows pinched, and expression unhappy.
“I know you kept me alive when I was little, so I won’t hurt you now. But you leave. And you don’t come back. And you stop saying you’re king, or the next time I see you. Iwillkill you.”
I stiffened and Yilan winked out of sight to appear moments later in the shadows at my back. But Gall had already turned back to his mate. Istral continued to soothe him, as she led him to the bedchamber.
And my son didn’t even look back.
I stood there, stunned speechless, as the door was closed firmly so they were hidden from sight—and I was just as surely shut out of my son’s life.
Yilan’s touch on my back was a comfort, but I could barely think. I just stared at that closed door, stunned. It felt like a precious gift had been wrenched from my hands, and there was nothing I could do to get it back.
Then I looked down at my mate, and saw the tears in her eyes. “Istral too?” I whispered.
She nodded. “She won’t leave him. She… she’s determined.”
I shook my head and looked at the door again. “We need a new plan.”
Yilan didn’t respond, except to take my hand and step into the shadows, pulling me with her. I shuddered, as she walked us through a wall, but I would barely have registered it, except on the other side, we met the shadows of the corridor… and there a handful of the cloaked Advisor’s still stood, chuckling together, along with Lucifer—that smug, arrogant smile plastered all over his darkly handsome face.
‘He deceived my son. He lied and manipulated, andchangedhim, and now—’Rage rose in my chest, with such intensity that I almost pulled Yilan off her feet. But even as she gasped, she clung to my arm and hugged it to her.
‘Don’t do it, Melek. Not without a plan. Don’t do it.’
