That made my heartbeat ease a little bit. But I still didn’t understand. “How did I get here? Where are we?”
The man sighed like it had been a very hard job. Probably because they had to carry me, and I’m really heavy.
“It will all become clear soon. I promise. The thing you must understand right now, Gall, is that Melek means well, but he is unwilling to listen to true power. That means he shouldn’t be king, because he makes enemies with the people who are right.”
I didn’t understand all of that, except… “You’re his enemy?”
Grandfather shook his head. “I’m not. But he believes that I am.”
He stared at me intently, like he was waiting for me to understand. My nerves jangled. But then I noticed his golden eyes and ice slid down my spine. “Your eyes,” I muttered, because I had heard Papa and Yilan. And I knew what that meant.
“Yes?”
“They’re… the eyes of…”
“Of what, Gall? It’s okay, you can say it. I won’t be angry.”
I swallowed. “The Fallen. The bad guys.”
The man chuckled. “You’re remembering your education. Well done!”
There was a prick of pride deep in my chest, because this man said he was my grandfather, and he was proud of me? But he made me nervous, too. I didn’t trust him. Not with those eyes.
“You’re a Fallen Angel?” I asked carefully.
“Not justaFallen. I’m themostFallen. The one all the others followed.”
My mouth dropped open, and I had to close it because Istral said that was rude. I leaned away from the man, wishing I had more room. “You’re… you’re…”
“You would call me Lucifer.”
“The Devil,”I whispered, then clapped a hand over my mouth.
Lucifer laughed like I made a good joke. “You see, you have listened to your father well. Still… have you observed, Gall, that even though Melek is good, he’s not alwayscorrect?”
Lucifer?!
I was really scared, but tried to stay calm. My hands shook, and my thoughts didn’t want to be smooth.
I needed to get to Istral, but Lucifer was the one who knew where she was.
Oh, shit.
Lucifer.He’d said he’d take me to her. But that meant—
Lucifer stepped forward and patted my shoulder, even though I leaned away from him.
“I know your life has been very hard, Gall,” he said in a soft voice. “The bloodline I gave you did not serve you well. Yourtruefather didn’t give you what you deserve. I wish it had happened differently. But here we are. I have returned, and I won’t let you down.”
“What do you mean?” My voice was too high. I thought he’d laugh at me, but he patted my shoulder.
“Listen carefully, Gall,” he corrected me softly. “Because this is important:Iam your grandfatherby blood. The blood of the most powerful Fallen ever to exist runs inyourveins. Now that my son—your blood father—is gone,youare the most powerful Nephilim in the world. Did you know that?”
“What?!”
He leaned in, sliding his hand up to cup my neck. “I said, running in your veins, is the greatest power that exists in this world. Your eyes are golden, have you noticed?”
“Yes, but they won’t stay that way because—”
