“He’s killing Neph that the world is probably better off without!” I snarled, fisting his leathers and shaking him. He gripped my arm, but I didn’t release him.
I trembled with rage that Jann of all people would even consider—
“For now,” Jann spat back. “What happens next time he catches sight of you? Or your mate? What about me, Melek? You think you can do any of this if I’m not at the center of it? What if he decidesmymate isn’t docileenough to be a true slave, and crooks that finger at her?! You think I’d let him—”
“Gall wouldneverkill a harmless woman.”
“Wake up, Melek! Thatcreatureisn’t the boy you raised!”
“Then you aren’t the friend who’s had my back for two decades, if you think that’s how I’d solve this problem!” I roared.
‘Melek… calm down.’
I blinked, Yilan’s soothing, grieving voice washing through my head like cool water on a burn. Only then did I realize I was nose-to-nose with Jann, his face turning red and veins popping because I’d twisted his jacket, and the neck tightened around his throat. Both our arms strained, holding each other off.
I met Jann’s eyes again and shook my head. “I’m not killing him. That is the end of the story.”
“You’re certain—you’reabsolutelycertain he’s worth risking the rest of us?” Jann muttered.
I shook my head. “I’m certain there’s another way to win this. I’m certain if I murder my son, I’m no better than Lucifer.”
Jann’s grip on my wrist loosened and his shoulders dropped. “Melek,no.Removing him when he’s proven that he’s gone dark… it’s not the same. His death is a high cost to pay—I know that. I know it would pain you greatly. It would pain all of us. But you wouldn’t be doing it for your own gain. You’d be doing it to protect countless others that follow you—”
“Do not espouse the Doctrine of Lesser Sorrow to me,”I hissed, rage surging in my chest so hot and fast, I shoved Jann away from me and stalked away, clawing a hand through my hair. “God, you sound like theGolden Eyes.”
“Iamone of the Golden Eyes, Melek. Have you forgotten?” Jann said flatly.
I turned on my heel to face him, genuinely shocked. “You haveneverbeen a Golden Eye, no matter what your lineage—why the fuck would you claim that now?”
A flash of alarm reached me through the bond, but I didn’t turn from Jann as my brother’s admittedlygoldeneyes slipped to the cave floor and he shook his head.
“I don’t claim it,” he muttered, “but it’s the role I play onyour behalf. And itgrates.”He lifted that gaze to meet mine, and there was steel in it. “The shackles of this place are closing on us. Every day the risk is greater, and the chance of discovery higher.” He stepped right up to my toes. “It isn’tyoudisplaying your mate in front of those bastards, like a pig on a spit, while they slaver over her like dogs craving to lick up the juices. So, forgive me, but to hear you so quickly dismiss theonlyplan that’s certain to work…”
He turned his head then and stared at his mate, who looked back at him, her eyes wide and pleading. He cleared his throat before returning his eyes to mine.
“You’re my king,” he said, his voice dark and heavy. “I’ll follow you to the death. But Melek… don’t make me regret it. Don’t force me to stand alone one day becauseyouchose your son over the rest of us. Don’t do it.”
“I’m not. I’m choosing what’s right, over what’s easy.”
Jann’s lips tightened, but he backed away, breaking eye-contact and pacing the floor of the cave, while the women—unmoving, and apparently unbreathing—watched on.
“If you’re determinedto try and fix this,” he said with a twist to his lips that spoke volumes on what he thought of that, “the only way forward is to use Hever. He has more knowledge of the Fallen than any Nephilim I know—”
“Absolutelyfuckingnot!” Yilan snapped, leaping to her feet.
I raised a hand to caution her, but she was already marching around the fire towards Jann, eyes blazing.
“That fucker sat back and watched while Melek wonthe challenges, thendisappeared.He was there when Lucifer came for me, and he didn’t warn anyone. And he never reappeared to help, even in the aftermath of victory. If there was ever a male among our ranks who had made his loyalties against us clear, it’s that bastard!”
Jann loomed over her, speaking through his teeth. “Thatbastardgot the rest of us through the Shadows of Shade alive whenyouleft us without help. You think he could have done that if he was dark-hearted?”
Yilan stopped cold, just a step from him, her eyes blazing.
I hurried to slip between them, grabbing Yilan’s hand, squeezing it to reassure her, but facing Jann and warning him off with my eyes. It took him a moment, but he backed down. Then when he spoke, it was with an edge of pleading.
“He’s always held more knowledge of the mystical than anyone else. If anyone knows how to thwart a Fallen, it would be him. He’s only one step down in the bloodline himself.”
I’d heard that rumor, but wasn’t sure it was true. “If he’s so clear on this, why wouldn’t he have helped us earlier?” I asked.
