For a flash I saw the Jann of old—the one full of flirtation and cutting humor.
Diadre smiled up at him, and for a moment my heart eased. These were our dearest friends, and staunchest allies. These were the two that we could trust withanything.
So why were we all at odds?
Diadre sighed as Jann led her towards the cave mouth. He nodded to me once, and I returned the informal salute. But Diadre called Yilan. “I guess we’ll see you when Jann has news?”
Yilan nodded, but hugged my arm. I grunted final instructions to Jann about how to get word to me after he’d spoken to Hever.
His eyes flashed, but he nodded.
Then they disappeared around the curve of the cave and were gone.
After we heard thewhoomphof his wings as they took off outside the cave, I turned to my mate, standing at my side, to find her staring up at me, worried.
“Do you trust him?” she asked me softly.
I braced against the defensive response, and just nodded. “I do.”
“Should you?”
There was no accusation in her eyes. No anger in the bond. Only pleading and concern.
I sighed. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think it was wise. Only God knows. But if we can’t trust Jann, we’re just marking time until our deaths, Yilan. He’s been at my back since I was rank and file. He’s proven himself my ally, and saved my life, time and again.”
“Never against the Fallen, though,” she whispered. “His eyes, Melek…”
I just nodded. What else could I do?
9. The Most Fallen
~ JANN ~
“Any sign yet of the spineless Fetchlicker?”
Lucifer sprawled on a chair, one leg thrown over the arm, sipping from a silver goblet that held a deep red liquid I prayed was wine. The way it stuck to his lips until he licked it off, made me queasy.
I stood at the center of the carpet in the Council Chambers. I’d been summoned here for what I thought was an Advisors meeting, only to find no one but Lucifer waiting for me.
“There’s plenty of signs—and rumors,” I said with a shrug. “He hasn’t revealed himself, and no sign of an increase in numbers in the city. I’m surprised, honestly. I wouldn’t have thought he’d leave his opponent so much time to organize.”
Lucifer didn’t raise his eyes from his goblet, just turned it slowly in his hands and tipped his head. “He’s here,” he said definitively. “He’s afraid of what he sees. But the green-eyed fuckisn’t a total coward. He’ll show himself. And when he does, you report.” His eyes lifted to mine. “Immediately.”
I nodded once as if it were a simple instruction. “I’m not your weak link. What about Gall? What instructions does he have? I’d be concerned that he might—”
“Gall’s already seen him,” Lucifer said quietly, eyes on me.
“What?!”My shock wasn’t faked. I thought if Gall had told Lucifer he’d seen Melek, there would already have been—
“My grandson still clings to the dregs of that cursedhonor.He didn’t kill his guardian on the spot, because Melek had saved his skin so many times, he thought he owed him that. He warned Melek to flee and not return,” he scoffed. “We have had words.”
Nerves tingled up my spine.
Lucifer’s face hardened. “Gall has been instructed in avery detailed mannerabout what he’s to do if Melek appears again. He won’t slip through our grasp again. Gall wouldn’t dare.”
Shit.I shuddered to think how Lucifer had punished him for that.
I swallowed. “Is Gall still… able to fulfill his duties?” Gall and Istral were supposedly sequestered. I should have known Lucifer wouldn’t truly leave him alone.
