“Youarefierce when you want to be, Gall. What’s more, you have me. You don’t have to besmart. I’m smart enough for bothof us. Let me be smartforyou. You just have to let me help you. Let me make it clear to you. Give you the words.”
I pushed to my feet because my skin felt too tight. I needed to move. “But you… you’re—”
“You were going to say evil… right? Your Papa told you that I’m evil because I defied the Creator. But he lies, Gall. Remember that. He leaves things out. He doesn’t trust you with the whole story. But I do,” he added intently. “I will tell youeverything.He was right that I defied the Creator, but did he tell you the part where Ifreedyou? Where it wasmyintelligence,mypower, that set you free from the shackles the Creator placed on you? All his rules, all his petty laws. All the shall nots, and warnings—who was the one who revealed the control and oppression of hissystem?Have you forgotten who I am, Gall?”
“You’re Lucifer,” I breathed.The highest of the Fallen Angels. The devil. The one who—
“But who am I?”
I frowned, because I thought I just answered that.
Lucifer stepped right up to my toes, his shiny-gold eyes locked on mine.
“Say it! What am I, Gall? Where did I come from?”
“You’re an angel.”
“Gall, I’m your father’s father. My blood runs in your veins. And mypoweras well. The Creator made me, and I made you. If I was evil, why would he give me all the power in this world? He made me king over you and your enemies, and your brothers—everyone. And every king who walks this world, walks bymychoice. Why would God let me do that if I was so bad?”
I didn’t have an answer for that. I scrambled to think, tried to figure it out. But the thoughts kept sweeping away and—
“I know that’s a new idea for you,” he said quietly. “We can keep talking about it until you understand. But, trust me, thiswill begreat.I promise. Now, come. Your queen has been asleep for some time, and she needs you.”
I gasped when a picture of Istral appeared in my mind, laying in a bed looking really beautiful. But there was a whole lot of people around her—Nephilim and servants. How did he do that? And why were those people there? If Istral woke up with all those strangers, she was going to beterrified.
“You can make her feel safe again, Gall.” Grandpa’s voice was really soft and nice. “Sheneedsyou. You make her feel safe. She is just like your people. They all need you.”
Then he tipped his head, urging me to follow him as he walked slowly towards the shadow at the end of the room, where he’d come in the door. As I moved, something tugged against my thighs and I looked down, frowning.
I was wearing weird clothes—loose trousers made of linen, with a long, long shirt over the top. The shirt had no buttons. It fell all the way down to my knees, embroidered in glittering, gold thread.
I’d never seen anything so pretty on a man, except the king.
My father…“How did I get—”
“Come, Gall. I’ll explain the details later, I promise. Let’s go to Istral and wake her. Reunite the king with his queen.” Then he took my hand and tugged me forward—and something impossible happened.
The moment his hand touched mine, my mindworked.
I sucked in a breath and froze, trembling. Not with fear, but withexcitement.I understood.
My father was a king.
I was his prince.
His death had always been the plan—and Lucifer was the one who’d whispered that in my ear that night, who urged me forward with my spear. Told me to be brave and when I balked,he’d touched my mind so I could see: The kingneededto die, because I was next. And I wasbetterthan him.
I would be kinder to the servants, and wouldn’t take from the women.
I was strong enough to win battles, but gentle enough to care for the soldiers.
I wanted peace.
I had a mate, and would have babies with her, more princes to carry the line, and make certain the world was safe even after my death. Together, we’d—
The pressure on my hand released, and it all drained away like water down a hole.
Grandfather smiled. “See? I’m smart enough for both of us.”
