“Much, much easier said than done. But you know that, don’t you, Hever?”
The voice was deep, dark with disapproval, and held the resounding ring of authority.
We all turned to find Melek and Yilan, striding out of one of the side-tunnels.
Every Neph in the chamber dropped to a knee, slapping a fist to their chests immediately. The Shadekin were slower, but most followed suit, eyeing each other as if to check if their brothers had done the same.
Melek ignored them, but I saw him tense as Hever straightened from his bow.
“Of course, Sire,” Hever puttered. “However I maintain, the Fallen aren’t—”
“Not omniscient, I know. Cannot be ever-present. But that fucker has eyes watching on his behalf in every corner—whether we see them or not. And my question is… are they here, as well?”
The cavern rang with sudden silence as every man in the place looked sideways at someone who looked different—and almost everyone, including me, stared at Hever.
19. Serious Side-Eye
~ MELEK ~
Hever met my gaze, then dropped his eyes, offering another bow. My unease increased. Hever didnotmake a habit of humbling himself. Yet, he’d always been incredibly politically astute, and never needlessly cruel. When I looked for reasons not to trust him, they rarely extended beyond the fact that the malelookedlike someone to fear—but his eyes remained yellow and…
And so did Jann’s,I reminded myself.
“I understand the Fallen are especially interested in those who aretraitors.”My mate’s tone was downright hostile.
Hever cut her a flat look, but he offered her another bow as well. “Your Majesty. I’m glad to see you healthy and well.”
Yilan scoffed. I spoke up before she could. With Neph present, I needed to lead here.
“Tell us what you know. How do we get around Lucifer and get Gall and Istral away from him?”
Hever’s brows drew down in a deep V over his nose. “Melek, you of all people know, no one can be removed from Lucifer’s grip unless theychoose it.Remove the boy-King bodily, and you’ll only provide an invitation for the Fallen to find you. If he’s given over, they can find him anywhere. He needs toresistif he wants freedom.”
My stomach clenched, as Yilan shook her head and muttered, “That sounds like exactly what a double-agent would say to keep us from taking him.”
A moment later, as Hever stared at her calmly, she blinked and looked at him sideways. Had she not meant to speak out loud? Her expression hardened, and the intensity in Hever’s gaze raised the hair on the back of my neck. I shifted my weight to remind him who she belonged to, before he spoke.
“If you don’t believe I know anything of value, why ask?” he growled.
“You misunderstand. I’mcertainyou know valuable things,” Yilan said grimly. “My question is, whether you share them with us, or are just another puppet for that piece of shit to divert us.”
‘Yilan, he’s put himself in danger to even be here speaking to us.’
‘Not if Lucifer is sending him in as a double-agent.’
Hever turned straight to me, unaware of our words to each other. “God knows my allegiance is true.”
I opened my mouth, but Jann spoke up from my other side. “The same God who abandoned us to the Fallen?”
I glowered at him, then turned back to Hever. “My mate is wary because she says you attempted to harm me, then fled the battle near the Shadows of Shade.”
Hever’s eyes narrowed. “I attempted tohelpyou—but she thwarted that effort. I left to position myself to be of further assistance when it was needed. Where I have worked tirelessly, since—and brought you the information to prove it.”
“You didn’t fight when the Nephilim tried to remove me.”
“You and I both know my greatest strength doesn’t lie in blades and battle.”
I stared, once again trapped in uncertainty with this male who’d always told me the truth,as far as I knew.Yet he was ancient, and always an uneasy presence. While I considered him—and assured Yilan through the link that I was well aware that she and Diadre were wary of the man, Hever turned to look to my left, regarding Jann thoughtfully.
