I blinked, gasping. “What—”
“Come on. Come with me. Let’s get your precious mate.”
“But, how did you—”
“I told you… I’m smart enough for both of us,” Lucifer smiled. Then he glanced at me over his shoulder as he began to walk away. “Stick with me and you’ll never be confused again.”
My heart pounded loudly in my ears, but not with fear. Withhope.Those images were paler now, but they were still there—the strength. The purpose. The way I could be better…
“Come, Gall. Time grows short. We have nations to which we must proveyourpower, and a kingdom to run.”
He clapped his hands.
My mouth was open. Slack. My head scrambled again. What had happened to that clarity? That certainty? That—
“Gall? Are you coming? Istral is very close.”
I blinked again, then I hurried after him when he disappeared into the dark.
He chuckled as I trotted to catch up, taking hold of my sleeve and pulling me to his side. “Good choice, Son. I’m proud of you.”
I wasn’t sure which choice he meant, but I wanted to see Istral, so I just nodded.
When he paused in the dark, I halted at his side. There was a click, then a creak, then light appeared, widening as he opened the door and his pleased smile was revealed. He motioned me forward. And when I squinted into the bright light, I caught sight of Istral sitting up in a wide bed. There were lots of people around her—the same ones I’d seen a few minutes earlier.
“Istral!”
She looked up, frightened—until she saw me. Then her face went bright and happy. She jumped out of the bed, running to meet me.
I rushed to her, sweeping her up in a big hug as she buried her face in my neck, and we both clung—only I had to be careful I didn’t crush her.
But even after we’d squeezed and squeezed, I didn’t want to let her go. I guess she didn’t either, because she kept holding me really tight. And she cried.
I stroked her hair because she liked that a lot, and waited until she didn’t have tears anymore.
She kept whispering my name.
“Are you safe?” I asked her, placing her back on her feet and standing up straight, searching her eyes. I huffed with relief when she nodded, but I still didn’t let her go. I didn’t ever want to stop touching her. Especially if she was sad.
“I’m okay,” she whispered.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, but when she looked up at me, her beautiful eyes were scared.
“I don’t know these people, Gall. Who are they?”
“He’s my grandfather,” I said, pointing at Lucifer, really glad that I had an answer for her first question. “Don’t worry, though. I don’t know everything, but… I think… I think it’s going to beokay. And I’ll keep you safe. No matter what. So, don’t worry. Just stay with me. As long as we’re together, we’ll be fine.”
Her eyes didn’t stop being afraid. But I could feel her heart pounding and getting big with love, too.
So, I nodded and petted her hair some more. She looked around, then back to me, her pretty brows pinched over her nose.
“But, Gall… where’s Yilan? And Melek, and—”
Lucifer—grandfather—cleared his throat. I met his eyes and some of that clarity returned. My fear fell away. I smiled as big as I could make it because my thoughts wereclear.
“Don’t worry,” I whispered back to her, still petting her hair, my heart pumping with joy. “I understand all of it!”
