‘But—’
‘Didn’t you hear, Yilan? They’re freeingthe hounds.Find Diadre through your link. Warn your sister if you can reach her. We’re getting out of here and warning the army. NOW.’
31. Give Me Your Word
~ YILAN ~
I’d been pacing Melek’s chambers when Diadre finally appeared, face pale, and eyes pinched with concern.
Melek cursed and whirled, startled by her appearance. She raised a hand in apology, but linked with me.
‘Shroud Melek. Get him over to Jann’s apartment. The others are all preparing for the hunt. No one will suspect Melek is so close. It’s the safest place. The hounds are barred from the Advisor’s chambers.’
I wasn’t so sure, but immediately reached for Melek’s mind. He stood to the side, watching us, waiting impatiently for me to fill him in, because we couldn’t make any sound in here.‘She says I’m to take you to Jann’s apartments. It’ll be barred from the hounds, and no one will suspect you of staying so close.’
Outside, the rumble of the city rose and we all instinctively looked, though there was nothing but a wall to see. Since Gall’s announcement, the sound had come in waves, the city plunged into celebration, peppered with panic.
‘You two go. I’ll stay here. The hounds won’t come for me even if they scent me.’
I snarled at him.‘We’re the ones they won’t come for—we can shadow walk. They won’t even know we’re present!’
Melek took a step towards me, his face contorting in hot anger.‘The hounds don’t hunt by sight, but by scent of the soul! They will take you the moment they cross your path!’
‘You still question yourself as soulless, Melek?’I roared back in the link.‘How many Nephilim carry green eyes because ofyourexample now? How many—’
‘Yilan, we have to go,’Diadre interrupted.‘Time is short. Jann’s afraid they might release the hounds early, because it’s the kind of sick shit they do.’
I shook my head, my eyes never leaving Melek’s. But I passed on to him what she’d said and he nodded.
‘She’s right. Go.’
‘I’m not going without you!’
‘You have no choice—I have to warn the army. We’ll need to blockade the tunnels in case the hounds run outside the city walls.’
‘Well, we need to warn the women we’ve been speaking to! With the messages we’ve been sending through them, I’m certain the Golden Eyes will target them—’
‘You don’t step one fucking foot outside Jann’s chamber, Yilan,’Melek growled.‘Once I’ve warned the troops, I’ll circle back and find Istral and Gall—’
Diadre looked back and forth between us as I stormed to his toes.
‘Donotask me to sit on my heels while you try to save everyone alone—’
‘You can’t be out there with the hounds!’
‘Neither can you!’
‘Of course I can—but regardless, we have no choice! We can’t let this go any further—’
Diadre sucked in a breath and turned, half-disappearing into the shadow before solidifying again. When I looked at her, she stared with a pleading apology in her eyes.‘Lucifer has ordered them all to bring their slaves and women. Jann has to take me to the hunt,’she sent, her voice broken.
‘What?! But the hounds—’
‘Lucifer is saying he’ll make certain they don’t hurt us, but Jann’s not sure. He’s terrified…’
‘Go,’I urged her.‘Melek can show me the way to Jann’s apartments. But the moment he’s gone, I’m leaving too—I’m going to find my sister, and warn as many of the women as I can.’
‘What about the hounds?’Diadre asked, carefully not looking at Melek—I could have hugged her for not challenging my defiance of his orders.
