“And it was dormant before him,” my father added.
“Angelblood can be dormant?” Jezebel and I exchanged a weighted glance.
“It needs an agent to activate it. Supposedly, Annellius discovered the Alabath secret and created the agent in order to birth the effects within himself.” Disapproval twisted my father’s lips.
“What were they?” I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around myself to ward off the eerie chill spreading through my body. “The effects?”
“Accounts differ. Some say he was gifted strength and speed even greater than that of the fae. Some say he ascended as an Angel whenhe died. My father told me when the blood was activated, Annellius was visited by an Angel. Given a task.”
Breath lodged in my throat. “What was it?”
“I don’t know. Whatever it was, he died before completing it.”
So, Annellius grew greedy in his pursuit of this task. The Angelblood was removed from his body and from those who came after him.
Until me, Damien had implied. If only I could call on the damn Angel when I needed him.
In the shadows of the room, I swore I heard a soft chuckle. Jezebel’s spine straightened, but before she could say anything, I pushed myself off the edge of the bed, boots thudding to the floor as I stood.
“And that’s the end of the tale?”
“Yes, but as I said, it’s all lore. Who’s to say my father’s account is any more accurate than the other tales? There are barely any detailed ledgers.”
Theories careened through my head quicker than an Angel’s wings. There was order to be found in the chaos—I knew it. “Can I see the records that do exist?”
Suspicious eyes held mine. Then he stood and said, “I’ll see what I can find.”
I thanked the Spirits my father had always been a fastidious record keeper, housing copies of documents both in the Second’s suite here and in Palerman.
“Thank you.” I stepped forward, wrapped my arms around him, and pressed my ear to his chest to listen to the steady beat of his heart. “I’m glad you made it here.”
For the first time since stepping foot in this room, I allowed the relief of seeing my father to crash over me, grateful for being given a second chance at life.
I didn’t know why the Spirits had told me of the Angelblood. I wasn’t sure why Damien had referenced it again in the mountains. But I would find out.
“I’m happy you’re okay.” My father kissed the top of my head. “Both of you.” He held out an arm for Jezebel to join us. “And I’ll do whatever I can to ease this transition with the Rapture and council.”
Only the tightness of his voice told me how pained he was byLucidius’s betrayal. A stark reminder of how deep this deceit went. Not only in my own life, but across all of Gallantia.
We couldn’t escape the pain that man and Kakias had brought into our lives, but I swore to every Angel above I’d get my revenge.
“I’m proud of you both.” His eyes settled on the gleaming spear leaning against the wall. “This is your time.”
Chapter Two
Malakai
Every lieI’d been fed over the past two years hung over my heart, poised to pierce, when I saw my mother and thefucking wreckedlook in her eyes.
For so long I’d been the only one to feel the effects of Lucidius’s decisions. His lies and betrayals—fucking Spirits, the beatings, even—it had all only affected me.
Or that was what I’d thought. I hadn’t considered how far his wrath would stretch when I’d disappeared.
The marks were upon my skin—I’d ensured that—but it was becoming clearer every day how far the impacts reached. While I was the only one physically under his thumb, my mother, my friends, Ophelia…they were the ones who felt it.
Looking at my mother now, those fragmented lies threatened to dig into me until my sorrow was an ugly crimson mess upon the floor.
“Mali.” My nickname was a sob up her throat. Then, she was across the room, hugging me, tears staining my shirt.
