The rage.
The indignation.
How fucking dare they treat us like this? Treat Zuriel and all the other soldiers like we were disposable?
I stewed in that thought, not even trying to calm myself.
And yet, I knew I had to at least pretend to have a vision. With nearly everyone else having offered something, it would be suspicious if I—the only one in the room with irises the color of glaciers—Saw nothing.
So despite the deluge of emotion, I forced myself to meditate again. To go through the motions. To protect myself.
Beside me, Heraphia started muttering in the low,monotone voice I recognized from countless times I’d witnessed the Goddess yank on her power and offer her a glimpse of the future.
The words were indecipherable.
Fuck. I’d been hoping for a starting point to offer something useful, albeit false. The Korona hadn’t given us enough information at the start either.
I could always ask the Issaraeth.
The idea was a good one…but that meant I’d have to initiate a conversation with him. And after everything I’d thought about today, I wasn’t sure I could stop talking to him after that.
The memory of his lips against mine heated my low belly.
I’d never faced battle—only Seen glimpses of them. But what I had with the Issaraeth felt like waging war. Strategy was a necessary component in our interactions.
Especially because I seemed to have a penchant for drawing a hard line between us, only to blur it by stepping across again.
Reluctantly, I lowered my walls.
“Vaeron?”
He appeared in an instant.“Sylaira.”
Even in my mind, the way he said my name rolled a shiver down my spine.“I need to pretend to have a vision.”
“So you need my help to provide a believable one.”
I paused, hating that I had to admit it.“Yes.”
An eternity passed. Was he even going to answer me? Or was this part of his plan, to leave me hanging after giving me virelthorn to suppress any possibility of a prophecy?
“I would never do that to you, mate. One day, you will believe me. One day, you won’t think the worst of me at every opportunity.”The sorrow in his tone was impossible to deny.“Tell them you Saw an army of Demons marching into the desert. Make the numbers sound enormous. Far more than we have in our forces.”
I swallowed, fear sluicing through my veins.“Is that truly what is happening?”
“I believe so.”
“What will happen if I relay this information?”
“Does it matter? You won’t have to See it. You’ll be safe from Iaoth’s suspicions.”
He had a point. And yet, that would likely mean the Angel army would have to swell its forces. Which meant more people would die.
And their blood would be on my hands.
But what choice did I have?
“Thank you.”
