I sighed with absolute, profound relief and joy.
“Not today, temptress.”
She ran the pads of her fingers up my abdomen, tracing the pattern of runes across my chest. “How are the children?”
“Alive and recovering.” I paused. “Thanks to you.”
She said nothing, but I had much to say.
“You were right. Your plan worked, but I’m still furious.”
“You don’t sound furious.”
“That’s because I have you safely in my arms. But when that…” I blew out a breath, a rumbling growl rising up my throat again, “thatthingcalled Selestos thought to take you with him, I was going to follow you into whatever hell he took you to and drag you back.”
She smoothed her palm over my heart, trying to soothe the beast of fury inside me. As always, I eased at her gentle touch.
“Where was he taking you?” I asked, fear replacing the rage.
“I don’t know. But I believe to his master.” She exhaled a deep breath. “He spoke to me in demon tongue at first. But he also spoke in a language I have not heard. I always prided myself on the number of languages I could recognize, but that one—”
“Godjin is what we call it. But I have never heard it spoken like that.”
“What is it? Where is it from?”
“Godjin is an ancient language, believed to have been spoken by the gods themselves.”
She pushed up onto her elbow, frowning down at me. “How could you know this language?”
“We only know a few words, actually. Dark fae god seers have recorded them from visions they’ve had of the old ones. In their visions, they can understand the language as part of their magick. I recognized one of the words the grimlock spoke. That is how I know it is Godjin he speaks.”
“Does Lorelyn know the language?”
“As far as I know, no one truly knows the language. We only have pieces of it. There are old runes on some of the ancient monuments in different parts of Northgall. Some seers believe this is Godjin writing.”
“But Lorelyn may know the words that we heard Selestos speak.”
I grumbled at hearing his name. “She may. We will ask her.”
She pushed as if to rise out of the bed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked.
“To speak with Lorelyn.”
I instantly hauled her back to my side. “You are going to rest.”
She wiggled against me, frowning at me. “I imagine I’ve been resting for hours already.”
“Not long enough, stubborn female. You nearly drowned yourself! And besides, it is the middle of the night still. Everyone will be sleeping from the ordeal. You must sleep and get your rest.”
Heaving a frustrated sigh, she remained still, no longer trying to struggle her way out of my arms.
“That’s what I like,” I told her, “an obedient female.”
She pinched the flesh at my hip.
“Ow!” I jerked and snatched her by the wrist.
