Chapter 3 The Duty of a King #2
To add surprise to my shock, when he allowed himself a response, Lucifer tipped his head and looked at Gall thoughtfully.
“That is acceptable, I suppose—but to ensure that both our needs are met, I would give you a piece of advice, Gall. If you don’t want to take what isn’t offered, then you need to become adept at persuasion. ”
Gall’s eyes turned sad. “I’m not good at that.”
My heart broke all over again, and I knew Istral felt his grief even if she didn’t hear the words, because in the corner of my eye, I caught her twitch again, swaying forward like she’d go to him.
But Lucifer ignored her. “That’s why I’m here to help.”
I wanted to shout when Lucifer reached for Gall, cupping a hand to his neck and leaning in, whispering words in a strange language I couldn’t catch.
Gall frowned first as if he were confused—but then his eyes brightened.
Moments later, he blushed again—but as his eyes glazed, he smiled goofily.
And when Lucifer released him, he blinked like he’d been deep in thought and was suddenly reminded of the present moment.
Then Lucifer patted him on the arm. “Go forth and multiply, Son,” he said with a warm smile that turned my stomach.
Gall raked a hand through his hair, but nodded. Then Lucifer opened the door as if he were only human, and walked out, barking orders to the guards outside that the door was not to be breached, except by request from the king or queen.
The door clicked closed and the sound of Lucifer’s voice was drowned out to a buzz.
Gall watched the door as if he wasn’t quite sure whether to believe it. Istral didn’t move. I wasn’t sure she breathed.
Then everything happened at once.
Gall whipped around, beaming. “Izzy! We’ve got five days!”
A smile of relief and joy bloomed on Istral’s pretty face, and she finally let go of that horrid wardrobe’s door.
When both of them took the first, running step towards each other, Melek hissed a curse and let go of my hand, appearing bodily the moment our contact ceased. Gall and Istral both froze, gaping at him.
‘Change of plan: Don’t let Gall see you!’ he urged in my mind. ‘I’ll send her to the bedchamber. You speak with her there.’
Melek stepped toward Gall, whose eyes turned round. He stumbled back a step, then caught himself as Melek opened his arms.
“Don’t worry, Son!” Melek assured him quietly. “It’s me! It’s really me! I’m so glad to see you safe.”
I almost wept when the fear on Gall’s face disappeared like smoke on the wind, and he beamed.
“Papa!”
The two rushed to each other and drew into a near-violent, thumping hug that made me wince when they pounded each other’s backs.
Remaining in the shadows, I circled the room, jumping from dark corner, to shadow towards the bedchamber, while watching the reunion of my mate with his son.
I was thrilled Gall was happy to see Melek, who held his son at arm’s length, beaming, and shaking his head.
“You’ve grown. I don’t know how it’s possible, Gall. But you’re even bigger and stronger and—”
The shift in Gall was immediate and devastating.
He didn’t break Melek’s grip on his shoulders, but his expression dropped from excitement and joy, to sadness.
“Papa… You can’t be here.”
Melek went still, but retained his smile. “Gall. Son, I’ve been waiting—”
“You can’t stay. Please,” Gall insisted, his brows pinching over his nose. “Go away and I’ll… I’ll pretend I never saw you. But you have to stay away, Papa. If you don’t, I have to kill you.”
Melek’s gaze sharpened, but he kept his body soft. I could feel the jangle of fear, right alongside his offense in the bond. “Gall, you will never have to kill me.”
Gall’s sadness didn’t abate, but a rigid tension appeared in his posture, and he spoke through his teeth. “Papa, I’m king. And you’re not. If I don’t kill you—”
“I’m your father. You’ll never have to—”
“I killed my father!” Gall shouted, then caught himself when both Melek and Istral startled.
Nerves tingled up my spine as Gall closed his eyes, muttering to himself and rolling his shoulders to loosen them.
I felt the wave of grief in Melek, and almost went back to him.
Then Gall opened his eyes, and the gleaming gold of them glowed.
“It doesn’t matter what happened before,” he said in a low voice, obviously repeating something he’d been told.
“What matters is what’s happening now. And now, I’m king.
And you're not. And if you try to say you are, I have to kill you.”
Melek took a deep breath and took a step closer, dropping his voice too. “Gall—”
“Izzy, go get changed. Wait for me in the bedroom. Just rest,” Gall said, his voice heavy and dark. “I’ll be a few minutes. That’s all.”
Istral’s eyes widened, but she grabbed her skirts, heedless of the bloody smears and drops all over them, and ran to the bedroom. I wasn’t sure if she’d been aware enough of her surroundings to sense me, but I darted after her, Melek’s voice echoing in my head.
‘Stay out of here unless I call for you. This needs to be between Gall and I.’
‘Be careful. He’s not himself.’
‘Yes, he is, but he’s doing what he’s been told to do. Don’t worry. No one understands him like I do.’
I wanted to question that, wanted to cast doubt—surely the Fallen, able to read minds and appear where no one expected, had learned and known things about Gall that even Melek didn’t? However, there was no gain in pressing him. I knew my mate wouldn’t back down. He also wouldn’t look for trouble.
I just had to pray Gall was willing to listen. Because I was getting Istral out of here whether Gall came or not.