The Darkest Whisper

Sabin jumped in front of her, blocking her from the crouching Galen. “Finally ready to do this? To admit defeat?”

Scowling, Galen pulled the knife from his gut. “You really think you’re strong enough to best me?”

“I already have. We’ve plowed through most of your forces.” He was grinning as he palmed and aimed his Sig. “All that remains is your imprisonment. And it looks like that won’t be too difficult to obtain.”

“Stop it. Just stop it.” Gwen staggered to a halt in front of him, shoulders squared. She swayed, but didn’t fall, her gaze locked on Galen. “I don’t want you taken until you hear what I have to say. I’ve waited for this day my entire life, dreamed of telling you that I’m the daughter of Tabitha Skyhawk. That I’m twenty-seven years old, and thought to be sired by an angel.”

Galen laughed as he stood, but that laugh couldn’t hide his wince. He was bleeding profusely now. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

“You tell me. About twenty-eight years ago, you slept with a Harpy,” Gwen said. “She had red hair and brown eyes. She was injured. You patched her up. Then you left but said you’d be back.”

His lingering smirk faded as he studied her. “And?” He didn’t sound as if he cared, but he didn’t try to escape when he’d clearly lost the battle, either.

Gwen’s entire body trembled, and Sabin’s rage darkened. “And the past has a way of catching up with people, doesn’t it? So, surprise. Here I am.” She splayed her arms. “Your long-lost daughter.”

“No.” Galen shook his head. At least his amusement didn’t return. “You’re lying. I would have known.”

“Because you would have gotten a birth announcement?” Now Gwen laughed, the sound tinged with darkness.

“No,” he repeated. “It’s impossible. I’m no one’s father.”

Behind them, the battle was winding down. The screams were stopping, the grunts fading. No more gunshots. No more pounding footsteps. Then the rest of the Lords were filling the doorway, each wearing expressions of hate and fury. Each dripping in blood. Strider still carried Gideon, as if afraid to set him down.

“Well, well, well. Look who we have here,” Lucien growled.

“Not so tough without a child around to shield you, Hope?” Anya laughed.

“Tonight I’ll dine on your black heart,” Reyes snarled.

Sabin studied the grim set of his friends’ faces. These warriors had been tortured, and they weren’t done exacting their revenge. Much as he sympathized, though, he couldn’t let them have it yet.

“Galen is ours,” Sabin told them. “Stay back. Gwen?”

GWEN KNEW what Sabin was asking. Allow him to imprison her father, or let her father go. That he was leaving the choice up to her proved his love as nothing else could have. If only she could give him what he wanted.

“I–I don’t know,” she said, voice cracking. Peering into those sky-eyes, eyes she’d once only dreamed about, she was struck anew with the knowledge that her father was here, in front of her, that he represented everything she’d ever wanted as a little girl and then as an adult, while she’d been trapped in that cell in Egypt. How often had she yearned to be held and protected by him?

He hadn’t known about her. Now that he did, would he love her? Would he want her with him, as she’d craved all those years?

Galen eyed the warriors glaring at him menacingly. “Perhaps I spoke too soon. We will talk, you and I. Privately.” He stepped forward and reached out to her.

Sabin snarled, and it was the type of sound a beast made just before it flew into attack. “You can leave, if she allows it, but you don’t touch her. Ever.”

For several seconds, it looked as if Galen would argue. The Lords certainly were. They wanted this man in chains and didn’t like that Sabin had offered him freedom.

“No child of mine would choose to be with the Lords of the Underworld.” Galen held out his hand and waved his fingers at her. “Come with me. We will leave, get to know each other.”

Did he truly wish to learn about her or did he simply hope to use her as another weapon against his hated enemies? The suspicion hurt, and Gwen found herself grabbing Sabin’s gun, barrel aimed at Galen’s head. “No matter what happens, I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Sabin hated him. This man had done cruel things. Would continue to do cruel things.

“You would kill your own father?” Galen asked, clutching his heart as if she’d truly injured his feelings.

In her mind, he was suddenly wrapping his arms around her, holding her close, telling her how much he loved her. Hope. It was there, in her chest, blooming through her entire body. Did it stem from him? Or from herself?

“You were so quick to dismiss me,” she gritted out. “You said you had no children.”

“I was merely in shock,” he explained patiently. “Absorbing the news. After all, it’s not every day a man is given the priceless gift of fatherhood.”

Her hand trembled.

“Your mother…Tabitha. I remember. She was the most beautiful sight I’d ever beheld, or have since. I wanted her instantly and meant to keep her, but she left me. I was never able to find her. Had I known about you, I would have desired a place in your life.”

Truth or lie? She lifted her chin even as her arm fell. Maybe there was good in him. Maybe he could be saved. Maybe not. But…“Go.”

He reached for her.

“Go,” she repeated, a hot tear streaming down her cheek.

“Daughter…”

“I said go!”

Suddenly his wings jerked into motion, spreading, fast, too fast, flapping, wind gusting around them. Before anyone could blink, he burst up, through the ceiling and out of the building.

Unable to hold back any longer, the other warriors fired at him, even tossed their blades. Someone must have nailed him, because there was a howl. It wasn’t too bad an injury, though, because Galen didn’t fall back inside. Gwen hated herself for the relief she felt.

The sound of heavy breathing filled the room, blending with muttered curses, stomping footsteps.

“Not again,” Strider groaned, finally placing Gideon on the floor. “Why would you do that, Sabin? Why would you let her do that?” A second later, the hulking warrior was beside his friend, writhing in agony.

Sabin’s hesitation had given Galen the chance to escape, and Galen’s escape had meant defeat for the Lords. Defeat for Strider. My fault, she thought. She’d just proven Sabin right. She couldn’t be trusted with his greatest enemy. She’d hesitated to do what was needed.

“I’m sorry,” Sabin said to his friend.

I’ll make it up to him. Somehow, some way. She spun, meaning to grab on to him and make him listen to her apology. Instead, she gasped. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’m fine. I’ll heal. How are you?” His gaze raked her, taking in every bruise and cut. A muscle ticked below his eye. “I should have taken him down when I had the chance. He hurt you.”

“I’ll heal,” she said, parroting him as she threw herself into his arms. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Can you forgive me?”

He grunted, even as he kissed the top of her head. “I love you. There’s nothing to forgive, darling.”

“I wimped out. I let your greatest enemy go. I—”

“No, no, no. I’m not letting you blame yourself for this. I let him go.” He cupped her jaw. “Now tell me what I want to hear. What I need to hear.”

“I love you, too.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, his relief palpable. “We’re staying together.”

“Yes. If you’ll have me.”

“What do you mean, if I’ll have you? I told you, you’re first in my life.”

“I know.” Slowly her lashes lifted and then she was peering up at him, tears now streaming freely down her cheeks. “You gave up a victory for me. I can’t believe you did that.”

“I would give up anything, everything for you.”

“You really do love me. You mean it. Won’t grow to hate me, won’t let war come between us.”