I stood to leave, the Daeva clustering together to whisper their own plans that had nothing to do with me, now. I was leaving to put myself into the hands of the enemy in the hope Mabel really could find me once I was in Xeoniteridone's grasp.

Ram had other ideas than allowing me to just leave him without saying goodbye. And it was that very act I wanted to avoid. I wasn't sure I could bring myself to go, not like this, when we'd finally found each other again.

He ...