Everest steepled his hands in front of him. “Riah feels his gift gives him too much power, and for that he must always follow the rules. It is, of course, why he was gifted those abilities and not . . . let’s hypothetically say, his brother.”

The room chuckled but I missed the joke.

Everest continued, “Malachi is his father’s son. Even as Raziel he was never one to follow rules.”

Tenn cocked his head to the side. “Wait, did you know them as Zabkiel and Raziel?”

Everest seemed to hesitate. “Yes. They were close friends of mine before Sweyn was born and then they died. When they returned shortly thereafter as Malachi and Zachariah, they did not remember me, but that did not prevent them from taking a liking to me.”

“And where do you fall in the rule-breaking sphere?” Cooper grumbled.

“Depends on the rule.”

Jackson rolled his eyes. “Wanker.”

“I am not of this realm, young Lancaster. There is not an ounce of Earthling or Heaven in my veins. I do not belong here, and therefore, I am not bound in the same way anyone else is.”

Royce signed, “What does that mean?”

“What does that mean?” I closed my mouth and frowned. “Actually, I’m not sure where you’re going with that.”

Thiago shook his head. “It means the consequences and punishments for his actions do not follow the same rules as ours.”

“I have no interest in lying to anyone in this room. In this side of the war, I may omit things I must, for reasons I wouldn’t be able to explain. Just know if I can tell you, I will.” Everest turned to look at Jackson. “So do not ask me questions you do not want answers to, for I will tell you.”

Jackson stood and walked over to stand in front of Everest. “The not knowing is suffocating. Can you understand that?”

He glanced to me, then back. “I can. Ask if you must know, but you must voice the question.”

Jackson swallowed roughly. He balled his hands into fists at his side. His arms seemed to be shaking. “Am I going to lose her?”

Everest took a deep breath, then sat up straight. Slowly he climbed to his feet. It was the slowest I’d ever seen him move. I wondered why he was using the energy he didn’t have to do so. I realized the answer a split second before he said it. “The Land of the Lore is—-was—-a product of Unseelie magic. Those injured as a result of the Unseelie—-be it within the Land of the Lore or by their blade itself—-will not heal so long as the Unseelie can enter this realm.”

I felt the air get sucked right out of the room.

Everyone just stared at him in horror with pale faces.

“Everest . . .” My stomach rolled. “What does that mean exactly?”