“You are very inspirational.” Lyric laughed in a short burst. “Okay, I suppose that’s a stupid comment.”
“It’s not.” The woman grew serious. “It’s my goal, the reason I doeverything, so I truly appreciate you saying that. All I want to do is reach women, and give them the support I wish I’d had earlier in my life. We need our power most when we feel lost or we’re at a crossroads, and that is when it can elude us. What I do is try to help the individual see that everything they need is right here.”
She pointed a red-tipped finger at her own sternum, and it was so strange. Everything seemed to fade away, the noise, the other people, their very location. In this respect, the moment was not unlike being up in the Sanctuary, a weightlessness creating a buoyancy in Lyric’s bones—
It just was so true. It was just… exactly what Lyric had been struggling with.
“You’re right,” she said hoarsely. Then she laughed again to cover up her emotions. “You know, I kind of feel like this was meant to be.”
“Meeting me?”
“Yes.”
“You’re at a transition in your life?” Valentina reached out and put her hand on Lyric’s shoulder. “Tell me. What’s going on.”
A sizzle of energy passed between them, the earnest compassion coming with a charge that made it feel of vital importance.
The stuff of destiny.
“I want…”
She thought of Allhan, and the way Uncle Vishous had looked at her with respect, the kind that was fully adult, shared between equals. She wanted to beseenlike that again, by the ones who mattered. She did not want to be on the roof while others—
“Fight.”
As the word was spoken on a loud-and-clear, Lyric came back to attention. “I’m… sorry?”
“You must learn to fight,” the woman said in a voice that didn’t carry. “You have been beautiful all your life, but that’s not who you are meant to be.Fight.”
The moment stretched out between them.
Until it reached some terminal point of elasticity and snapped back into place.
Valentina laughed easily as she removed her hand. “I just have that instinct about you. And I’m never wrong about these things. You might say… I have a second sight. Is it time for some postable pictures now?”
The question was posed with a casual inflection, but it was an order nonetheless, and people responded as such, rushing forward even though they ultimately didn’t do anything. It was only the photographer who’d been working the main event who was needed, and as soon as he appeared, Valentina stepped in close.
The woman looked over. “Do you have a brother?”
Lyric’s brows popped. “Yes—yes, I do.”
“You know, sometimes those of shared blood can be tremendous resources.” Valentina gave her a little squeeze. “Of course, that’s not always the case. But, I don’t know, something tells me he might be able to help you—smile.”
The flashbulb went off a number of times in a row, leaving bald spots in her vision.
“And now,” the beautiful woman said, “if you don’t mind, I’d love you to go with Jenny. There are a number of VIPs with big followings who’d just die to get your picture with them? It’ll be good for you because they’ll cross-promote your brand and socials.”
In a daze, Lyric nodded. And then remembered. “Oh, but what about—”
“Your friend can stay here. It’s no problem whatsoever.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
As Lyric was led off, Dev stayed right where he was. Funny, he hadn’t had any kind of concrete plan coming here, just vague ideas that were noble in theory, utterly ridiculous in practice. Listening to that speech had been time well spent, however. As the words had drifted around and fed and watered the assembled acolytes, he had clarified things.
So yes, he knew what he wanted now.
“Would you like to wait in my dressing room?” the demon asked him with a wide, winning smile. “It’s very loud in here. Come on, I’ll show you the way.”
