Page 112 of The King is Dead
I recognized organized chaos when I saw it. These were military men, acting on orders and training. If I interfered, I’d only create confusion. So I held Yilan against me and half-crouched, keeping my eyes open for anything another might miss.
My breath was coming fast, blood pumping. I could feel Yilan trembling—that had truly shaken her. But she kept her voice low and as calm as she could and still be heard as she repeated the events and the location of the attack again and again.
Then several of the soldiers snapped to attention and Turo strode into the melee, eyes tight until they landed on Yilan, then blazing as they raked down her form—and found my hand on her arm.
“Unhand the Queen!” he snapped, drawing his sword as he trotted to us, every inch a commanding officer.
Having just had the spear removed from my throat, I growled as that gleaming blade drew closer.
Yilan called to him. “It’s fine, Turo. He’s keeping me safe.”
“You don’t have to keep protecting him, Your Majesty,” he insisted, turning back to me and leveling that sword at my chest. “Unhand our Queen. She is not your property to—”
“Turo, stand down!” Yilan barked, pulling out of my grip. I grabbed for her again, but she evaded me and stepped in front of that blade, forcing her General back a step.
“Yilan—”
But she was furious. “Put that sword away andlisten!”
Turo glared at me over her shoulder, but did as she asked, sheathing his sword slowly.
Yilan growled, exasperated as she flung a hand wide to indicate all the others around us, racing into the chamber and shouting information to each other. “Melek is not the threat. He was out here with the guards when the attempt was made on my life—”
“I saw you scream in the ritual, Yilan. I saw the fear in your eyes!”
“It wasn’t fear ofhim!”
“God, what has he got on you to keep you from—”
When Turo’s leash snapped and he stepped forward, snarling at her, I grabbed for her and brought her behind me.
“If you haveconcernsabout me,bring them to me,” I growled.
Turo’s eyes narrowed. But before he could speak Yilan stepped in.
“Both of you, just stop! The real threat is in there somewhere, and I needbothof you to focus on that!”
Turo gathered himself, but he kept glowering at me as he snapped a bow and muttered to her that he would go see what the men had found. But as he turned, he paused and met my eyes again.
“If you haveanyhand in this, I will find it,” he spat.
I growled, but Yilan put a hand on my arm and I swallowed it back as Turo marched into the room. I turned my attention to the chaos around us, shifting myself to stand between Yilan and any of these fuckers—who knew who’d been involved in that attack?
Moments later, Turo appeared again, his face pale and eyes accusing. “We need to move you to a much safer space,” he said to Yilan through gritted teeth, ignoring me completely.
“I’ll go wherever you wish.”
Turo reached for her hand, but I shoved it back at him and stepped between them.
“You don’t touch her.”
“You expect me to leave her inyourhands?”
“I expect you to listen to the Queen and—”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.Bothof you are being idiots! Both of you are convinced the other is the danger when I’m telling you both that the danger isout there!”she snapped. “Turo, please lead the way. I will follow. Melek, keep your hands to yourself. Stay at my back if you want to watch. Let’s not make anyone’s job harder right now.”
I had to swallow back a pinch of pain that she put me in lockstep with this fucker when it came to inconveniencing her—or anyone. But she was right that we needed to get away from this place until they’d figured out the threat. So I nodded once, then glared at Turo who narrowed his eyes at me before turning on his heel, storming down the corridor, calling for soldiers to surround us.
