Page 167 of The King is Dead
I stepped forward to make a barrier between these males and our party, leveling the point of one spear at the closest one, though both watched that steel warily. The Neph had an almost superstitious fearof my spears. “Start from the beginning,” I muttered. “Tell me how you got here, and why. And while you talk, don’t. Fucking. Move.”
Rayan’s gaze slid from my face to scan everyone else in the clearing, and I saw him putting it all together—Jann and the others had found me and were bringing me back. But with the girls? And none of them tied or cuffed?
I had to make him believe they were under our control. But I’d only get the chance if I could make these two stand down, and convince Gall that Istral was safe.
I’d already claimed Yilan when she was my prisoner. That I’d return from being abducted by her with her in my control would only reassure the Neph who believed she’d either killed me, or tricked me. If I was in my right mind, they’d expect me to exact revenge.
But if these two were already under stress, and now looking for an escape route, as well as vessels for their own frustrations…
We walked a tightrope.
Rayan didn’t relax, but his voice was calm as he relayed what had happened in the preceding week.
Jann had been dispatched with this crew to find me, either to bring me back if I was alive, or to gather Shadekin prisoners to bring back and help the others get through the Shadows of Shade when they advanced.
But there was already chaos among the Nephilim. And Jannus had been the highest ranking, with the strongest following. When he disappeared, instead of resting as he’d urged the others to do until he returned, the in-fighting had gotten worse.
Rayan and Norg were the surviving pair from a group of six that had been sent to find Jann, or myself—or Shadekin to leash.
“Now… here we are. And you’ve gotthreefemales…”
Rayan directed that comment to me with a single, arched brow.
I growled.
“The women are claimed. You touch any of them at your own risk.”
Rayan and Norg both looked at Gall, then at me. “She’s truly his mate?”
“Truly,” I said, internally wincing, because by claiming her overtly as hismateGall put himself at risk—if any male thought they could win, they’d killhimto get to her. “And he earned his warrior’s length when the wrong male touched a female in a way he didn’t like. So, think twice before underestimating him.”
“And you still have the Fetch spy?”
“She thought to thwart me for a time. She was wrong,” I said with a menacing grin.
Rayan nodded once, then turned to the others.
My stomach sank. Diadre. I’d told them that the women were all claimed, but—
There was a scuffle I couldn’t see because I couldn’t risk looking away from the newcomers, but Diadre gave a little shriek, and a growl, like a pissed off cat, then Jann snarled.
“She’s mine. Don’t even think about it.”
My shock at those words was reflected in all the other faces, but especially Yilan, who startled so I felt it in the bond. Thankfully she was smart enough not to speak up.
Rayan’s eyes narrowed. “Surely you can share?”
Jann didn’t respond, but I couldfeelthe heat of the glare he sent at the two men.
It was Norg who spoke up after that. “If you’re all taking these ones, how are we supposed to get back through safely? This place is killing us!”
Please, please let that be their only resistance.“As long as you stay close to a Shadekin—within earshot—the Shadows will leave you alone.”
Rayan looked skeptical, but I straightened and bared my teeth at him. “We’ve passed through the Shadows once, and now we’re returning; you think I’mlying?”
Rayan blinked as Norg looked at him. There was a long beat when both men were clearly deciding whether or not to make any further challenges. To my surprise, Jann stepped up, shoulder to shoulder with me, dragging Diadre by her elbow.
“You did the right thing by coming for us. Don’t be stupid now. Stay close and you stay safe. But you touch our females or Melek and you’re done. There’s no one out here to hear your screams, and I’ll enjoy listening to them.” I let my spear drop to my side, but hefted it, reminding them it was there.
