Page 90 of The King is Dead
“It has been a difficult few months, so I am going to ignore the personal offence and address only the political,” my mate snapped. At her side, Diadre stared up at her with the same, hungry eagerness to see herdevourthese men that Jann frequently gave me in times of conflict. I was glad my mate had such an ally.
“This man is not an enemy,” Yilan said sternly. “He is an asset. I was at his side—”
“Your Majesty, wake up! Your mind and body wereintoxicatedby a calculating, seductive foe who has clouded your vision and convinced you the sky is red.”
Everyone went still, and despite my rage, my heart sank. He was only giving voice to fears all the men had.
Holy shit, theyreallydidn’t see her, did they?
I was already shaking with the offense of their blindness towards her, ready to throw myself across the table and take the man by his collar and tell him we could finish this outside, when he took a step beyond.
“…Let those of us who have functioned as adults for more than five minutes explain that he has swayed you with sex and virility. But that is no reason for the entire Kingdom to open its legs to these creatures—”
“You gotoo far!”Yilan hissed.
Even Turo’s mouth dropped open and he gaped in horror at the man, at the same time three of the others shot to their feet with shouts of protest. But it was Yilan herself who swelled.
“All of you, sit down and shut your mouths,” she snapped as raised her chin regally then glared around the circle of men, all of whom were older, stronger, and more experienced in life and war. Though you wouldn’t have known it by the sheer fury in her eyes as she stared each and every one of them down.
Pride swelled in my chest as I watched her gather herself and light a fire under their asses with her tongue.
“It is time to put an end to these rumors and to thisprudishgossip. For the final time, I was not seduced, I have not been raped, and any contact I have had withanyman is entirely my choice to make. It holds no bearing on my ability to rule rightly, andI will not hear another word about it!I brought Melek to you not because of a childish crush—or any wartime romanticism. I was not deceived or manipulated. I brought him to you because Iknowhe is divinely appointed to rule. Whether you can see that yet, or not, changesnothing.I stood at his side when he believed me nothing but an enemy assassin and watched him handle a brutal, honorless people with integrity and strength.
“I watched him make choices at risk to himself because they would benefit others. I watched himlead in the manner we hold in highest regard.I saw that God Himself appointed General Handrasto the salvation of our people, and others.I am not swayed by his age or experience. My ruler’s heart acknowledges a like mind and soul, and I brought him to you because it was the wisest fucking thing to do.
“This continent is under dire threat—without Melek at the helm, the Nephilim become sadistic tyrants who kill for fun and brutalize any that stand in their way. I lived among them and saw them deal with each other—none of you have done that.”
Turo and one of the younger men shifted in their seats, but didn’t speak up. Yilan didn’t miss it though. She cut off what she’d been about to say and turned on him.
“Do not undermine me with looks and subtle implication. Own your shit, Turo. I told you the truth of this, so put your prejudice aside and acknowledge the facts: Tell them what he did in your presence. Tell them the ways he saved me!”
Turo's eyes blazed. He rubbed his face like he didn't want to say the words on his tongue.
“Tell them who did the deceiving, Turo,” Yilan hissed. “Tell them who backed your choices when we were walking a tightrope to get out of there.”
Turo's jaw went tight. To my surprise, he looked at me, his eyes accusing, but also shadowed with something I think he didn't want me to see.
“He was... fighting to get you free,” Turo finally, reluctantly admitted. “He... he set us up to get you out of there, and... he helped cover our tracks.”
I felt the rush of relief in Yilan, though none of it showed on her face. She nodded and folded her arms.
“And who deceived whom?” she pushed.
I let my lips thin as Turo glanced at me again. “You...wedeceivedhim.He had prepared to get you loose while he created a... diversion so your absence wouldn't be noticed.”
It hadn't been a diversion. I had fully intended to stand in judgment for Gault's death. But I appreciated that he wasn't shying from the truth any longer.
Yilan nodded again. “And who was it that manipulated and... and lied in those tense moments?” she asked, her eyes skating to mine, then away again.
“You. You manipulated him. You deceived him,” Turo said, the words low and hard like they were dragged out of his throat. “He agreed with my plan to get you out of there, even when you argued against it. He worked for your freedom. It was our subterfuge that was deceptive. We took him from his people and imprisoned him here against his will.”
Yilan nodded once, tightly, then turned to the others. “I will not hear again about the ways you think I’m childish. I took that mission because it wasmyskill that was needed, and I was successful. So everyone at this table needs to stop telling themselves that I have somehow been overwhelmed by anything but the need to keep our people safe.”
“But… forgive me, Majesty, theroaring.Those of us who came for you, who witnessed… he claimed you before his people and—”
“It was a ruse,” I growled, though the younger man’s tone was far more worried than abrasive. He met my eyes with the gleam of distaste, and I held that gaze, keeping my words firm. “It was imperative for my people to believe she belonged to me—unless they did, she would be harmed when she was out of my presence. I placed my authority over her and in so doing, protected her from… unwanted attention from the other males. Your Queen is strong, and my men need strong women with which to breed. She was becoming recognized as highly desirable and so… I made her unattainable.”
“Or, perhaps,gaveunwanted att—”
