Page 11 of The King is Dead
“I am,” I whispered back, stroking her hair. “And I’m so, so relieved that you’re well, too.”
Then she stood back and looked at me. “Why did you bring such fearsome creatures into our home?” she asked in a small voice. “I think I’ll have nightmares tonight, knowing they’re here.”
Oh dear.I shook my head. “Istral… remember how we’ve spoken about how… people are different? And in every family, or every race, there are some who are good and some who are not?”
“Yes, butNephilim,Lani!” she protested.
I held her shoulders and made her look at me. “This is me, Izzy. Do you believe I would put you in danger?”
“No,” she said quickly, licking her lips. “ButNephilim?”
“I know it sounds scary. And I promise, if you don’t like them, you don’t have to be close to them. But when the time is right—when Harris and I both feel like it’s safe—I’d just like you to meet them. So you can judge for yourself and not on what others think.”
That hit home for her. She’d been a victim of rumor and gossip since she was a child. Her forehead lines grew deeper as her mind tried to work through how some terrifying creature could be a victim of such normal circumstances.
“I… very well,” she said, still frowning.
Harris nodded to me with a pointed look, then took Istral’s arm and they turned to leave together.
I sighed, wondering if I’d done the wrong thing telling her. It was never clear whether she would fixate on something and become anxious, or just let it fall aside and not think of it again. But I suspected from her reaction that this would weigh heavily on her.
I needed to get Gall awake, let Harris meet him, and see if she thought Istral would help or hinder his transition here.
Because, if there was one thing I was certain of, it was that no matter what Melek decided, his son was staying here for the rest of his days.
That precious boy wasnevergoing to be put in a position that required violence from him, ever again.
4. Déjà Vu
SOUNDTRACK:Shadowsby KILLBOY
~ YILAN ~
After such a late breakfast, I wasn’t hungry for lunch. But the bond was aching in my chest and I needed a reason to be close to Melek, even if he wasn’t ready to make a decision yet. So, I ordered a plate and a platter from the kitchens and carried them up the tower stairs myself.
As I walked, I wondered whether he even wanted the food, and grieved that I couldn’t speak in his head, or he in mine. Despite our carefully guarded boundaries, the mindlink was an ability Shadekin took for granted, especially in crisis. But I’d never heard of bonding someone outside our people. That had to present some kind of block.
Unfortunately, either Turo was following me, or God was insistent that I confront my issues, because the General appeared at my side just as I stepped into the winding, spiral stairwell of the tower to begin the climb four floors to its top.
“You shouldn’t be carrying this yourself,” he muttered, trying to take the platter from me. I turned my shoulder into him, refusing his help.
“He fed me when I was imprisoned by them. I’ll return the favor and get him talking,” I said flatly. “I need to wake Gall this afternoon. And I need Melek’s input before I do that.”
Turo’s face went tight when I refused to give him the platter, but he stepped aside and let me take the stairs first, falling in behind me, no doubt ready to catch me if I fell. Which, with two hands full of plates and thosefucking skirtswas a far likelier scenario than I wanted to admit.
I was starting to sweat when I reached the top landing, but I ignored that fact as I reached the doors, stepping aside when Turo darted forward to unlock them for me.
“Thank you,” I said gently.
“Of course. Now, let me lead this interrogation—”
“No, Turo. You stay here,” I said firmly. “There is history between Melek and me. I know how to play this.”
He stared at me, his hand on the door, ready to pull it all the way open, but his jaw was tight.
“Yilan—”
“Open the door, then close it behind me.Please.”
