Page 110 of The King is Dead
“Melek!”
“Hear me out: Perhaps I can admit that it was a touch… unnecessary to take you like that, with him nearby—”
“Thank you.”
“—but, perhaps you can also admit that there’s a risk Turo will not react well to this news. Especially after your display tonight. Especially if he believes I’m manipulating you with fear.”
I wasn’t impressed. “Of course there’s a risk, but it’s very small. Once I explain, Turo’s more likely to weep than harm me!”
Melek’s expression went flat. “If you truly believe that, you’re far more naïve than I thought—you clearly don’t know strong men when they’re hurt.”
“I know Turo far better than you,” I said through my teeth. “And Iknowhe won’t hurt me.”
“I do not share your confidence,” Melek said flatly. “To mitigate any risk, I will tell him.”
“What? No! Melek!”
But he’d already started towards the door again.
“Melek! Stop!” I hissed, running after him. “This isn’t your story to tell!”
I was so shocked when he whirled on me, his face twisted with rage, I stumbled and slid to a halt.
Melek’s eyes were wide and blazing. “My mate,” he said through his teeth. “MyQueen.Mycrown,mypeople, mylife—and you say it’s notmystory?!”
I deflated. That wasn’t how I’d meant it. “I only meant, not to Turo,” I said, pleading. “His connection is with me. Please, Melek, don’t add humiliation to the pain he’s already facing.”
Melek took one step back towards me, then stopped hard. “Why do you always balk at hurting him?” he asked in a deep, uncertain voice.
I put myhand to my heart—I didn’t want to hurt Melek in this, either. “Because he’s a good man who didn’t ask for this, and doesn’t deserve it!”
“And I do?” Melek shot back quietly.
“What? Of course not! But—”
“There’s always a fuckingbut.”He glared at me, then before I could grab for him, he turned on his heel and stormed towards the door. And I could see that he wasn’t going to stop this time. And it wasn’t like I could physically stop him if he was determined.
Cursing under my breath, I ran after him anyway.
But as Melek threw the door wide and I was about to step out of the room in his wake, it occurred to me that I was still twisted up in the tangled mess that was left of that sheer gown. Practically naked.
I gasped and jerked myself back into the shadows of the room, cursing at Melek for being so stubborn as I rushed back to my closet for a robe, yanking the leathers and torn fabric loose and throwing it to the floor.
I reached for Diadre in my mind, but found nothing. She had to be deep in the gardens and too far away. I would have to send one of the messengers to her, and get her to warn Turo until I could cool Melek down. I couldn’t link with Turo directly, not after this. It would be an offense to Melek.
I tugged on a robe and ran back into the room. Melek didn’t know where Turo was, and the others likely wouldn’t help him when he was so clearly angry. That would buy me some time. Once Diadre had warned Turo, I’d have her run to the cottage and ask Harris to bring Gall. Melek was always more restrained when Gall was present. Harris could keep Gall calm while I talked down Melek, then together we’d figure this out and make sure Turo heard the truth.
I ran back to my desk for a parchment and pen, leaning over as I uncorked the ink and whispered to myself, composing the note as I hurriedly wrote. I needed to get it in the hands of the messenger before Melek was out of sight!
As I scribbled the note to Harris, still reaching for Diadre in my mind in case she came into range, a shadow passed beyond me on the wall.
Thinking Melek must have returned, I straightened quickly, breathing a plea to him to stay—and frowned when there was a strangethwackhigh on the wall over my head, followed by a clattering sound on the stone floor.
I turned, brows knit together, to see a long, thin, flecked arrow rolling harmlessly across the floor.
It tooksecondsfor me to realize what had happened.
Twisting into the shadows in the blink before another arrow thunked into the desk where I’d just been standing, I let my body solidify long enough to scream,“ASSASSIN!”before turning into shadow again and zipping towards the light of the hallway, and the guards, and theroarthat was my mate screaming my name, thundering back to offer his life in the fight for mine.
