Page 152 of The King is Dead
“But now I have to leave! I only just found her and I have to go! I would have givenanythingfor you to be King and me to be your Heir a few months ago. That would have been so great. But now… now it feels like it’s just going to steal something from me!”
I sighed and held his blazing gaze. “I know it feels like that, Gall. But… this is life as a man of honor. It is our job to protect, to provide, to put ourselves in danger to keep others safe. Especially a woman who loves you. And even though the separation is hard, you walk into it willingly knowing it will win you the life you want in the end.”
Gall’s eyes welled, but he blinked the tears away. “What if… what if she doesn’t love me when I come back?” he asked hoarsely, and my heart broke for him.
“Oh, son… of course she will.” God, I prayed it was true. “Istral holds you in very high regard. I know that isn’t… you aren’t… she’s never felt safe with a man before, I think,” I said, praying I was remembering Yilan’s words right. “And look how upset she is because you’re going away—that’s someone who feels very deeply for you. She’s not going to stop caring just because she doesn’t see you for a while.”
Please, God. Please, can that be true? Please can she be faithful in her heart like her sister is.
Gall cleared his throat, coughing and swallowing, blinking, trying to keep his composure. But he couldn’t stop looking out onto the verandah. And I could see all the fear in his eyes.
“People don’t usually love me like that,” he said faintly, his voice deep and rough with emotion. “Especially girls.”
I raked a hand through my hair, wondering how far to go in reassuring him about Istral. Was she even capable of the kind of love he thought he was receiving? Clearly she loved her family and Harris. But Gall was looking at her like she was hismate.
I looked back and forth between them, sudden panic fluttering in my chest. Was it possible? Could it be? Yilan had mentioned that Harris thought the two of them were connected in some way, but she’d dismissed the possibility of true mates because she couldn’t see her sister having that type of relationship with any man.
I didn’t know if Istral was capable of it, but I knew Gall felt deeply, and he’d expressed a desire for a mate in the past. I hadn’t ever encouraged it. Not because I thought he wasn’t capable, but because I’d doubted any woman would be willing.
God, forgive me for being an asshole.
I threw a hurried prayer skyward that somehow God had, indeed, intended these two for each other, and that they would find a way to muddle through the complications of a truly adult life. Then I squeezed the back of Gall’s neck and brought his attention back to me.
“Gall, I don’t know what the future holds. But I do know this: Istral values you, and enjoys you. She loves you, and she will care greatly about what happens to you. I also know, all the way to my bones, that you are loveable.And if she’s the one for you, then I will celebrate her until the day I die. I know that whoever God intends for you will be a very special woman indeed. So, yes, we must go. And yes, Istral must stay here. She is not a warrior, Gall. She is not a fighter, and she would be in a great deal of danger. You know how our brothers are. It is our greatest and most important job in this life to keep those we love safe. Istral is not equipped to be among our kind. Not like Yilan. So, we will leave her here—under the watchful eyes of others who also love her, and will fight to keep her safe. And then when we come back, all of us together will celebrate, and live in peace. You know that’s what we’re doing, right?” I asked him carefully.
Gall nodded, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Good man. Just picture it, Gall: When this is done, you will be free to return to Istral. And you don’t ever have to come back if you don’t want to. Our peoples will live in peace, and there will be no barriers for you.”
Please, God, let it be true. Please, let us get there.
“But… I’ll be heir… right?”
His confidence in me was so touching. I smiled. “Yes, you will be. But that’s the wonderful thing about leading, Gall. It’s a lot of responsibility. But when those responsibilities are fulfilled, you canchoosewhat to do. Once you’re acknowledged as Heir, I see no reason why you couldn’t live here. And I’m sure Istral would be overjoyed if you did.”
“You think so?”
“I do. But the best way to find out is just to ask her.”
“You’re right,” Gall said, his face suddenly determined. He took a step towards the girls and I had to catch him, chuckling and patting his back.
“Not yet, not yet, Son. Just… give them a little more time. Wait until you and Istral can be alone. Then you talk to her about the future and see what she says, right?”
Gall sighed, but he nodded slowly. “If you’re sure?”
“I’m sure, Son. But are you? I haven’t given you your due. You’re a man now, and a warrior. Areyouready to talk to a woman about your future with her? Are you ready to give her what she needs if she wants you?”
I thought he’d think about it. Make that face where his forehead lined and his eyes grew squinty. But he didn’t even hesitate.
“I’m definitely ready,” he rumbled.
Brimming with equal parts pride and fear, I turned towards the girls, to watch for a sign that it would be right to join them, but Gall cleared his throat and nudged me.
“Papa, what if… what ifwedie? Who will take care of them then?” he asked so quietly I almost didn’t catch the words. But they chilled my blood because I was rocked with images of being torn down by the Nephilim—losing a challenge, or just being caught in a frenzy and killed. It could happen to anyone. The idea of Yilan being left alone made me nauseous.
I swallowed hard. “We will make a plan,” I said, unwilling to pretend that the possibility didn’t exist. “But I’ll tell you this, Gall. My mate is a strong woman, and very cunning. I would bet my life that if I was killed, she’d get you out of there and back to Istral. And if we were both gone, she’d getherselfback here. She is… remarkable,” I said, my heart swelling with pride.
Yilan must have felt the pinch in the bond, because she turned, her eyes finding mine, and then we both just stared.
