Page 171 of The King is Dead
Rayan and Norg both nodded, then melted into the trees and undergrowth on their way into the camp.
The rest of us took an easier breath with them out of sight, but I wasn’t stupid enough to believe those two were truly loyal, so we kept up the façade even in their absence, just in case. Besides, we were here now. It was time. We had to maintain the appearance of brutality until this was done.
“Jann, you follow me with the girls. I’ll take mine to the claim—they need to know what a prize I’ve taken. But once things start moving, I’m releasing her to you.”
Jann nodded. Diadre stood at his side, her arms folded and face sullen. He’d tied one end of a rope around his waist and the otheraround hers, yet she somehow managed to make it look as if she didn’t even know he was there.
Then I turned to Hever and the other two.
“You’ll be celebrated when others realize you’re here. I am relying on you to support my claim and urge others to do the same.”
Drek and Kran nodded immediately. Hever took a deep breath, but then nodded too. He’d donned his cloak when we drew close to the camp and his eyes shone out from under the hood. The man’s gaze was unnerving.
“I’ll add what influence I can to nudge any minds that are on the fence towards your side,” he muttered.
“Kran, we’ll need a tent tonight, preferably near Jann’s. Can you make that happen?”
“Definitely.” He looked eager, which meant he planned to oust some of the lower ranking Neph, but it would benefit me to have others observe that I’d walked in and taken control, so I didn’t stop him.
“Good. Drek, as things progress, please keep an eye on the spit. I don’t want Gall coming into camp until I’ve successfully made my claim, or there’s an actual need for his strength to bolster our numbers. Intercept him if you see him moving sooner.”
Drek nodded. And then we were done. I looked towards the mountains where the sky was turning a rosy color.
It was time.
I looked at Yilan, and prayed no outsiders could see her expression when she met my gaze, pride and fear swimming in her eyes.
“Ready yourself to fly,” I told her gruffly, just in case Rayan or Norg had hung back. She nodded and dropped her chin. I wanted so badly to lift it, to kiss her, to promise her that I could handle this. But we couldn’t risk it. So, instead, I turned her around so her back was to my chest and my arm tied to hers was crossed over her body. Then I looked at Jann. When he’d gathered a bristling Diadre to his chest, he nodded to me, and we both manifested our wings and took off.
Yilan gasped as the earth dropped away beneath us and it occurred to me for the first time that I hadn’treallyflown with her. Something I needed to rectify when life settled down. Holding her tightly, I was careful not to take her too high. I wanted the Neph to see us. Sure enough, as we rose over the camp, murmurs belowamong the tents turned into calls and shouts, and then a wave of agitation gathering momentum.
Whether I’d been recognized, or the Neph just anticipated a challenge, all I knew was that the noise below rose as I flapped over the camp and bodies shifted, following my flight path.
“Melek,” Yilan breathed. I took the opportunity to squeeze her and sent a rush of love through the bond. “Please be careful.”
“There is nocarefulin this, Love,” I murmured to her. “This is dominance. There can be no question in my mind, and I can leave none in theirs. Icannotfalter.”
She squeezed my arm, the airflow fluttering her hair back against my chest. “I love you. And I believe in you. Iknowyou can do this.”
“I would kiss you if I could,” I said.
“I know.”
“Are you ready?” I asked her as I circled over the outcropping and the rush of bodies among the tents surged towards it.
“I’ve been ready since I first saw you,” she whispered.
Squeezing her tightly to my chest, I let my legs drop and back-flapped to slow my progress, then lower us to the rock.
There would be no more whispered love. As we landed, I let my face go hard and whipped her away from my body, wrenching her around so that she was forced to stand next to me, her arm extended high above her head. And then I roared.
“HEAR ME, NEPHILIM! COME SEE! THE TIME OF UNCERTAINTY IS OVER.”
I’d timed my arrival perfectly. Behind me the sky glowed gold and rose. I knew I’d stand out starkly black against its golden light, holding Yilan and glaring down at the men who were rushing through the camp, some cheering, others protesting, but all watching.
“Melek! It’s the General!”
“He’s alive?!”
