Page 173 of The King is Dead
His brows rose and he gave that wicked grin. “Mostdefinitely.Are you?”
I looked at my mate, then my friends, and then to the camp beyond and the people I had always fought for, always defended… and always defendedagainst.I nodded.
“Yes,” I growled. “Yes, I am.”
65. Bird of Prey
~ YILAN ~
I watched Melek walk back towards that boiling camp with my heart in my throat. Jann followed in his wake with a muttered warning for us to stay out of sight of the Neph until we were walking the shadows.
When they disappeared around the outcropping, Diadre grabbed my hand. “That was…” she whispered.
I nodded. “He’s magnificent.”
Watching him throw those spears down had twisted my insides. I’d been relieved the first time he told me that challenges for dominance among the Nephilim were fought without weapons—until he reminded me that, weapons or not, every challenge for the throne was a challenge to the death.
“He’s going to do this, Yilan,” Diadre said, squeezing my hand.
“I know.”
And I would make sure nothing stood in his way.
A roar went up that let us know Melek was visible to the crowd again. Diadre and I both startled, but then we trotted around to the other side of the outcropping. Jann had told us that there was a shadowy hole among the rocks here that would be large enough for us to slip inside and watch without being easily visible to those below. We had to stay out of sight so the Neph didn’t figure out that we were free.
As we crept among the rocks, I had trouble keeping my thoughts still.
Melek was going out there to fight. Two different men—plus Hever of all people? What the fuckwas that about?
That man had always made my blood run cold. He looked different than the others. I thought it was just because he was old. Did he think he’d be able to beatMelekin a direct challenge? I had a hunch that it wasn’t a physical fight that he wanted, and that made my lungs chill.
“I don’t know what that old witch is up to, but I’m going to find out,” I vowed to Diadre.
“So that was Hever?”
I nodded. “I don’t know what he was doing, but I’m sure it wasn’t good.”
“He’s creepy.”
I agreed emphatically. In truth, he was a lot more than creepy, but there wasn’t time to explain to Diadre. I wish Jann could have stayed, I wanted to understand what that seal shit was about.
But the shouts and jeers were getting louder, which meant Melek was probably already fighting. I needed to get out there and watch, and look for my opportunity to walk the shadows and help him.
“Come on, let’s go,” I murmured to her.
As we crept around the rocks and looked for the space that Jann had mentioned, the shadows were lengthening. The sun had reached the mountains behind us and was sinking quickly. Soon there would be enough darkness to shroud shadow walkers, even in this crowd.
But the moment I reached that space between the rocks and could look out over the crowd, I froze.
I found Melek immediately, standing in a wide circle that had been cleared, men pushing others back, and all those at the front had opened their wings wide, forming a barrier for anyone behind them.
Within that space, Melek stood, chin high and hands clenched at his sides, standing with his feet shoulder width apart, glaring across the space to the other man… who looked just as big, and perhaps even broader.
Melek was the largest Nephilim I’d ever seen. The few I’d seen who were taller were much lighter in their builds. So seeing this man who appeared to compete with him in size put my heart back in my throat.
The two walked a slow circle, watching each other as they moved, both of them looking for an opening to make an attack—or defend.
Then Melek raised his hand and pointed at the other male. I couldn’t catch what he said—there was a roar of laughter and protests from those nearby. But whatever it was, the other male roared and threw himself at Melek.
