Page 192 of The King is Dead
“I am not—”
“If you won’t give me your word, I’ll be forced to shadow you whenever possible, looking for opportunities to release myself from the debt,” I said, working hard not to smile because her repulsion at the idea of my presence was obvious.
Had I not meant every word, I would have howled watching her pretty little mind try to weigh the displeasure of giving me what I wanted against the threat of my constant presence.
Her lips went tight and her chin rose as she fought with herself about it, then finally, shoved the breath she was holding out of her nostrils and rolled her eyes.
“Fine,” she muttered and dropped her arms, flapping a hand at me. “You have my word that if I am ever inneed,I’ll ask for your help.”
“Thank you.”
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Is there anything else? Or—” she broke off, staring at me. Then her eyes narrowed again and she leaned closer, examining me, her eyes searching mine.
Confused, I just stared back at her until she straightened again and tilted her head.
“Are you true, Jannus? Do you even serve my King and Queen? Or are you a traitor, just waiting for your moment—”
I growled and pushed to my feet. “I’ll ignore your rudeness andridiculousspite, but—”
“Ridiculous?!”
“Yes, ridiculous! If you want to be respected as a soldier, don’t drag yourfeelingsinto every decision—”
She gave an offended huff, but I wasn’t finished.
“—and measure the merits of a man for his character! Since you can’t seem to stop acting like an embarrassed adolescent, let me help you: Melek is the most admirable male and powerful Nephilim in existence. I believe in himsodeeply, I rejected staking my claim to the throne, because I knew he’d do it better!”
“So you say—”
“So itwas.You can kick dirt in my face, insult me, and dismiss my value as much as you like. I will take your criticism and move on, as a soldier should. But donot…”I stepped closer, looming over her, but leaning down so our noses almost touched, snarling just as vehemently as she had moments earlier. “…Donotquestion my loyalty to my best friend that I call brother.You will not survive it, life debt, or no.”
Her jaw rolled, her eyes sparking like flint on steel. “That’s a very pretty speech for someone whose eyes are still yellow,” she muttered.
I blinked and almost stumbled. I wasn’t moving, but it felt like the earth shifted under my feet.
“And Melek’s making you General? Well,shit.”She gave another deeply skeptical huff and shook her head. “Maybe I should let you follow me after all. Keep anhonorableeye on you,” she growled like a pissed off kitten.
“That won’t be necessary.” I tried to make the words strong, but my voice was faint.
She caught it, and smiled. Then, to my shock, lifted a hand and patted me on the chest. “Servant, I have—”
Something crackled where she touched me, a bolt of jangling pain that stabbed from her palm, under my skin and muscle, to slide home between my ribs.
For a split second I thought I’d been stabbed. But when we both gasped and jerked apart, gaping, panting, the pain ceased as soon as she removed her hand.
My breath froze in my lungs, and my heart thumped.
Her eyes went round. All pretense of disdain or anger dropped away.
She stared at me like she wasterrified.
I couldn’t breathe properly. My heart hammered in my chest. My skin felt too tight.
Then she began to visibly tremble.
“Diadre—” I breathed.
But, as if my voice were the momentum she needed, she jerked back a step, shaking her head, her lips forming at tortured“No!”as she scrambled away from me, tripping and almost falling over a body behind her.
