Page 4 of The King is Dead
She was hurting. I could feel it in that space in my chest thatwasher.
She was hurt. Angry. And scared. Like a child. But she was trying to fight it.
I love you.
Melek… please.
I’d never seen her so frank. So vulnerable. The openness in her gaze. The humility. Thepleading.It had taken everything in me not to give in and groan, reach for her through those fucking bars—but I’d caught myself.
I had made myself turn my back on her to start eating to reclaim my balance, though the cheese and fruit tasted like sawdust in my mouth. But I needed the sustenance to help me shore up my defenses. Because I had to be on defense. She’d left me no choice!
Do you hear me, Melek? You said God chooses rulers. Well, He chose you as my mate… that makes you King of the Shadekin. Chosen by God…
It couldn’t be. It had to be a lie. A strategy.
Yet, what did she gain? If this had been nothing but a political ploy to defeat the Kingdom of the Krow, she’d done that by slitting Gault’s throat. My people were now in chaos. And, if she’d wantedto remove me so I couldn’t lead or fight, she’d already had me drugged and helpless. She could have slit my throat, too.
If she wanted to pin Gault’s death on me, why take me away and leave me looking like a possible victim?
It had to be a lie. A strategy.But I couldn’t yet see it.
What did she gain by putting me in a position of power over herpeople? Why would anyone take a weapon and place it to their own throat—
Then I blinked. A memory roaring back to me from across the years, back in the days when I was a fledgling fighter.
Combat strategy.Sheathing the spear…
It was a warrior’s last defense. When an enemy was well-matched—or even stronger—and the fighter began to tire, fearing defeat, he might open himself to a wounding blow. Open himself intentionally to take the blade in the place of his choosing, sheath the spear in his own flesh, and in so doing get close enough to his overconfident foe to land a killing blow.
It was a huge risk, and only to be taken as a last resort.
Surely, she wouldn’t… Would she?
Then I scoffed at how deeply even my thoughts were still twined in her thrall.
Yilan was a Queen who’d entered the battle alone, had allowed herself to be taken, manipulated me and others, and appeared trapped when she wasn’t. She had flirted with my best friend and one of our most skilled Captains, formed a bond with my son, and told me to leave her with Gault when he threatened to torture and rape her. Then shekilled the Kingwithout hesitation the moment the opportunity presented.
Would she sheath the spear if she thought it would bring her victory? Yes, she would. She’d do anything she thought necessary. I’d watched her kill without flinching.
She was ruthless, cunning, and far stronger than she appeared.
Also giving, thoughtful, passionate—
I hissed and pushed the unbidden thoughts away.
I had to stop looking at this as if she wereonlya woman. She was not.
She was a Queen. She was an assassin.
And, God curse me, she was mymate.
Now… what the hell was she up to?
~ YILAN~
I had forgotten about Turo.
Fuck.
