Page 40 of The King is Dead
Melek growled, but I wasn’t having it.
“You know the truth and hold it to be petty—to stop yourself fromgiving in,”I hissed at my mate. “And meanwhile, you don’t just hurt me. You hurteveryone.And you!” I snapped at Turo, whose eyes widened. “You are my General—notmy father! You will never again march me through these halls like a petulant child, or I will clampyouin irons! I am inexperienced,notnaïve. You do not understand what has happened here and ignoring my words will not give you clarity.”
I started towards the door, cursing under my breath through gritted teeth. Fear, hope, anger and despair all coiled together in my chest. “Bend your fucking necks,both of you!”
Then I stormed out… leaving Turo there.
And praying they wouldn’t kill each other.
12. Open Your Eyes
SOUNDTRACK:Relentlessby Lost Stars
~ MELEK ~
A piece of my soul left the room with her when she stormed out. I forgot my anger and confusion, and all I cared about was that she wept. I could feel her torment through the bond, whether she showed it to others or not.
But this fucker was standing there snarling at me, andhe had laid hands on her.
I turned on the Shadekin General, measuring him. I stood a foot taller than him and probably twice his weight. But I had never denied his skill. A smaller, faster enemy could do serious damage. Turo was not to be underestimated. Still, I ignored the bars and faced him as if I was free so he’d know the only reason he was still breathing was because of those fucking lines of steel.
“If you ever touch her against her will again, I will remove the offending limb,” I growled at him. “With my teeth.”
Turo’s expression turned incredulous. “You speak tomeof unwanted advances? You may have deceived her about your intentions, but I am no fluttering virgin. Neither am I ignorant ofher.She did not give her body without believing she was received with love, you piece of shit. You won’t fool me.”
Yilan’s bond-vowed.I knew she was a virgin when we bonded. But his words… it was clear their relationship hadn’t beenjustpolitics. A growl began in my toes and rolled up and out of my fuckingsoul.Turo responded by stalking closer, right up to the bars where I could reach him if I moved quickly.
He wasn’t a coward. I’d give him that.
I gritted my teeth and folded my arms to stop myself going straight for his throat as he challenged me with his eyes, his chin jutting forward.
His hand was on the hilt of his sword, his grip tightening and loosening as if he was considering using it.
Ah, not simple courage then. The man wantedvengeance.
I let my eyes drift down to show him that I’d seen his intention, then met his eyes with one brow high.
The General of the Fetch was disciplined. He showed little expression. But there were dark circles under his eyes. His jaw flexed as he gritted his teeth. And the lines in his face had deepened with stress.
I imagined it was something like how I would look if I thought he’d raped her and she was keeping him around.
“I’m seriously considering killing you,” he said bluntly.
“Convincing yourself of my black sin would not absolve you of that crime,” I muttered. “Nor will it change the past.”
His eyes narrowed and gleamed like the edge of a blade. “I don’t care what happened between you. I only care how you manipulated her,” he seethed. “Whatever you did, whatever promises you offered to convince her to fall into your bed, it has broken her. She is not the woman who left us—and that’s onyou.”
I huffed. “Perhaps her life of deception and serving shadows is what broke her?”
Turo’s hand tightened on his sword. “Servingshadows?You—youspeak ofherserving shadows? Are you joking, or merely stupid?”
“I’m sure you’ll enlighten me.”
“You can play the hero for her, or anyone else you choose—but I was there. I walked among your people. Isaw with my own eyesthe brutality of your brothers and your King. If you cannot see the difference between a shadow walker, and someone who serves darkness, then you are blinded by the midnight of your soulless heart,” he hissed.
I growled, but he continued.
“Yilan is the most loyal and honorable person—not just woman, mind you—that I have ever met. She has beentirelessin her effortsto keep us and our land safe, even putting her life on the line to go afteryou.And instead of the hero’s welcomeshedeserves, instead of the reassurance and safety ofherhome, you are here,stealingher from us!”
