Page 45 of The King is Dead
“But…Yilan,if that’s real… he’s ourKing!”
I made myself meet her gaze then, fierce and hard. “Andthatis exactly why I made you promise to saynothing,Diadre. Because he feels I betrayed him. He never wanted a crown. But I’ve told him. I’m giving him time to… think about it.”
“What is there to think about?! He’s appointed by God—”
“I know, but those are not his traditions. He thinks I’m trying to trap him, and he may yet sever the bond. If he does, he is not our King and—”
“Hestillthinks you betrayed him… by saving his life?”
I wanted to growl. “Yes!”
Diadre shook her head. “Fuckingmen.”
My heart rose. “I know!”
“Always so fucking sure of their course until you take action, then suddenlyyou’rethe problem.”
“Yes!” I gasped.
“So, now a whole Kingdom waits, with war on the horizon, because the King’s pride is wounded?”
“Well, I think it’s alittlemore than that, but—”
“Oh shit…”
I went quiet as Diadre locked eyes with me and went still.
“Turo,” she whispered.
I deflated like an emptied bladder.
14. Warrior Queen
~ YILAN ~
“Yes… Turo,” I sighed, shaking my head. “It’s breaking my heart.”
“You told him?” she gasped.
“No. I couldn’t. He’d fall apart—and then pick himself up and crown Melek. He’s such a stickler for protocol and… I couldn’t put him in that position only to have Melek deny it, or break the bond, or…”
“He thinks you’re stillbetrothed?!”Diadre hissed. “Yilan!”
“I haven’t had any choice!” I knew I sounded defensive. Iwas.“He’s been so worried, so convinced that I wasviolated, he’s been frantic. I ended up having to tell him that I… I gave myself to Melek, so he’d stop talking about how Melek had manipulated me and—”
“You told himwhat?!”
I sighed and sat up straighter, meeting eyes with my friend as I took a breath. “Nothing about this is good. Nothing is easy. And there isno wayto get through this without hurting him. Turo is a good man and he’s been loyal and… and selfless. But he is not my mate. And he will not be King.”
As Diadre shook her head in disbelief, I blinked back a fresh round of tears. “It’s hurting him terribly. He thought I was raped. Ihadto tell him I gave myself just so he’d stop being so frantic,convinced that I’m scared. Now he knows that much, but he’s… I’ve broken him. I know I have.”
“Well, of course,” Diadre said sadly. “He loves you.”
“I know.”
She blew out a breath and took another mouthful of wine. “He wasn’t right for you though.”
“Wait, what?” I stared at her, shocked. She’d never spoken against Turo. Not once. She was the first one I told when I asked him to marry me, and she celebrated with me. She was supposed to stand with me at the wedding…
