Page 65 of The King is Dead
“Together?” she hissed,incredulous. “I couldn’t get you to agree to not sacrifice yourself. Now you’re preaching that we have to walk thistogether?”
I growled. “I am in cage—a cell in which you were able to imprison me because I trusted you. You drugged me, dragged me across an entire nation, then put me in here while I still slept. I think webothhave lessons to learn ontogetherness.”
She dropped her eyes, but I took her chin and made her look at me again.
“Do you have any more secrets from me?” I asked her bluntly.
She shook her head. “None. Anything I haven’t told you is simple oversight. I’m hiding nothing,” she murmured back.
“Me too. So now we need to step ahead as we should have before.”
She nodded, but I wasn’t done.
“Yilan, hear me: You are my mate. My One. You were made for me. You are also a Queen. Born to the crown with a responsibility to shield and lead your people. And I… I acknowledge that God does not make mistakes. He made me your mate. And as much as it terrifies me, that means he intended me to be King of your people.”
A shadow that had been living in her gaze vanished and her breath rushed out of her. “Melek, I’m so happy to hear you—”
“We have to do this hand-in-hand, but we also have to make room for… for what God has given us in each other,” I said grimly. “I come to this from a life of fighting and discipline. So I can only assume that I am intended to bring all my experience and wisdom to the crown.”
“Of course!” she replied, beginning to smile. “That’s what I’ve been saying!”
I shook my head. “Then I need you to acknowledge that we need to do this in a way that is best for the people outside this room. No matter who it hurts.”
She frowned. “But of course. I’m a Queen, Melek, you think I don’t prioritize my people?”
“I do. But Iknowhow crucial the first moments when I am introduced to your leaders and powerful people will be. If their first glimpse of me is as your mate and their King, they’ll never see past that. I will either forever be your mate, only carryingyourauthority. Or an enemy who used you to steal their nation. I don’t relish either of those. I need to earn their trust, not simplyrequireit. They need to measureme without that authority hanging over their heads. Let me help first. Let me… show myself to them.”
She stared at me silently, her lips pursed. “Days ago—hours ago—you refused to even consider a crown. Refused to admit that God had one for you. Now you want to earn it?”
“If I am truly to be a leader, I don’t want their spines bent with gritted teeth. I want them to follow willingly. Toseeme—and to know I see them. I want to earn at least a piece of the respect they will need to give me before I start issuing orders.”
“And if things at the front worsen, and we’re suddenly at war—with yourpeople?”
I growled, my entire body stiffening. It was my worst nightmare. But these were the moments when my training kicked in. No matter how I might hate it, there was only one answer here.
“If I have learned anything, it is that God’s purpose will overtake us, no matter how we feel about it. If the war progresses, we’ll have no choice but to tell them, and pray they’ll believe I’m not a spy who manipulated you. Honestly, I don’t like our chances.”
She sighed heavily. “And what about you, Melek?” she murmured. “How are yougoing to feel when I put a crown on your head, especially if we’re marching against yourpeople?”
I shook my head. “I cannot… I don’t know, Yilan. I only know that it is mydeepestdesire to find a way through this without further bloodshed. Or with an opportunity for my men to follow, as you’re so convinced that they will.”
“They will, Melek. If you’re willing—”
I put a hand up. “One battle at a time, Yilan. We start at the beginning. First, let me showyourpeople I can be trusted. Then… then we’ll figure out mine.”
My voice was dark, heavy with dread and she caught it, dragging in a deep breath as she put her hand to my face. “I’m so tired of holding secrets, Melek,” she whispered.
My rage wanted to burn—she’d lied and hidden things from me since the moment we met! But the rush that came from her through the bond was… heady.
She loved me.
She had missed me.
She trusted me.
I sighed. “I’m glad to hear that.”
I had to let go of the anger. I knew that. But even as the hot fire of rage eased aside, it was only to uncover resignation and fear in its shadow.
