Page 68 of The King is Dead
Her eyes widened. She looks shocked. “Why do you think I’d ever give in? I have no desire—”
“Because, the Fallen aren’t Gault,” I growled. “They don’t start with simple intimidation or ignorant lies. They arefarmore… shrewd. Calculating. And aware of so much more of the world than us. What may appear to be a simple conversation or observation is an invitation, even if you can’t see it.”
“An invitation to what?”
“Anything. That’s how they work. They get you agreeing with them. Their words sound right.They speak your darkest heart back to you—fear, jealousy, thrill, desire—whatever pulls at you, they will bring it and present it to you. And if you agree… if you align… it’s as if… I don’t know how to explain it, Yilan, but it is as if they curl talons into your heart, and no matter how you might want to be free, you can’t stopbelievingthem. And once they have you…” I shuddered, remembering men—good men—who’d dealt with the Fallen and who became… unrecognizable.
Yilan swallowed hard. “Don’t agree. Resist. I will do that. What else is there?”
I sighed heavily, pulling her closer. “Fear. Fear is there, and they will use it against you. They will feed it. Tell you all the ways that God cannot be trusted—because it is His power that keeps you strong against them. If they can make you distrust, or fear Him, they’re winning. So don’t listen… and resist—but do not let them prod you tofight.You can’t fight them with your body. You’ll only exhaust yourself. You saw how it was when he attacked—no visible foe, and yet you could feel it, couldn’t you?”
She nodded.
“The fight against the Fallen happens in your soul. So give upnothing.Don’t be distracted or deceived into believing you can use your wiles and talents. There will be noassassinatingLucifer. He is immortal—they all are.”
Her head sank back and her eyes grew alarmed. “How do you fight an enemy that cannot be killed?”
“You can’t. Not in the normal way. Deal with them when they’re in front of you, otherwise forget about them because there’s nothing you can do anyway. When they appear, don’t listen. Don’t agree. And refuse anything they give—including the fight. There is nothing else.”
“What stops them simply slaughtering you, then?”
“I can only believe the answer is… God.”
Yilan’s throat bobbed and I traced it with a knuckle, praying through the bond she could feel the deep ache that clenched in my chest at the thought of her ever facing a Fallen alone. But I pushed that thought away as well, because there was nothing to be gained by using all my energy in fear of a thing that hadn’t happened yet.
I made myself focus.
“Until Lucifer returns, the bigger issue, the one we have to address now, is me finding my place here in Theynor. How I get to know your people, and they get to know me. If only we weren’t always so short on fucking time!” I hissed.
Yilan made a shushing noise and took my hand, clasping it between us and staring into my eyes. “I know they’re going to love you,” she whispered. “And I know we’re going to win this.”
I wasn’t so sure, but I stroked the back of her hand with my thumb.
Then her face went thoughtful and her brows pinched. “You said you’d be an asset—let them see you helping. I think that’s the best approach. Can you think of ways we might open lines of communication with the Neph who are on the frontline? Find out where they stand on possible peace? I think what’s needed is forward motion. As long as my men feel like they’re actively seeking a solution, they’ll be far more patient about not walking to war. But they need to see you providing the way to save lives in Theynor. Just as you saw me do for the Neph.”
I blinked. I’d forgotten how she’d taken that approach with me—providing needed and useful information to lower my defenses and…
The memory made me tense because it felt like a ploy. And yet, I knew she’d spoken the truth in those days. And now we were here…
God, my head was spinning. Every thought, every strategy leading directly to another problem or question. And none of them could be solvednow.
I rolled onto my back, pulled her into my side and tucked my free hand under my head as I considered the many and varied enemies we faced.
“Time,” I muttered. “More than anything, we needtime.”
“And yet, it is the resource in which we’re poorest,” she whispered. “Melek… are youcertainwe need to take these days to—”
“Yes,” I growled. “I’m certain it’s our best choice,” I said flatly. “We need more time, but we will take what we can.”
Yilan sighed. “Then, I say one week, Melek. Actually, six days. We can’t wait longer. The Jubilee occurs in five days. But the day after that is traditionally when I would celebrate my mate if I had one, or announce whom I choose to marry if I do not. We will hold to the tradition. I will dance the night ritual at the Jubilee and tell them the following day that you’re my mate. But that means until then, youmustmake inroads with my Advisors. Prepare them to open communication with the Nephilim. Then, after, we can reveal why you’re the best person to do so—because you are my mate, andtheirleader and the only peaceful bridge between our peoples.”
“Wait… the Jubilee is intended to announce your marriage?” I tensed. She hadn’t mentioned this.
Her lips pressed thin. “The Jubilee is a celebration of a royal woman’s value at an age when she is seen to be… reaching her peak. Traditionally, if she’s already married, she is celebrated by her husband. But if the union is brand new, or she hasn’t married… yes.”
I felt like my skin might shatter if I move. “Turo, he’ll be expecting to be chosen in this?” I said darkly.
She sighed, and shrugged. “The people will be expecting me to choose him. He knows something is wrong. But that doesn’t matter. I will chooseyou.It’s just a long time to wait.”
