Page 69 of The King is Dead
I turned my head, wanting to argue—six days? It was no time at all! But if the people would want to exalt her betrothal… when I met her eyes, I saw the resolve in her. And I knew she was right.
“You need to win the Council most of all, Melek. The rest of the people will follow if they see Turo and my advisors comfortable and trusting you.”
I snorted. “Turo willnevertrust me, even without me stealing his bride.”
“Once he gets over the shock, Turo will surprise you,” she insisted. “I just pray the others will listen quickly. They are very… protective of me.”
I grunted. “I find myself rather protective as well,” I muttered. “Though evenmyshield for you seems to pale in comparison to Turo’s. The man sees himself as your Keeper,” I said darkly, finally putting words to the uneasiness I’d had since he showed up in our war camp.
Yilan sighed again. “Once you are named my mate and our King, Turo will no longer see himself as the… solution to those problems. Right now he still believes I am his to protect,” she said, her lips twisting with distaste.
I growled, but she put her hand to my chest, right where the bond thrummed, and held my gaze.
“No, Melek. Don’t be angry with him. Have compassion. He’s hurting. None of us do our best when we’re desperate.”
Reluctantly, I didn’t argue with her. I certainly hadn’t been the best of myself lately. I couldn’t deny that desperation pushed a man to ragged edges. But still…
“I’ll do my best to remember that he means well,” I muttered.
Yilan’s forehead was still pinched, but she gave a small smile. “Thank you,” she murmured, then leaned forward to kiss me softly. When she pulled back, she let go of my hand to stroke my face. “I pray that one day you both see the truth about each other so that you can… well, perhaps friendship is too much to ask.”
I snorted, but she shot me a warning look.
“I know one day you two will ally. You’re both good, honorable men, with great strength. Trust me,” she added when I gave her a skeptical look. “But also… keep in mind, Melek, that you won,” she murmured.
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean… you won. You won my heart. My bond. My crown. Mydevotion.He has worked for that for years now. It isn’t just a blow to his pride. I think… I think he truly feels for me. I’m hurting him. But I will not step away from this. From you. I know this is right. I’m just asking you to be… gentle on him.”
I raised my brows. “The man threatened to kill me, then to breach your instructions and free me.”
Her face grew tight. “When the times comes I’ll address that with him. But for now… compassion, Melek. Please?”
I growled, but drew her in, shoving down the jealousy that wanted to rise at the idea that she advocated for another male. But I loved her heart, and her wisdom.
“I will do my best.”
She tipped her head, but I growled again.
“I mean what I say, Yilan. I will do my best. The man is a fly, buzzing at me. Sometimes it’s reflex to swat him away. But… I’ll remember what you’ve said and Iwilltry.”
She took a deep breath. “Then… Thank you,”
And then she snuggled into my chest in a way that had me right back at the beginning, wanting to say to hell with everything else, and just plunge into her and never leave.
I would have to guard against the Fallen offering me that very thing. It would tempt me beyond anything else.
24. Forward
~ YILAN ~
Melek slept before I did. It took some time for my body to relax. I used that hour to drink in the sight of him and to reach Diadre through the link, that pinch of grief coming again that I couldn’t do the same with Melek.
‘I need clothes for him. No later than sunset.’
‘I take it things have gone well?’
‘Between us? Yes. But the bigger picture is… extremely foggy.’
