Page 70 of The King is Dead
‘I can’t wait to know the man who has befuddled my very capable Queen,’my friend sent easily.
‘You’ll get your chance. Pray for us. This is going to be a nightmare.’
‘I’m sure between the two of you, you’ll figure it out. And the rest will follow.’
‘He is insisting that the people have a chance to see him handle himself before we acknowledge the bond—he says it’s the only way they’ll trust him.’
There was a heavy pause from Diadre that made my stomach drop. But I should have known she’d see clearly.
‘A man who values his own character? Among theNephilim?Hemustbe a gift from God!’
I smirked, but stifled the giggle because I didn’t want to wake the man in question. My heart did throb with a new rush of love for him, though. He must have felt it because he stirred and pulled meharder against his side. I lay my hand on his chest and stayed still until his breathing evened out again.
‘We need the clothing, Diadre. And it needs to be… things that will not humble him. I need them to see his strength.’
‘Don’t worry. It’s handled. I’ll make sure there’s at least one set outside the door before sunset.’
‘Thank you, my friend.’
‘You can show your gratitude by introducing me to his brother, if he has one.’
I blinked… I didn’t know if Melek had siblings. We’d never spoken of it. How was it possible I knew so little of his family? But then I remembered, his mother had died after giving birth to him. A plight he said was shared by most Nephilim.
God, it made me sick.
‘He doesn’t. But trust me, you don’t want one of these brutes anyway. They’re stubborn as oxen and they eat like horses.’
‘All the cattle references lead me to believe there might also be advantages?’
I could feel my cheeks heating and caught myself pressing my thighs tighter together.I spluttered and almost woke Melek again, but she was laughing through the bond.
‘Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’m teasing…’
Even though I wasn’t afraid to talk about sex, somehow things with Melek felt different. More… sacred? I was eager to change the subject and grateful when Diadre took pity on me and shifted the conversation to strategy for introducing Melek to the people.
‘I think we’ll take him to Council first. They’re expecting me tomorrow morning. If you could have the wielders remove the hexes on the windows, he could fly us to the roof and we can take the servants stairs down so we avoid most eyes…’
We spoke a few more minutes, then I was grateful to let go of the link and just relax into Melek’s shoulder.
My heart trilled at the thought of having him with me in the Palace. Of sitting at his side at Council. Of sharing the privacy of my suite and—
Holy shit. How was I going to get him in my suite without a ruckus among the Court if no one knew he was my mate?
I muttered a curse under my breath and started picking apart the problem, looking for a solution—I wasnotputting Melek anywhere else in the Palace—as my eyelids grew heavy.
But there were too many details. Too many obstacles. Too many unknowns. I fell asleep without answers to tumble into endless dreams of Melek disappearing, being assassinated, leaving me because of the crown, and a dozen other nightmares…
…and woke to the ragged cry of my mate.
“Yilan—Love,what’s wrong?”
As my eyes dragged open, stinging and blurry, a massive hand clawed my hair back and I blinked until his handsome face came into focus, leaning over me, his forehead lined and his eyes searching mine.
“I… it was just a dream,” I croaked, then cleared my throat. “Did I wake you?”
“You were crying my name.”
I shuddered, turning to look at the rose-gold dawn seeping the windows and letting that warm glow chase back the dark images in my mind of Melek, his body bloodied and torn, but still crawling towards me, screaming at me to run, to get away, while he was pinned to the earth by spear after spear—
