Page 76 of The King is Dead
“No. Walk with me.”
I started past him, nodding to receive the soldier’s bows again and pretending I was unconcerned when Turo quickly muttered orders, sending them towards the tower staircase as he followed me.
Diadre kept her chin down, but remained at my shoulder, and I was grateful for her quiet support.
Turo took two quick steps to catch up with me, his hand white-knuckled on the hilt of his sword. “Yilan,” he hissed under the level of our footsteps on the stone. “This isinsane.”
“No, it’s not,” I said quietly, keeping my face as serene as I could, eyes forward. “Though I do understand why you think so. I ask you to trust me.”
“I do trust you—it’shimI refuse to—”
I stopped walking and turned to face him. Turo drew up at my toes, hand still on his sword, his shoulders tense and broad, glaring down at me.
I kept my voice low and firm. “You call me Majesty. You have served me loyally, and my parents before me.”
“And gladly,” he replied abruptly. “And it is precisely because I trulycarethat I will not simply accept—”
“You have always commended my judgment. Please do so again,” I said tightly.
There was a beat of silence when he stared at me, then he leaned in and muttered. “Your judgement is for shit if you are loosing Nephilim among us—in the Palace itself!”
I gritted my teeth at the disrespect, but I’d always preferred it when Turo didn’t treat me as if I was breakable. I supposed I should be grateful that he wasn’t a simple yes-man.
“We will see,” I said. “But my orders remain. And you will not undermine them.”
His jaw dropped when I turned on my heel to begin walking again.
But then there was a low shout and the ring of a drawn sword.
I whirled to find one of the guards who’d come with Turo standing in the middle of the hall, facing the tower stairwell, his sword extended before him as he backed up defensively.
And Melek.
Melek emerging from the stairwell like a gleaming, onyx God.
Even from this distance he was breathtaking.
27. Alpha Male Bullsh*t
~ YILAN ~
Head and shoulders taller than any us, so broad he would need to turn sideways through some of our single doors. He was massive, sleek, and black as midnight. The torches and sconces of the hallway made the leather he wore gleam gold.
The soldier who’d been startled didn’t move, and looked slightly sheepish when this dark angel of a man only gave him a glance, then turned and stalked up the corridor towards us, his eyes lighting first on me, then on Turo.
I felt the clench in the bond, and sent him a rush of reassurance, but kept my face blank,hatingthat it was necessary, when all I wanted to do was drink him in as he strode towards us, his long legs eating up the distance, his thick body making the hallway appear much narrower and shorter than it usually did.
“Curse my fucking life,” Turo muttered, turning with his hand still on his weapon, to face Melek as my mate approached, his chin high and eyes hooded, but darting. Taking in every detail of the surrounding space and the people within it.
I was touched when he reached us and ignored Turo, instead dropping to one knee, bowing his head as he offered a salute with his fist to his chest.
“Your Majesty, I am grateful for your mercy,” he rumbled. Turo’s eyes narrowed.
“I trust you,” I said bluntly, daring any of them to defy me. “Please tell the men what you need. They will help. In fact…” I turned to one of the soldiers who’d remained in a cross-hall, obviously appointed by Turo to follow Melek if he took that route. “Please find me a runner—I need the staff advised that the General is free to roam, and should be assisted with food and drink, or whatever he requires.”
“I can wait for dinner,” Melek offered casually.
I nodded like I was hosting him. “Then please, make use of the next couple of hours. We’ll take the evening meal in my dining room with Turo and some of the others when the bells ring. The Council will meet after breakfast tomorrow. If you need directions to the chambers, the servants will aid you.”
