Page 105 of The King's Man
My chest expanded as I inhaled, my heart squeezing with joy and hope. A moment later I tipped her chin up so she had to meet my eyes again.
“That is the most wonderful gift anyone has ever given me,” I whispered. “And hear me: I’m glad it’s you, too.”
Then I kissed her again—slow and deep, whispered promises against her lips, then turned and carried her back to the water to wash. Then we would eat. Then we would sleep. Then we would wake and I would have her again.
I would have her every moment that I could. Because nothing in this life was ever guaranteed.
Except for the fact that I would want my mate every day with a hollow ache that could not be filled by any but her.
39.Is This You?
~ DIADRE ~
It was shocking flying into view of the Zaryndar Capitol. The sorcerers that ruled Zaryndar were artists, not warriors. Their cities and structures were beautiful. But now, months after they’d been conquered, the Capitol remained a near-ruin.
At first glance in the dim light of creeping dawn, I was convinced that my eyes deceived me.
“Gault ordered it looted. Stripped.”
“Destroyed?” I breathed.“Why?”
“Because he valued power over wealth,” Jann muttered, descending quickly in case the guards could see us against the growing light.
There were only a few more moments to see the ruined city before we dropped into the trees and my view was obscured, but those moments turned my stomach.
I’d understood that the Neph were conquerors… but this?
The Spire City—as it was named, because the Zaryndar had erected their center of government on the peak of a hill, then built the city around it in an ever-increasing, downward spiral—was a wreck. The massive city wall remained at its base, though I caught sight of one rubbled breach spilling away from the south-western end like a collapsing sandcastle. But though the Zaryndar were artists and musicians and sorcerers, within the walls, the city which had always been a beacon of light and music was nowblack.Not a single twinkling light to guide traveling souls closer. The brightly colored tiled roofs that protected the Zaryndar from the beating sun of the plains in summer were either scarred black, or had been torn apart, leaving gaping holes like the city’s jaws were missing teeth.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up as Jann lowered us to the forest floor. He unbuckled me quickly, muttering about needing food before we rested because we wouldn’t enter the city until night, but I barely heard him.
When I was free, I turned to face him, untangling our bound arms, and he went still, watching me warily.
“Is that what you do?”
He frowned. “Eat? Yes, quite a lot.”
I glared. “No, Jann—that city. Is that what you do when you win?”
“Defeat our enemies? Yes,” he said tightly. “And before you judge me too harshly, remember I have been in a war camp when the Fetch were interfering. I’ve seen your people eviscerate your enemies without ever showing your faces. At least we stand in the carnage. Don’t let your nose rise too high.” He said the words gruffly, but his lips twitched on the edge of a smile.
“This isn’t funny! The Spire City was stunning! It’s a ruin now!”
“Not exactly. You’ll see when we get closer. But yes, demonstrating to a people that they have been well and trulyconquered is critical to keeping down rebellion,” he said. “I’ll start on the fire, you can—”
He’d turned away to pick up the bags we’d dropped, but I used the tie on our wrists to pull him back around to face me.
“Jann,no.”
He went still, his eyes dark. “No,what?”
“Don’t try to distract me,” I said through my teeth. “Is this what the whole continent is like? Is everyone living in the mud? Is that what youwant?”
Jann’s jaw tightened. “Tell me, Diadre, when you follow orders, are they always what you personallywant?”
“Of course not, but—”
“And in your career as a soldier and leader, have you humiliated your enemies?”
