Page 155 of The King's Man
And as we dried off and discussed washing our clothes in the lake because all that movement had loosened up my back and I was feeling improved, I thanked God for her.
And prayed—fervently and repeatedly—that He’d keep her safe when I couldn’t. Because I wanted more moments like this. Many, many more.
Please.
53.Hold Tightly
~ DIADRE ~
An hour later, our now-clean clothes thrown over nearby bushes to dry in the daytime sun, we were both drowsy. I hadn’t slept much of the night because I’d been rushing to get what we needed and get back to Jann. He’d slept for more than a day, but it was clear he’d needed it because the moment he dropped back into the hammock murmuring about restingfor a moment,his eyes dragged closed.
Unable to resist, I crawled into the hammock with him, held to his side by his long arm and the side of the hammock, free hand flat on his chest and my head on his shoulder.
The hammock swung again—less frantically now and it was very soothing. The warm strength of his body easing some of the tension from me. I had my eyes closed, but was still awake when he spoke, his voice rumbling in his chest under my ear.
“This is… precious, Dee.”
I nodded and flattened my hand on his chest. “It is. And Idon’t want to risk it.”
“Then accept that we know what we need to know from the Centaurs and stay with me tonight,” he muttered softly—not angrily.
I swallowed and took a deep breath, but snuggled deeper into him. “Be honest… do you really think you can fly tomorrow?”
He’d told me before about that flight—called it harrowing. He said it had to be taken in the warmest part of the day because the mountains were so tall the air grew thin, and the weather was usually ice storms. He’d said the reason the Raven Peaks were such a good barrier to Ebonreach was because it took everything the Nephilim had to cross them. People on foot didn’t stand a chance.
I knew he was capable of it. Had made that flight many times. But he was already exhausted. And I was afraid he felt he had tobe strong,because lives were at stake.
“It’s the only way to get across,” he muttered, not answering my question.
“I know. But… tomorrow?”
He squirmed, obviously testing his back. Then he sighed. “No,” he finally admitted, reluctantly. “Not over the Peaks.”
“Then we wait,” I said firmly. “And if we’re waiting, I can get to that scribe and send a message to Melek and Yilan.”
He nodded reluctantly. We spent a few more moments swinging slowly and I thought the conversation was over. That we would sleep. But then he cleared his throat.
“The world has gone mad,” he said softly. “Melek and I find mates among the Fetch?” he murmured breathily. “Gall claims the crown—and is violent towardsbabes?The Centaurs attack without speaking and my allies have disappeared… What the hell is going on?”
I put my arm over his chest and squeezed him to me. “There’s only one way to find out. “
“But that way puts you at threat and I find myself suddenly reluctant, Dee,” he admitted softly. “I am no coward. But to lose you… even the thought chills me.”
I knew the feeling. When he said it like that my spine tingled, and not in the good way. When I thought of him walking into any kind of battle now—despite knowing he’d been right at Melek’s side all the way across the Continent… despite having watched him slaughter his way through the Neph that defied Melek… despite knowing that with the possible exception of Melek, there was no stronger warrior on this continent… even a Neph General was mortal.
The wrong stab of a spear. The arrow from an unseen archer. The blow of a sneaky enemy…
And that wasn’t even bringing the Fallen into it.
“Have you met the Fallen before?” I asked him quietly, afraid to hear the answer.
He nodded. “I have. Though not often.” His voice was tight, as if he’d prefer not to think about it. “They are… strange.”
“Strange how?”
“They are of this world, and yet, not of it. There is an ancient wisdom there, yet it’s colored by evil. They speak of God like a brother they are at odds with. And they speak of humanity both as gnats to be flicked away, and with a weight that implies the world’s greatest treasure. And they… know you,” he said uncomfortably, his body shifting in the hammock again.
“Know you?”
