Page 47 of The King's Man
“Like you did with Yilan? To save her from being torn apart in a frenzy?Yes,”I snapped back. “But not in private.”
Melek shrugged, nodding his agreement. “Well then… if you’re serious… we have a long road ahead and we can’t afford for the Queen’s energy to be sucked by a needy Advisor and friend.” He turned to look at me, bristling with authority. “Help her, Jann. Make the same choices you’d make with a male soldier—makeher find her nerve again. Don’t let her fail.”
I never took my eyes off the women, nodding to agree with him, because that’s what was needed. But inwardly?
Inwardly, I wondered how the hell I was supposed to treat mymatelike any kind of male, let alone a soldier?
19.Where Am I?
~ DIADRE ~
The first meeting of Melek’s new King’s council was eye-opening. There was a large tent not far from the King’s that was empty of any personal effects, but held a large table and a dozen chairs. Only eight of them were filled.
Yilan sat at Melek’s right and Jann placed me at his.
I was surprised to see that neither of the young officers who’d come with Jann into Theynor were in the Advisory Council. But apart from the four of us, there were only four others, and Melek had warned us before we entered the tent that they were four strong men with the self-discipline to be an example of the new principles. Each of them came from powerful families, which would galvanize Melek’s support when word reached Ebonreach, the Nephilim’s homeland.
I was introduced to the four when we sat down, but to my dismay, their names left my head as quickly as they’d entered. Iwould have to ask Yilan to remind me when we were alone.
The thought was a pang in my chest. I’d always prided myself on learning and remembering the names of soldiers I met, whether they reported directly to me or not. It was a simple way to prove that, as a leader, I didn’t overlook them.
These men were clearly leaders in their own rights—and admiring of Melek. I prayed I wouldn’t have reason to remember their individual names before we left the tent. And cursed myself for the oversight.
I was exhausted, stressed, and not myself. And when we first began discussing the strategy for Melek’s next moves, I struggled to take anything in. For a moment, I panicked that perhaps the events of the day before had actually stolen my wits. I’d been feeling shaky and fragile ever since, even in moments when IknewI was safe.
I must have twitched one too many times in my seat, because to my surprise, Jann’s hand landed softly on my knee, pressing gently down.
My breath caught. The instinct was to slap him away, but I caught myself. His head was turned towards Melek, his hand below the level of the table. None of them knew he touched me, and there was no accompanying smirk. He didn’t touch to be suggestive. He was grounding me.
I blinked.
He was fuckinggroundingme.
It was a technique I’d been taught—and taught to others—as my responsibilities increased. Soldiers regularly faced difficult and stressful circumstances. If they panicked, or anxiety was high, a firm but painless physical touch was often the fastest and most discreet way to bring them back to their right minds.
Of course, the technique also worked with horses.
I couldn’t decide if I was grateful, or offended. But I also couldn’t deny that a minute later I was finally able to hear the voices at the table. Truly hear them.
And what I heard left me… strangely reassured.
It was my first time seeing Melek in his element—surrounded by men whose loyalty he trusted, and standing on the solid ground of his newfound crown. There was no hesitation in him. The other men followed accordingly.
But the biggest surprise to me was Jann.
If anyone had asked me to describe him after our first meeting, I would have spat words likecockyandasshole.The legends that followed the man painted a picture of strength and political savvy—but in my experience, men strong enough and notorious enough to spur that kind of lore were very impressed with themselves. And usually so selfish as to be narcissistic.
I’d doubted Jann’s motives from the first day—initially only trusting him at all because Melek did. But recent events had challenged my assumptions about the man. And now…
Now I sat at a table of power and watched him humbly, but relentlessly, position himselfbehindMelek. In posture, in his words, in his spoken intentions. He left no doubt to any man—or woman—at that table, that should they question Melek, they would deal withhim.
When he first spoke up during introductions to the new Council, unequivocally laying his sword at Melek’s beck and call, my natural skepticism expected to see him beggar himself. I waited for ass-kissing. For the ways he might seek Melek’s approval in front of others.
I had no respect for a man who rolled on his back and submitted his strength before one leader, only to use the approval to lord over others.
But to my shock, after being formally named Melek’s General, Jann did not fawn. He did not appease. He quickly andefficiently outlined the obstacles Melek may face, the support needed from those at the table—and those they led—and he made no apologies for his quiet confidence. As I sat there, muddled and uncertain in my mind, he exuded certainty, and clarity.
As the discussion continued between the men who would determine how and when Melek and Yilan would make their final claim to the throne in Ebonreach—and how the search for Gall and Istral should be prioritized alongside that—Jann challenged where challenge was needed, but otherwise offered his input with confidence, and accepted instruction from his King.
