Page 8 of The King's Man
The relief slackened my shoulders. “Thank you, brother.”
“No, thank you… This new shitshow would be maddening if you weren’t the one going. I’m not sure I could make myself stay.”
“We’ll travel as quickly as possible. I’ll find her—and Gall—and get you answers.”
Melek clasped my arm, then pulled me into an embrace. We slapped each other’s backs, and I found myself… tight chested. Then with another muttered thank you, Melek left me to walk across the tent to Yilan and speak quietly to her.
“Let them go, Love. They’re going to find them.”
Yilan nodded, but her shoulders slumped. She handed Diadre one more note.
Melek drew her away from the desk and towards me. Yilan lifted her head to meet my eyes, tears still threatening in her own. “Thank you, Jann. I’m… I’m very glad it’s you. Please… please find Gall as well.”
I assured her I would, and hoped Diadre had heard her Queen’s vote of confidence in me. But there was no time to explore it. I spent the next hour in my tent, packing as I called in and spoke with my officers, some of whom were newly promoted after yesterday’s battle. I explained the circumstances, and theimportance of the mission. Made certain they all understood who they were reporting to in my absence, and what action to take in the event of my demise.
That seemed prudent since I’d be sleeping unguarded with Diadre nearby.
When everything was in place, I threw a bag over my shoulder and hurried out to where the horses were kept because we were in what was the former battle camp—the camp Melek and I used to visit with Gault for short trips, the one that followed the soldiers into war. Not the strategic camp where Gault had led and ruled from. So, we didn’t yet have access to the powerful Khalrion stallions that belonged to the crown. Melek would need to collect them.
Still, my brother had made certain we were given the best animals, so I nodded my thanks to him as I tied my bag on to the back of my horse’s saddle.
Yilan was also there with Diadre, the Queen whispering more messages, while Diadre nodded and reassured her.
Melek stepped up next to me, pretending to check my horse’s girth, but it was really to murmur to me where the women wouldn’t hear.
“She’s getting agitated again. I want to get her away from this and focused on another task. So I’m going to bid you farewell, brother. Farewell, andthank you.”
I squeezed his shoulder and nodded. “Do it. We’ll get moving. And we’ll do this as quickly as possible.”
With a final clasp of my forearm, Melek, his forehead lined with grief and stress, turned around and gathered up his mate, putting an arm around her waist and gently tugging her away from Diadre with hushed reassurances and reminders that we couldn’t find them until we were on the road.
I mounted my horse, but before I nudged him forward, I sat for a moment, watching them go. So close. So connected. Evenwalking through a muddy camp, their strides were in time. Their bodies never parted. Their senses tuned to each other. They were truly aPair.
I’d never felt that connected to another beingever.
I caught myself yearning—then captured the errant thought and shook it off.
“Come on,” I muttered to Diadre, heeling my horse into a walk.
Diadre mounted, gathered up her reins, and nudged her mare forward as well. But watching her gloved hand move sent a sizzle down my spine and flashed a memory of that moment she had placed that calloused palm on my chest.
I frowned, unease churning in my chest. What could it be? Was she a sorcerer? Or—
“I thought being so big didn’t have to mean slow, but dear God, Jann. You’re not riding a snail.”
I blinked and looked up. Diadre was halfway down the path, already near the trees at the edge of the forest. She’d stopped her horse and turned to call back to me because I’d been so lost in thought, I’d kept my horse at the walk.
The cheeky bitch was grinning at me.
I muttered a curse and spurred my horse into a canter, breezing past her, ignoring her squawk and pretending indifference when her animal tried to keep up with mine.
But my breath was too quick and my skin tingled.
The vision of that small hand on my chest, right over my heart. The electric crackle that shot through my veins and out to my limbs in that moment…
There was a word trying to rise on the horizon of my mind, but I would not let it.
It could not be.
