Page 176 of The King's Man
“You’re back!”
Whatever he said after that was drowned out by every Nephilim on the balcony turning to look at us with a surprised shout. I glanced at Jann, sending a rush of assurance through the bond, but I should have known.
The cocky bastard was back.
With barely a glance at the man who’d identified him, Jann looked towards a deeper cry, further away. He let his eyes scan the others—most of whom quickly stood aside, parting like flesh under a knife. A few called greetings, but Jann shrugged them off, muttering that he wasn’t there to socialize, but to see the King—and that tear between men opened faster, pulling aside to reveal the massive men at the center of the balustrade.
Two or three turned more slowly, but their brows rose, or they flinched and stepped aside until a huge figure in their midst was the only one not facing us. He stood, looking out to the gardens, wings out and draping behind him like a cape.
I caught sight of golden hair and a rugged jaw as someone touched his shoulder, and the murmurs ofJannusandHalflingfloated in the night air as everyone in that central cluster went still.
And then that figure right in the middle looked to his right as if someone had spoken to him, head snapping quickly towards us…
It was Gall.
60.Innocent Eyes
~ JANN ~
I couldn’t react. Couldn’t show any nerves as Gall turned.
Gall with his yellow eyes and sunny hair.
Gall with a warrior’s length tied back and brushed, dangling from the leather strap long enough to brush his shoulders. It was the length of several years growth, which wasimpossible.
And yet—those eyes. He looked at Diadre first and those eyes widened with recognition and the flash of uncertainty that I’d seen in him every day of his life. Gall was sharp enough to be aware of his own lack, and always nervous for a moment when something changed, because he often missed cues or plowed into conversations he later regretted.
Melek and I had spent countless hours coaching him on how to guard his tongue. This moment was the first in which I caught him do it. Because as soon as he’d recognized Diadre, those eyes snapped up to my face, then cooled.
In a blink, the Gall I’d known since he was a boy disappeared,and in his place was a young Neph, strong, sure of himself, and offering a slow, cold smile I had never seen before.
It took me another breath to remember that Gall wasKing,which meant I had to offer respect, especially after so much time apart. But my head reeled.
This was Gall. Unless the Fallen knew a way to replicate us, or some kind of glamor magik to disguise? But that look in Gall’s eyes… Was it truly him? And if so, how had he come to this?
Gall tilted his head as if listening to someone at his side for a moment, then his golden gaze flashed in the way it used to when he was happy. And to my surprise, he opened his arms and beamed.
“Jann! You made it!”
He rushed through the gap of men around us to hug me with every ounce of the exuberance I would have expected from him.
I felt the jolt of confusion in Diadre that matched my own. The cold smile was gone, that chilled gaze warm again. The adolescent joy tempered by the knowledge that he was expected to act in another way. And still, he pulled me into an embrace and squeezed me hard, as he would have months ago if we’d been apart this long.
While he squeezed and grunted and the men around us shifted on their feet, averting their eyes fromthe King’soddity, I hugged him back, but murmured in his ear.
“What’s this I hear? I must give obeisance to the King?”
Gall went still for a moment, then leaned back, but kept his hands on my shoulders and that cold chill in his gaze was back. “Yes, Jann. But there’s no need for scraping.”
I bowed, barely able to think. “Congratulations. I’ve been following your progress—though I’ll admit, I wondered about when you decided to abandon Melek—”
“I didn’t abandon Melek,” Gall growled. “I was found by my Grandfather when I was returning, and he explained everything.”
I frowned. “Grandfather? But Melek’s father is dead.”
Gall dropped his hands from me and his face went tight. “My father is His Majesty, Gaultes Falcyon, The King of the Nephilim, descended directly from the Light Bearer,” he said fiercely.Proudly.“I owe a life debt to Melek Handras for saving me as a child. But I am not his son.” Then he turned and gestured towards the men on the balcony. “And now, these are my family These are my brothers.”
A cheer rose, though it lacked the gusto of true enthusiasm, but Gall didn’t seem to notice, he gave a wicked smile when the men cheered, then looked back at me expectantly, and the glint in his golden eyes made my blood run cold. “Now, Jann. If you come in peace, you must have chosen as I did—that I am the true Heir to the crown. Yes?”
