Page 26 of The King's Man
I sighed. “Do you have siblings, Jann?”
“Very few Nephilim have full siblings.” He hesitated as if he wasn’t sure he’d continue. Then, “And in my family in particular, there are none at all. Not even halfs.”
“Why your family in particular?”
“Because of the curse.”
Ah. I’d forgotten about that Halfling legend. “I thought you said the myths weren’t real?”
“The myths that my line somehow made me stronger, or closer to the Fallen aren’t true,” he said bluntly. “I am strong, but so is Melek, and he’s a generation deeper than me and without the Nephilim Pair. My strength isn’t a unique gift. I worked hard for it. But the curse? The curse is real. At least, it has been for three generations. Both my father and his died within a few years of their son’s births. My grandfather only made it months. And neither reproduced more than once. So, no. No siblings.”
I grimaced. “But… that’s a coincidence, surely?”
I felt his shoulders shrug behind me. “All of the Neph are cursed to some degree—we are descended from the Fallen who were rejected by God. It could be argued that having the double-Nephilim bloodline is double the curse. And I would say my family has borne the evidence of that,” he said grimly. “I wish I did have siblings—especially siblings whocared.In my people, siblings are often your hardest fought rivals.”
I blinked. “Truly?”
“Truly. Especially among the higher ranks—the former King had to kill his own brother to take the throne.”
That thought—killing Jhonas?—made me squirm. “I don’t hate my brother. I… I just wish hesawme. He says he does, butin moments like these it’s clear that in his mind I will always be hislittlesister before any rank I’ve earned.”
Jann huffed. “Probably—but isn’t that a good thing?”
“When he undermines me in front of the men? No! I have enough problems keeping their respect without mybrotherof all people making me look weak.”
“How does his regard for you make you weak? Is he not well-liked.”
“Jhonas isadored,”I grumbled.
“Then why would his regard not bring favor on you among the men?”
“Because, he throws me around like I’m still a child and—wait, why are you standing up for him?”
“I’m not, I find him irritating in the extreme. A complete ass, if I’m honest.”
I laughed. “You two are fucking peas in a pod—all brash and flirty and… if you don’t like him, you don’t like yourself, Jann,” I giggled and smiled wider when he stiffened. “But Jhonas isn’t anass.I love my brother—and I admire the man he’s become. But that’s why it’s hard when he only sees me as a sister, and not as the rank I’ve achieved.”
“Perhaps… perhaps what he sees is more valuable than your rank?”
“Pardon?”
Jann took a deep breath and his chest pressed tight against my back. “In my experience, a leader’s value isn’t in their physical strength—or gender, I suppose. But in their character. Who they are. How they handle themselves. Today I watched your men treat you with respect which indicates to me that they see something admirable in you. Any man can be given a rank—it doesn’t mean he’s earned it. The true test is whether he can hold respect in the minds of those that follow—and whether they’ll follow willingly.”
“Trust me,plentyof men have followed meunwillingly.”
“Then I would suggest to you that they did so because they had grudging respect for you.”
“That’s bullshit—they challenge me at every turn. Especially when I was first promoted. There were accusations of the Queen overriding the General’s wishes to promote me. Accusations that my brother procured the position for me even though I wasn’t strong enough. Gossip that I’dsleptmy way to the promotion.” I was snarling by that time—of all the things that had been leveled at me in my career, that one burned the most.
“And you think that’s because you’re a woman?”
“I know it is! They all said a woman couldn’t reach where I reached without… something.”
“I’m sure there are men who would be reluctant to follow a woman by virtue of her sex, but I wonder if you aren’t, perhaps, more conscious of it than they are. When I was first raised to Officer, there was gossip that I’d only received the commendation because the King was trying to garner favor with the Fallen. And when Melek raised me to Captain, it was said I was only given the rank because I was his friend. Perhaps the jealousy and agitation would be… more pronounced with a woman. But I saw those men with you today, Diadre. They saw a Captain before they saw a female.”
“Well, my brother didn’t.”
“Should he? Should I see Melek as King before I see him as my chosen brother?”
