Page 28 of The King's Man
But I knew where it came from: I’d spent the day with her in my arms, and now… my chest felt cold. My arms empty.
Hollow.
And that brought back all those fucking questions about what, exactly, existed between us. I plumped my bag that I was using as a pillow, muttering about the cold as I tried to distract myself and find a comfortable way to sleep.
But my mind would not stop.
The mild panic that fluttered in my chest when Jhonas wanted to keep her in camp.
The ease I’d felt holding her for all those hours.
That crackle when she touched my chest, right over my heart.
No.
I couldn’t have a mate. I couldn’t have offspring. I would die within a few short years—and my mate would either follow me because the bond held her too tightly, or she’d be taken by another Nephilim whether she wanted him or not. A life of sexual slavery ending in a painful death when the next babe was just too big…
Gah.It didn’t even bear thinking about. My skin itched and I curled my hands under my fur to stop myself reaching for her.
Closing my eyes, I focused on the task at hand, but that only raised thoughts of Melek and Yilan and those looks they exchanged. That yearning connection they shared…
Something deep inside me yawned open.
Woman are more fucking trouble than they’re worth,I thought as I rolled over and turned my back on her.
Thank God I was so exhausted that the sound of her breathing lulled me into sleep. ThankGod.
That is, if he was even listening.
Did God listen to the thoughts of a cursed, irredeemable man?
I doubted it.
11.Debrief
~ DIADRE ~
Jann was tired and quiet the next morning as we gathered our things and prepared to travel. I caught him inhaling deeply and bracing himself before he put his arms around me to launch and I felt bad. I was achy from all that time unmoving and holding the bags. But I wasn’t propelling us both through the sky.
He definitely launched more slowly, and glided more as we flew. But we were out of the fog in an hour and sweeping over the forests and plains on the way to the Palace. My stomach swooped when I could suddenly see how high we were.
He chuckled when I tensed, but didn’t comment. I was able to relax somewhat as we flew on, but it was with great relief that I saw the land begin to rise, and the forest thin.
Over that hill we’d come to the royal city.
“Don’t fly within sight of the Palace walls.” I broke the silence as the morning sun turned the autumn pastures gold. “Theydon’t know we’re coming and I don’t want anyone shooting you down.”
He grunted, but began the descent, back flapping and slowing, dropping his lower body—and mine—as we drew close to the ground.
It was both a relief to have my feet on solid ground, and a strange kind of emptiness when he let me go and his wings disappeared as we both shrugged our bags and bedrolls onto our backs.
An hour later we approached the Palace walls by the Northern Gate. The passing traders with their wagons and wares, and servants filing in and out carrying goods or messages all stared with great concern at Jann.
But, on my authority the guards allowed him entry. A messenger darted ahead to warn Turo, the General—no,Governor,I reminded myself—that we were on our way and asking if he had news of Gall or Istral.
Within minutes we were hurrying through the halls to Turo’s office. And the General met us before we’d even reached the door, marching out with his gaze wary on Jann, but easing to a smile when he locked eyes with me.
“Diadre. This is a surprise. What’s going on?”
