Page 30 of The King's Man
Jann’s head snapped towards me, but he didn’t speak.
Turo looked unimpressed. “The King’s bed is now in the Royal Suite. I’m not sure it’s appropriate—”
“I am. Melek would want him to rest as comfortably as possible. He’s been flying me for two days. His body needs to properly refresh before we fly again tomorrow.”
Turo looked at Jann, but then he nodded. “That’s fair. I’ll tell the guards.”
“No need. I’ll tell them,” I said breezily, uncertain why I wassosure I needed to stay close to him, but since I’d stopped allowing myself to be seduced by liars, my instincts hadn’t failed me yet, andsomethingsaid I needed to remain close to Jann. That his reception here was precarious. And we couldn’t afford that kind of fight. “Jann and I need to plan our return travel—I’ll show him the maps of the Shadows. We can travelas the crow flies,”I said, unable to resist a slight smirk. Jann grunted.
I saw Turo tense at the idea of showing a Neph our maps of the Shadows of Shade. But in truth, the only benefit was that it would keep Jann out of sight and busy so there’d be the least disruption in the Palace as possible. And we could plan the shortest route since we didn’t have to follow the lay of the land, so we were in the mists—in the sky—as little as possible.
I wasn’t sure how much more my heart could take.
“Very well,” Turo said, his disapproval clear, but his intention to cooperate as well. “I’d like a briefing on the events that have taken place so far. But before we move on, is there anything else you’ll need from me while you’re here?”
“Just prepare whatever messages and updates you want going back to Melek and Yilan. That reminds me…”
I dug into my bag and pulled out the notes Yilan had sent and put them on his desk. “She gives you all the important details here, along with their plans. When you’ve read them, let me know. I’ll answer any questions I can.”
Turo looked at the folded notes hungrily, but maintained his indifferent posture. “In that case, perhaps you two should go bathe and rest. I’ll send a messenger for you once I’ve gone through these.”
“That would be… really great, actually,” I said. Jann nodded, but his eyes were still distant. Was he unhappy being here on Shadekin soil? Or was he so tired he couldn’t maintain the sunny façade?
“Tell a runner outside, they’ll bring the servants to the royal suite. You can take the apartment. I’m sure Yilan would want that.”
I shook my head. “I have my rooms and I’d be most comfortable there. There’s a few things I want to take back, too.”
“So, I should send the bath to your quarters?”
“I’ll do it,” I said, getting to my feet. “You focus on the news and send for me when you’re ready. I’ll get Jann settled in, then go to my chambers. If I’m not with him, I’ll be there.”
Turo nodded, his eyes already on the notes. “Very well. And, thank you. Both of you. For… for your service in this.”
Jann looked a little surprised, but nodded. I sighed. “Turo… I’m scared about what this means.”
He raised his gaze from the first of the notes, already in his hands and nodded, his expression dark. “We all are—this entire alliance is… shaky.”
“No, it’s not.” Jann’s hands tightened to fists at his sides.
Turo looked up at him, frowning. “I didn’t mean that the desire for the alliance was waning. I meant the undertaking ofit… bringing two nations together is a precarious task at the best of times. Butthesetwo nations. We are… so different.”
“Read your reports,” Jann growled. “Then we’ll see how different we are.”
Without another word, he turned and strode for the door.
12.The Emptiness of Absence
~ JANN ~
Diadre saluted her commanding officer as I strode out of the room and down the wide corridor towards the Royal wing. I hadn’t had the energy to give that man more than his basic due of a nod. His head was shoved so fucking far up his ass, he was blinded by his own intestines.
This entire alliance is… shaky…
Bullshit. Melek and Yilan were of one mind—even I could see that. Reluctantly.
We’d killed our own countrymen in the pursuit of thisalliance for peace.The only thingshakywas fucking Turo and his fucking—
“Can you please slow down?” Diadre hissed.
