Page 33 of The King's Man
“…so the end result is that… there’s nothing,” he said darkly. “No sign at all. I already have trackers working back through the Shadows, but I don’t mind telling you, Diadre, that I fear the worst.”
I exhaled heavily, nodding slowly. But it cut deep. It was the death of the last of our hope that somehow Gall and Istral had merely gotten lost, or taken some strange mission on themselves.
“Well, I suppose that’s it then,” I said sadly. “Thank you for telling me so quickly. I’ll sleep better knowing the truth, even if it’s not good news.”
Turo nodded, his eyes fixed on the window on the other side of the sitting room. He took a sip from his tumbler before he spoke again.
“Will you travel first thing in the morning, then?”
“Yes. I have to get this back to Melek and Yilan. And they… well, they’ll have to decide from there. Yilan is in pieces, as I’m sure you can imagine.”
Turo nodded again, then frowned at his drink and cleared his throat. “How is she? You said there was a battle. She obviously survived, but… was she injured, or…?”
Oh God. The pang I felt for him.
I’d underestimated his care for her. He was such an uptight man, so focused on rules and propriety, I’d thought he never really saw Yilan as more than the next task to be completed. Or perhaps, the path to his own power. But seeing him like this—the uneasiness in his eyes, yet even that awkwardness couldn’t hold him back from asking for her…
I tried to be kind.
“She is well. Physically,” I amended, then took a sip of wine before continuing. “She’s devastated about Istral—she didn’twant to let Istral continue with us when she was discovered. But I can’t see how we could have split them up. Still… she is well.” I watched him warily, uncertain if he would press for more personal details, but Turo only grimaced.
“This will hit both the King and Queen hard, I’m sure,” he said sadly. “We are sorely hurt to hear that Istral is gone. I can’t imagine how it would feel to Yilan. And I know Melek had genuine love for his adopted son…”
“He did.Does,”I corrected myself, not yet ready to speak of Gall as if he were truly gone. “But he’s a lot like you—when crisis hits, he focuses on what must be done next. He’s been a machine. Barely sleeping. Organizing and promoting and clearing the ranks of any who might not be loyal. All while keeping Yilan safe and strategizing for the future. I’m impressed. I’m sure you would be too.”
Turo nodded again, his eyes drifting to the middle-distance. “When we are strong, there is nothing worse than having to work while those we love are in danger… and yet, nothing offers more relief, either,” he said with a shrug. Then he blinked and seemed to gather himself. He took another drink before he spoke again. “Though I was wary of Gall, I liked him. I wished he’d had a chance to be properly raised here, like Istral, so he might have been a gentleman. He seemed to have the right heart for it.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Still pompous, even in his compassion.
But the conversation that followed only reminded us both how dire this situation was—for Istral and Gall, and for the rest of us in their wake. Turo might not have been the right man for Yilan, but he was a wonderful General, and a strong, honorable man. Watching him deflate at the thought of what had happened brought my own fear and grief into sharp focus.
When a messenger arrived for Turo, I said my farewells, excused myself and marched back to my rooms, each step heavier than the last, my heart sinking in my chest.
If Istral had been killed—or worse,taken—it would devastate Yilan. Eviscerate her.
When I walked into my quarters, my room felt like a soft hug. I was so grateful to be home for a night, to have this time to process. Because tomorrow I’d be back under Jann’s eyes, and then when we returned, I needed to be there for Yilan. But tonight… tonight I could let myself grieve the pains of war and the injustice of beautiful hearts like Istral’s being destroyed by it.
But after an hour of weeping alone, my rooms began to feel oppressive. I was jealous of Yilan having a mate to lean on when feelings were so tense. Such a strong, honorable man—a King! And a Neph, no matter how appalling that thought might have seemed to me months ago. A man of integrity and physical strength that couldn’t be matched. No wonder Yilan had bloomedsince she left Theynor. She was a flower, opening to the sun, but in safety under the branches of a large oak. Because, at least in Melek, that Nephilim strength was turned to her protection, not her harm.
What a gift that must be.
I wondered briefly how it might feel to be in that place—sure of your purpose and intelligence, and with a mate at your side who complemented both.
There was a flash in my mind—Jann, staring down at me, teeth flashing in a playful smile, his broad shoulders blocking out the glare of the sun, putting his body between me and whatever approached, his hands large enough and quick enough to catch any weapon that was thrown in my direct—
I blinked and spluttered.
Where hadthatcome from?
A small voice whispered a word, an instinct I refused to hear. Instead, pushing the errant,insanethoughts away, I returned to the sidebar to pour another glass of wine and drown out the ridiculous, romantic thoughts.
I shook my head. I was a soldier, and an experienced lover. Not some blushing young maiden.
Fated mates and sweeping heroes… those stories only happened in books.
14.Follow Your Instincts
~ JANN ~
