Page 3 of The King's Man
What had he done to me?What the fuck had he done?!
Jann panted, blinking, his expression confused and afraid.
I shook like a leaf. I’d heard the Nephilim had secret sorcerers. Was that what he was? Was he fooling Melek into believing he was a brother, so Melek would keep him close? Had he cast a spell on me?! But even as the thought faded, something in my chestsurged,making me sway closer.
Jann looked stunned. “Diadre—” he croaked.
I shook my head, jerking back a step.“No!”I gasped, scrambling back, tripping on a body behind me and almost falling. He reached for me, but I yanked my arm away, almost fell again, caught my weight and finally got my feet under me, then turned and fled.
My skin felt too tight. I couldn’t breathe through the steel bands tightening around my chest—that were somehowattached tohim.I fled, putting more distance between us with every pace, yet his gaze on my back dragged at me, threatened to pull me off my stride.
What had he done?
An ally with yellow eyes? He had to be a traitor.Didn’t he?
So why did every fiber of my being scream at me to turn and run back?
What had he done to me?
1.Trust
~ JANN ~
The shock of learning that my eyes hadn’t changed turned quickly to panic.
Diadre hated me. She’d tell them I was a traitor.
I rushed back to the tents to tell Melek everything—to show him my eyes, assure him of my loyalty,fightto prove it if necessary, so he’d let me stand with him for the crowning… But I entered the King’s tent to a cloud of tension.
Most of the servants and advisors huddled outside, whispering and throwing glances back at the tent. One of the guards blocked my way and I snarled, not really thinking, only knowing I had to get in and reassure my brother. Something was clearly wrong. Diadre must have already told them.Fuck!
I shoved through the tent flap with a snap, words of self-defense on the tip of my tongue—and stopped just inside.
Yilan sat in a chair, pale-faced and wringing her hands,staring at Melek who crouched in front of her, both of them wide-eyed and whispering desperately.
I didn’t even greet them, just called across the space rudely. “What is it? What did she say? You can’t listen, Melek—youmustknow—”
Melek turned to look at me as Yilan dropped her face into her hands. My brother looked…white.Not angry. Not wary. Not stern.
He lookedterrified.
“It’s Gall. And Istral,” Melek said hoarsely.
Oh shit.“What? What happened?”
Forgetting everything else, I rushed towards them. Melek pushed to his feet to face me as Yilan bent forward and sobbed into her palms.
“We don’t know,” he said, his voice low and hoarse. “The messenger found them, said Gall was nervous, but that’s to be expected. He was healthy and fine and assured him that he’d be right behind him. No doubt he was hiding Istral. You were here when the messenger told us. There was nothing to worry about! But he hasn’t shown up and we sent another runner. Then a tracker. There’s no trace of them, Jann. Not… not a footstep, not a hair. Not even a sign of their horses. They’re justgone.”
A tiny, broken sob rose from Yilan and my heart pinched.
“How… they must have missed something. There has to be a sign—”
Melek shook his head, but Yilan jumped out of the chair, eyes red and shining with tears. “Someone took them. One of your fucked up predatorybastardsfound her and fought Gall and—”
Melek caught her as she passed him, coming straight for me, spitting and weeping. He pulled her into his chest, holding her even when she struggled, murmuring to her, forcing her to look up at him when she wanted to keep coming at me.
“Love, breathe,” he murmured. His face was tight and pale, his hands shaking as he held her. But he didn’t waver. “If there’d been a fight—and weknowGall would have fought—there would be signs of that. This… isn’t that,” he ended grimly.
