Page 40 of The King's Man
I landed on hands and knees, trembling like a newborn foal, fingers curled into the dirt.
Moments later a heavy hand rested on my shoulder and I whirled, whipping an arm around to break the grip.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa—it’s okay. I won’t touch you unless… unless it helps. Diadre… it’s me. I won’t hurt you. I give you my word. You’re safe. You’re safe. I promise…” He whispered the words. They came on a breath, his eyes pinched andmourningas he pleaded with me to hear him.
I looked around, frantic, certain there must be another threat. But there was nothing. I had no idea where we were. Where he’d taken me. We were completely alone.
I should have been terrified of him. But something deep inside meachedto be back in his arms.
“J-Jann…” My teeth chattered.
He dropped slowly to a squat in front of me, eyes on me, elbows on his knees and his hands clasped.
“I’m here. Just breathe.”
I nodded, but it was hard. My breath kept hitching. Catching. As if my lungs wouldn’t expand.
But he stayed quiet and still, watching me, glancing around us at times as if making certain we were alone.
I should have been afraid. I should have beenterrifiedbecause a Nephilim had abducted me and brought me out into the middle of the forestalone.But all I could feel was relief.
And when he shuffled closer and offered me a hand, I took it—mine shaking so badly he had to grip for me because my fingers wouldn’t close properly.
I’m not sure how it happened, but at some point I found myself sitting across his lap, waves of shudders rocking my body as he sat back against the trunk of a tree and kept up that refrain of reassurance.
“…I have you… I won’t let them touch you. Ever. You’re safe… I give you my word, Diadre. You’resafe…”
I blinked and sucked in a deep breath—the first I’d been able to take—and then I raised my head and looked right into his tight, golden eyes.
Jann looked back at me, forehead furrowed, eyes darting back and forth, searching mine. “You’re safe,” he graveled, and his hand stroked my hair.
My vision blurred, but I blinked the tears back and took another deep breath. “Thank you. F-for getting m-me away. I’m… I’m fine.”
I pushed off his lap, to get to my feet, but my arms gave and I fell back into him. He gripped me, held me close and shook his head.
“No, no. Let it out. That was… that was a moment, Diadre. Let yourself process it—”
“I’m fine. It was… that was… b-bad. But it’s done. Y-you saved me. Thank you.”
“Dee—”
I pushed out of his arms, only a flash of panic when his grip tightened for a moment. But then he let me go, and I could push awkwardly off his lap.
Jann cursed, but held my elbow and pushed to his feet, then helped me to mine.
I swayed, my knees weak and wobbling. My hands still trembled. Adrenaline flooded my system and kept my heart hammering.
Eventually I made it upright. Jann stood in front of me, both hands cupping my elbows as he loomed over me, face tight with concern, braced to catch me if I fell.
“I’ll be fine in just… just a moment. I need to… catch my breath.”
“Diadre—don’t swallow it back. It’s okay to be emotional when truly bad things are happening—we let them out, then we get on with the job.”
Even though my head ached and my body still screamed that a threat was imminent, I had the presence of mind to look up and meet his eyes and hiss at him. “Emotional… Like a woman? I’m fine. He didn’t get the chance to hurt me.”
“No, emotional like amortal.You don’t have to be strong every fucking moment—”
“Y-yes. I do,” I insisted, uncertain why I had to fight this, but sure that I did. “Because fuckingmenaccept nothing less.”
