Page 6 of The King's Man
“She’s right. I’ll go with him. I have to—we can’t let him get hurt. And we can’t let Jhonas or Turo think that you’ve hurt me and it’s a ruse.”
“Yilan,no,”Melek growled. “You’re not leaving me. And I’m not leaving you. We’re weaker apart. Besides, we have to consolidate the Nephilim behindyouas well. You saw what happened.”
“But—”
“I’ll take him,” Diadre said quickly.
I startled.
She licked her lips and stared at Yilan, ignoring me completely. “Jhonas will trust me, obviously, and so will Turo. I’ll keep Jann safe from the fog. And I’ll find her if she’s there.”
I stiffened.
Those men might trust her. But I didn’t.
But Melek, knowing me almost as well as I know myself, looked at me, his gaze pleading.
I looked at Diadre from the side. Was this a trick? Some plot to assassinate me?
She caught me staring and met my gaze, her jaw set and folding her arms.
“This isn’t a scheme,” I said flatly. “I don’t go for any purpose other than to see if we can find Gall and Istral. I’ll be traveling quickly—flying when the fog allows. And returning here with news as soon as I possess it.”
“With no nefarious purposes, you won’t mind having eyes on your back at all times, then,” she said darkly.
“I don’t care whatyouthink you know, but—”
Melek growled. “You are both our most trusted allies. The next best people for this since we can’t do it ourselves. You both claim to acknowledge me as King, so hear this as servants of the crown,” he glowered. “Put whatever hostilities you hold for each other aside until this is done. Short of our establishing the thrones, this is the single most important task inbothKingdoms. Istral could be used against Yilan as Theynor’s Queen, and Gall can be used as leverage against me. We all know it, so let’s not pretend otherwise. Finding them iscritical.Do not let your petty grievances thwart a mission that is crucial to the health and wellbeing of both our nations.”
Diadre looked offended, but I raised my chin and took it, because I had just been reminded that my best friend and chosen brotherwasindeed, also my King.
“You have my word,” I said to Melek, nodding once and saluting.
He nodded in return, then looked to Diadre.
Her lips tightened, but when she looked at Yilan—whose eyes were huge, pleading, and shining with tears—she nodded as well.
“You’re right, Sire,” she said tightly to Melek. “I will… set aside my personalmisgivings. Istral is more important than any grievance, petty or otherwise.” Then she shot me a look of pure, unadulterated challenge.
I ignored it. “Melek, do you consider my promotion already in effect?” I asked him casually. “If so, I’ll need to set up my replacement and ensure the lines of reporting are established before we leave. It shouldn’t take more than an hour or two.”
Melek nodded, missing the moment Diadre stiffened. Because she knew, as I did, that if I outranked her under our shared King, then I was in charge when we left the camp.
God, I wanted to laugh in her face. If things hadn’t been so dire, I would have given in to thepetty grievanceand done it.
“Do what you need to do. I’ll tell the servants to organize your things and help with running messages. Diadre, Yilan will need to put messages in your hands in case you go all the way to Theynor. We need to fill Turo in on the status here as well. In fact, if you do find Istral with the troops, make certain a trusted runner takes these notes for you.”
Diadre nodded, but I could see her mentally scrambling, looking for a way to ask for command of the mission. But as long as I was trusted by Melek, there was no recourse, and she knew it.
“Sounds like we have a plan,” I said with a smirk.
Lines of tension appeared at the sides of Diadre’s mouth, but she nodded again. “Sounds like we do,” she said tightly.
2.Time to Go
~ JANN ~
Yilan drew Diadre aside to the writing desk, whispering and muttering as she scribbled notes. Our Queen was frantic, but finding her feet. Regaining control of her emotions. As she pressed hurriedly sealed notes into Diadre’s hands, Diadre nodded and leaned in, reassuring her.
