Page 83 of The King's Man
“Jann, would you shut up and let methink?!”
I froze, heart sinking as quickly as it had risen to her plea, but she was not avoiding my eyes. She stared back at me, her forehead pinched to lines as if she thoughtdeeply.
Then she cleared her throat and her eyes narrowed. “Do you believe that as your mate I should give up my rank?”
I snorted. “What? Of course not!”
“What if my role takes me away from you? What if I’m assigned a mission in Theynor, while you’re returned to Ebonreach?”
God, it didn’t bear thinking about, but the answer didn’t change. “I’d betormentedby the distance, Dee. But I’m a soldier as well. I understand. You must do what serves the crown—as must I.”
She inhaled deeply and leaned closer. “Do you believe that even after mating, if we’re apart or… or fighting… that you should be able to take any woman you wish?”
I cursed. “Why the fuck would you even ask me that? Of course not! Do you?”
“No!” she responded sharply, her head snapping back as if she were offended.
I wanted to snap my teeth. “Have I not proven that I am true to my word? Have I not—”
Tears welled in her beautiful eyes, and I swallowed my angry words immediately. “Do you truly wantme,Jann? Or is it just this fucking bond that—"
With a growl, I took her face in my hands and kissed her deeply, frantically, fingernails digging into her skin. Her hands snapped to my wrists, but she only clung and returned the kiss as desperately as I’d given it. When I broke the kiss, it was to hold her gaze andmakeher see.
“No woman has ever frustrated me, thwarted me, or pissed me off as much as you do.Ever,”I hissed. “Yet, I find I don’t want to imagine a life without that. I burn for you, Diadre. I ache to be close. You’re a piece of me—apreciouspiece. I’m desperate for you.”
She sucked in, flinching as if her chest hurt.
I thought she’d draw away and rushed on. “I know it’s been ugly here, but—”
“Jann, stop—”
“—you have to understand that this is exactly why I’m doing everything I can to put Melek firmly on the throne—”
“Jann,stop.”
“We want to change our people—”
Diadre clapped her hand over my mouth, but softened the gesture by giving a shaky laugh. “I saidstopbecause… because I know you’re my mate. But as usual, you haveno ideawhat you’re doing.”
I stopped, stunned and confused, as she rolled her eyes, but gave another breathless laugh, then reached for the piece of linen gripped in my fist.
When she took it from me, she sucked in another deep breath, while I held mine.
Then she swallowed. “Jann, give me your hand,” she said quietly.
Hardly daring to believe, I opened my palm for hers, my heart racing when she took my hand and pulled it up so that I held it as if flat to a wall in front of me, then she twined her fingers through mine then, holding the end in her teeth until she had it looped, she slowly wrapped the linen first around her own wrist, then around mine, then continued threading it back and forth as she spoke, her voice shaking.
“My mate,”she breathed, her tone awed.
“Forever,” I murmured back. But Diadre shook her head with an amused huff.
“If you want to do this right—if you want to vow, then shut up and listen,” she said with a beautiful, trembling smile. When I snapped my mouth closed she laughed—a high trill as if she were on the verge of tears—then kept going.
“My mate,”she started again.“I vow myself to you…
“My heart for your safety.
“My voice for your champion.
