Page 30 of The King has Fallen (The Kingdom of the Krow #1)

~ MELEK ~

We were in the water together. Deep in the lake. And this time there was no one coming to interrupt.

I’d picked her up and carried her out because the water would close over her head while I was only chest deep. It was a precious moment, to hold her to me, her flesh warm in the cold water, one hand under her ass, the other free to… roam.

She had laced her fingers behind my neck and wrapped her legs around my waist, her ankles locked at my back. Her eyes never left my face.

And then, when I had us deep enough, I released my wings and used them to keep us buoyant, drawing my legs up, so she could sit in my lap without having to hold on.

“You’re so strong,” she murmured, but there was an edge in her voice—a tang of fear.

I stroked her hair back from her face. “Strength is an asset when it’s applied to your protection.”

She nodded and smiled, leaned in and kissed me—and then let her hands drop down to stroke me.

I shuddered into that kiss when she took hold of me, those little hands so soft and small compared to mine. But just when I might have let my head fall back and given myself up to her touch, I caught her wrists and blew out a breath, staring deep into her cat-like eyes that were wide.

“Yilan,” I said hoarsely. “I love your touch. But I need more. I need you.”

A strange look came over her then. She smiled as if I’d pleased her and leaned in to kiss me briefly but deeply… then sat back. “I know.”

Reaching for her beautiful face, I pulled her back into the kiss, my chest thrumming, sighing her name and trying to find the words to reassure her, to insist that she not deny what was between us.

Mate.

Soulbond.

Mine.

“Yilan—”

She’d plunged both hands into my hair and was kissing me back with vigor, with enthusiasm. Yet, small noises broke in her throat—fearful whimpers.

As her body told one story, the sounds she made told another, leaving me uncertain, pulling away, until she gasped, “No!” and pulled me back in.

Yet, when our mouths met, there was that fearful cry again.

Did she fear my size? Fear that I’d hurt her?

Fear breeding with me?

The thought that she was my mate and so might bear my young was a rush—quickly followed by a wave of fear.

So many women died giving birth to Nephilim young. Being a soulmate didn’t protect from the sheer size of Nephilim babes in relation to their mothers.

The dark thoughts made me hesitate, but she whispered, “No, don’t, Melek.” She curled one hand at the back of my neck and pulled me in, reaching between us with the other and stroking me again.

She still made those sad and fearful whimpers, but her touch, her kiss—everything grew heated.

She breathed almost as heavily as I did, her nails digging into the back of my neck. The water rippling as we began to rock together, her stroking pushing me closer and closer to release.

“Yilan… oh god,” I gasped.

That little cry broke in her throat again and I reached for her, ready to stop her, but she shook her head and took me in both hands then, breathing my name with a plea.

And then my body was cresting that wave, ready to crash over the peak. I spread my wings for balance as my back arched, grabbing for her to keep her close as I bowed and let my head fall back, jaw dropping, and everything in my heart rushing out of my mouth.

“Yilan…”

“Melek! Please!” she cried.

“YILAN, dear God—you hold my soul, my… MATE!” I roared, the water rippling and sloshing as my body jerked and shuddered towards—

I woke with a start, sweaty and throbbing for release, panting, but every instinct at alert.

I was blinking, ears perked, the hair on the back of my neck standing straight up, and for a moment I was disoriented, coming out of the dream, uncertain what had been real and what was only my mind.

Was she toying with my mind again?

But then I heard her whimper my name and that plea—not one of need, but of fear. And my blood ran cold.

I leaped out of bed, searching the shadows, looking for the enemy… but found only the cage… and Yilan curled up like a child on the cot, shaking and whimpering.

“No… no…” she gasped in a small, broken voice that tore my heart to shreds.

“No… Melek—help me! Please!”

Her head shook and she lashed out feebly with one hand as if she was fighting for freedom, and it clicked.

We’d both been dreaming—but hers wasn’t like mine.

“Yilan, wake up! It’s a dream!” I tore across the tent, yanking back on the lock and scrambling into the cage to reach her, shaking her, pulling her upright, holding her as her head shook and she shrank from whatever she saw behind her closed eyes. “Yilan… Yilan!”

Her eyes flew open, so wide they were white all the way around, and her body jolted. She reached for me as if to push me away—but when her hands landed on my chest she froze, her eyes darting, blinking, as the dream faded.

Squatting next to her cot, I held her face, made her see me, whispered that it was a dream, and pleaded for her to come back to see that she was safe, that I was there, that she wouldn’t be touched…

And then she blinked. And finally, her eyes focused. She locked on me and blinked again and I stroked her hair.

“It was a dream. It was a dream, beautiful. Just a dream.”

She frowned hard, then tore her eyes away to look around the tent, obviously needing to see that we were truly alone, before turning back to me. And then her eyes welled, and her chin trembled.

“You’re safe,” I whispered. “Just breathe. You’re safe.”

My heart broke for her as she slumped, curling her body up, dropping her face in her hands. She covered her mouth to stifle a sob, then tipped forward right into my chest. Into my arms.

The relief that washed through me when she sank into me was intoxicating in its intensity. For a moment I just held her.

But then another sob broke in her throat and she trembled, and I closed my eyes, my heart squeezing and swelling in equal measure.

Then I cursed and gathered her to my chest as I stood as tall as I could in the cage, then carried her out, holding her as tightly as I dared.

When I reached the bed, I loosened my hold, intending to lay her down, to get her a drink of water, or something. But she inhaled sharply and clung to my neck, trembling in waves.

Whatever she’d been seeing in her mind had obviously been dark. She was terrified. I couldn’t let her go.

So, I crawled up onto the bed and laid down, still holding her, curling myself around her and bringing my wing over her to cover her completely from view as she sobbed against my chest.

I stroked her hair and reminded her that I was there. That she was safe.

And that I would not let any of them touch her. Not once.

Never again.

As her shoulders shook, her tears wet my collarbones. I wrapped my arms more tightly around her, and sighed, finding a new clarity in myself.

I would protect her. There was no doubt. But that didn’t change the fact that if anything were to happen to me, she would be left vulnerable.

We both knew it.

She was haunted by dreams of events that were not unrealistic in this camp. And as much as I despised it, I could not deny that truth.

So, as I lay there, whispering her safety, my jaw got tighter and tighter, until I was resolved.

Enemy she might be, but she was also mate.

Ignorant of the bond, for certain. But that did not remove it from existence.

I’d always vowed to myself that if I ever found the twin to my soul, I would keep her from the worst of my people.

Now, here we were.

Which meant it was up to me to make her safe. Not just protect her from the harm that already existed… but make her safe.

She could not be safe here.

The thought was a cold, hollow echo in a cavernous space.

She could not be safe here… even with me.

The truth of that statement stabbed as surely as any weapon. But I was not a General for nothing.

As her sobs turned to hitching breaths, then to the slow, steady breath of sleep, I considered, and measured, and planned.

And determined that there was no choice but to find a way for her to get out of here.

Without me.