Page 39 of The King has Fallen (The Kingdom of the Krow #1)
~ MELEK ~
I snapped a wing over Yilan to cover her and snarled over my shoulder, bracing, my body quivering, readying to take out whoever had appeared. But the figure storming across the tent, drawing his spear, was Jann. His normally bright eyes dark, and his easy countenance twisted into a snarl.
“I knew you had an eye for her, but I never thought you would stoop so low. But that roar—you can’t hide that fucking roar, Melek—”
He didn’t stop coming, and he was carrying his spear. Every instinct rushed to her protection, and every thought beyond removing the threat disappeared.
Still bound to her, I swept Yilan up and leaped off the bed, one wing curled around her to keep his eyes from her, landing in a half-crouch in front of my best friend, my mate clinging to my side and my wing curled for her modesty. As I raised my free hand for defense, I cursed under my breath. My weapons were laid aside against the wall of the tent, and I couldn’t reach them without turning her towards him.
Jann stopped advancing when I landed and took a defensive stance, but his lip curled up in sneer, and he didn’t lower the spear.
“Jann,” I snarled, low and deep, every ounce of authority I’d ever possessed behind those quiet words. He would listen . “You will throw away the weapon in the presence of my mate, or I will make your guts her garters.”
Jann froze, blinking, but a moment later his eyes narrowed and he growled. “Mate? You really think I would believe—”
“It’s true.”
Yilan’s soft, feminine voice was soothing in this moment—and her words made my heart leap. But when she pushed the edge of my wing back so she could see him, I pulled her closer—did she not see that Jann was armed?
I could beat my best friend hand-to-hand, I was certain of it. But unarmed, and one of my hands tied to her, it might tip the balance.
Yet, at my side, Yilan was relaxed. She held the edge of my wing aside, like she looked at him from behind a curtain. I got a rush in my chest the moment I looked at her—her cheeks still pink, a tiny strand of her hair sticking to the side of her face.
She stopped when I tightened my grip on her, but her eyes were on Jann, which made my chest squeeze and my lip curl back from my teeth.
“It's true, Jann.”
Pulling her to my side, I placed her between my side and the hollow of my wing, boxing her in, shooting a warning look at Jann that would leave him in no doubt of his fate if he were to keep advancing with that weapon.
But Jann had stopped moving, his brows so high his forehead was wrinkled.
He stared at her, stunned. Then looked at me, then back to her. Then he took a step back.
“Mate?” he breathed. “What… How?”
“Jann, toss the weapon. Now,” I seethed.
My friend blinked, then looked down at the spear he was holding.
When his head snapped up again, it was to level a measuring look at me. I tensed, ready to take him, but Yilan hugged my arm and whispered, “Just give him a second.”
Jann’s eyes widened when she did that and he shook his head. But a moment later he tossed the spear aside, letting it clatter to the dirt and roll away.
“I knew her flirting lacked heat… but I never imagined—”
“Neither did we,” I growled, then swallowed, trying desperately to bring my body back under control. But the new bond—the singing of my soul—had ignited a frenzy in the beast within me. The dark side of my soul that would kill first and ask questions later. I had heard the stories about the Nephilim who found soulbonds, and the resulting carnage when their women were so much as under the eyes of another Neph. I’d always thought it was just males finding an excuse to unleash.
But I had just been a hairsbreadth from killing my best friend. No mercy. I would have delighted in killing him if he’d gotten that spear within reach of Yilan. And even though the threat had now passed, my body still quivered and roared for his blood.
And he was one of the good ones.
How the hell was I even going to leave this tent knowing the risk it posed to her?
She was a part of me—physically, spiritually. Even the slightest threat to her would send my instincts into high alert, as if my life was in danger.
Because it was, I realized. She was part of me. If she died... I would die.
I inhaled sharply and looked at the place where her little hand still rested on my arm, though I was no longer threatening to move towards Jann. Did she yearn for that touch as much as I did? I thought she did. She crowded close to my body as well…
“Does Gall know?” Jann asked her abruptly.
“No.”
“He can’t,” I snapped.
Jann’s stunned gaze snapped to me. “He has to. Melek, he believes you took her against her will. If he sees you two like this—”
Everything in me tensed immediately, poised for combat. Yilan’s grip on my arm tightened as I leaned closer to Jann and pointed at his chest.
“You will keep this to yourself, or I will silence you. Gall is off Being Still and he won't come back until the end of the Covenant Days. But we won’t make it that far. Two days. That's all we have. On the third I have to leave, and so will she.”
Yilan sighed. But Jann frowned.
“Leave? Why?”
“Gault called us to Audience this morning. Both of us,” I snarled. “He’s told me that I am to lead the attack on the ravine, and I’m to leave her with him when I do. Once I win that battle—if I do—he’ll kill her.”
Jann’s eyes widened. “Holy shit—”
“I have it handled—”
Yilan scoffed. We both turned to look at her and I swallowed back my bristling pride when her free hand left me and she planted it on her hip.
“You are my mate. I’m not leaving you.” From this angle I could look straight down the valley between her breasts. It made my cock twitch.
I gritted my teeth. “You are my mate… and I am not leaving you with him.”
“So... I will go with you.”
Jann coughed as I shook my head. “That's the first place Gault will look when he can’t find you. In Nephilim eyes, I claimed you, Yilan. He's taking you from me on purpose. He is petty as fuck and already threatened by me. He won't stand for it—”
“So, you admit he’s threatened by you?” she jumped in. I gave her a flat look, but she rushed on. “Yet I’m supposed to just leave and let him kill my mate?”
“He won’t kill me. He’ll punish me—”
“He didn’t discover me when I spied on him for days. And I will have more freedom in the chaos of the frontline.”
“And greater threat if you are discovered. Our best warriors are there, primed for battle, rested, and itching for an enemy to kill. No, Yilan.”
She looked impatient. “But—”
“Do not ask me to accept your death!” I roared.
Yilan bristled and Jann took a step back, raising his hands. “I’m going to leave you two to... talk,” he said carefully.
I sighed and turned to him, ignoring the shadows flickering in Yilan’s big eyes. “I'll be out to get us food soon. An hour, maybe. Can we speak then?”
“Sure.” Jann took a deep breath, shaking his head in disbelief, but his shock beginning to wane as he looked back and forth between us, then turned to walk out. He reached for the tent flap, then hesitated and looked at us over his shoulder. “I’ll stay close. Make sure no one else comes to the tent.”
I sighed. “Thank you, brother.”
He nodded, then winked at Yilan, which made me stiffen again.
“Congratulations, both of you. I hope... somehow... you find a way.” He gave a small, wistful smile that surprised me. Yilan thanked him quietly, then he was gone. I was frowning. Why was he—
“Melek.”
I turned back to my mate, unfurling my wing so she just stood next to me, my heart—and my body—swelling in the rush of bathing in her gaze, even if it was disapproving.
“We have three days, Yilan. It’s the latest I could justify leaving for the front. At the end of that time, I’ll leave you in the cage for Gault to retrieve you. You’re to escape the moment I’m gone. I’ll figure out a plan for how we can find each other later.”
She folded her arms again. “I’m not leaving you. You’re mine. ” Even while she was pissing me off, my heart thrummed when she spoke with that possession in her tone. “We will not meet later as enemies. We will stay together as allies. And you will lead this continent in truth. That crown is yours.”
Rage coursed through me, right alongside the warmth of her claim and I turned, looming over her, leaning down into her face and hissing the words through my teeth. “Mate or not, you will never, ever speak those words in this camp to me again. Or I will cut out your tongue.”
I expected her to argue, to prod me, to force me to silence her. But to my surprise she tilted her head and put fingers to her chin as if she were considering my words.
“But Melek… with no tongue… how would I pleasure you?”
The jolt that snapped through me then—every sense heightened, lust burning in my belly.
I knew I should stay angry. Should force her to give me her word. But the sly smile on her face, and the burning heat in her eyes…
“God help me,” I groaned, and dove for her mouth.