Page 54 of The King has Fallen (The Kingdom of the Krow #1)

SOUNDTRACK: You’ll Never Forget Me by Future Royalty

~ YILAN ~

When Melek gave the long, low sigh of sleep overtaking him, I hugged him tighter.

Even in his sleep, he clung to me. His arms tightening in response.

I didn’t move immediately, just lay there, smelling him, praying, until the powder Turo had passed me and I’d slipped into his drink truly took hold. His big hands slipped down, his arms went loose, and his head fell fully back, his mouth open and slack.

Even then I didn’t move. I needed a moment.

Tears blurred my gaze, but I blinked them away and straightened in his lap, stroking his forehead as the lines of worry eased there, combing back his hair, twining his warrior’s length around my fingers, wishing I could grip it and pull him to me and force him to see the fucking light. But I had tried. In every way I knew how.

He was more fucking stubborn than a Centaur stallion with the aroma of an in-heat female in his nostrils.

Before I called Turo back to help, I took a few more minutes to look at this from every angle, to make certain there was nothing I’d missed. No opportunity overlooked. But no matter how I parsed it all out, there was nothing.

Unless Melek was ready to declare—and yes, fight—for the crown, the Nephilim would only implode—and once they took the ravine, likely continue to advance, bringing their chaos with them. Even if we, the Shadekin, could stop them at the Shadows of Shade, defeating them would only leave a Continent in disarray, and all eight nations in upheaval.

Nephilim fighting for the crown would bring the fallen angels back—those fuckers could never just leave things alone down here. Even among their offspring, they meddled and manipulated, and incited violence. I couldn’t imagine what would happen in this land if there was no immediate succession.

The possibilities made my blood run cold.

No… We needed Melek. All of us. The Nephilim. The Shadekin. And all the peoples he had conquered. If he couldn’t see that, my only choice was to force all of us to brave the initial chaos—let him see the consequences of his choice—and pray he could be convinced in the wake of it.

Let him be the savior to solve the tribulation that was about to descend on the continent.

And that meant getting him and Gall the fuck out of here until the King’s death was discovered and the Nephilim were scrambling.

Turo was very dubious. But I was in charge here.

I would take my mate and his son beyond the Shadows of Shade, into Theynor, my land, where he would be presented as the prize that he was.

They would try to use him for the sway he held over the Nephilim—and now the entire continent. I knew that. But there was no choice.

I would beg God to make Melek forgive me for forcing his hand. But I couldn’t let him martyr himself!

Still stroking his face, I was overcome in a wave of grief and fear. What if he truly denied me because of this? What if he rejected the bond?

We were vowed and bonded, surrendered. But either of us could turn from that. Could choose to destroy what existed between us.

Severing a bond was painful and destructive to both mates, but it could be done. The question was, did he love me more than he hated the idea of being crowned?

God, I began to shake just thinking about it.

“Please, Melek,” I whispered, praying the words would take root in his subconscious. “Please… this is my honor. This is my word. It is for your good, even if you can’t see it. There is no one on this continent who deserves to live, deserves a crown more than you. No one better to lead every land. I wish you could see that.”

I had to swallow the lump in my throat. I hugged him one more time, burying my face under his ear and letting only one tear slide down his neck before I closed my eyes and prepared to move.

Turo and the others had disposed of the King’s body within an hour of leaving the tent. Then they’d found Gall.

At my orders, Turo had intentionally stayed, positioning himself at the edge of my reach, so I could call him when they were needed, but there was no chance they’d be discovered or drawn into… this.

Everything was going as planned, but now time was growing short.

Darkness had fallen. We needed to move while the camp was still busy with celebrations.

We had to be well out of the camp before things slowed—carrying two massive Nephilim—all while avoiding anything that would draw attention to the fact that the King was gone. It could take hours.

Forcing myself to focus on the task, and not on Melek’s rage when he learned what I had done, I leaned my ear against his chest to check his heart and make sure I’d dosed him correctly. It was a relief to hear that massive thud, pounding away like a drum.

The sleep powder had slowed his pulse, but not alarmingly.

I turned my head to kiss the center of his chest, and then I reached for Turo in my mind.

‘It is time.’

‘Finally,’ Turo responded immediately. ‘What took so long?’

‘We had a visitor, and Melek took much longer to sleep than I anticipated.’

‘These fucking Neph bulls,’ Turo muttered. ‘We’ll be there in minutes. Half the camp is already passing out from drink. We need to move quickly.’

‘I know.’

True to his word, my helpers began to materialize within a couple of minutes. I motioned at them to keep their voices down just in case, and had to turn away while they bound Melek before bracing themselves to carry him.

‘Where is Gall?’ I asked Turo.

‘Already on his way,’ he replied gruffly.

I nodded. Turo had a soft spot for my sister, Istral, so understood why I wanted to take Gall from here. But he didn’t like the added complication of hauling two Nephilim across an enemy nation.

“Thank you,” I whispered, putting a hand to his arm. “You’re a good man, Turo.”

He sagged and quickly placed his other hand over mine before I could draw it off his forearm. Startled, I flinched and yanked my hand back before I caught myself.

The hurt in his eyes was… heartbreaking. He stepped right up to my toes, but thankfully, didn’t touch me. “You do not need to fear me, Yilan,” he breathed. “I won’t push you. Not after all you’ve been through.”

I shook my head. “You just startled me—”

But he hissed a curse and his eyes went fierce—in defense of me, I knew. Turo had never harmed me. He loved me. I knew that. I’d always assumed the admiration and gratitude I had for him would evolve into love over time. But now…

Raising his hand slowly so I would see it coming, he cupped the side of my neck, tracing the line of my jaw with his thumb. I had to brace not to shudder.

“They will pay, Yilan. We will make them pay.”

I sagged, but he looked at me intently.

“Don’t worry, we won’t risk this mission,” he muttered. “You’ve done well. But hear me, Yilan, when we’re home and you’re safe, when you see that you don’t have to protect yourself anymore… then you’ll tell me. You’ll tell me, and we will grieve together.”

I took a deep breath and nodded, though my heart sank because I knew he wanted to hear what had truly happened, even less than what he thought was coming.

Then I tensed, because his whisper grew fierce. “I vow to you, Yilan. I will kill anyone who so much as looked at you wrongly.”

I wanted to tell him all of it, right then, so he didn’t have to carry that rage anymore. But this wasn’t the time, and I couldn’t afford to distract him from the incredibly dangerous and risky path we were about to embark on. All I could do was meet his intense gaze and pat his hand to reassure him.

“I am well. The things that happened here will only make me stronger.”

He opened his mouth to reply hotly, but then one of the others cleared their throats and we were forced to break apart—him reluctantly, me with relief.

It was time. Wrists and ankles chained, my unconscious mate lay on the canvas sling between two poles sturdy enough to be used to carry a horse. Four of my comrades were positioned, one for each corner, and two more, one on each side to give their partners rest when needed.

He looked so vulnerable—asleep and bound in the hands of those he’d name enemy, I wanted to weep. But I wouldn’t leave his side until we made it to the Capitol. And then… when he was awake… then I’d explain.

And I’d pray that he could forgive me.

“Let’s go,” I said quietly.

“Yilan—” Turo started, but I shook my head.

“It’s time,” I said hoarsely. “We need to get well beyond the camp before the sun rises. Remember to keep walking the shadows until your power gives out. It will be impossible not to leave footsteps bearing that kind of weight. So spread the trail as much as possible.”

The men—the biggest and strongest we’d brought on this mission, though each still less than half the weight of Melek—all nodded and leaned down, taking hold of the poles, but not lifting until their leader gave the command.

Turo remained at my side, one hand hovering near my back, though he didn’t touch me, which was a relief.

We watched them together, carrying Melek to the deepest and widest of the shadows at the back of the tent, and when they’d managed to maneuver their large load so that all of him was covered by the dimness, the leader nodded.

“We’re aiming for the twisted tree, thirty feet away. Concentrate.”

The men all nodded, placing one hand each on Melek’s bare arms or legs, and then they began to fade. The process was slower when they carried any burden, but one the size of Melek… I was stunned they were able to do it at all. But they did.

And then, just for a breath, Turo and I were alone.

My stomach dropped when he turned to me and offered his hand. “I will avenge you, Yilan,” he said quietly. Fiercely. “These bastards will pay. You have served your people at cost to yourself and I will not stop fighting until every one of them knows it, and knows they pay the debt for what they did to you.”

I slumped. “Turo, please…”

“You want me to just let them harm you? You expect me to stand by and just… forgive that?”

I opened my mouth, suddenly needing to tell him everything. Needing him to understand. But every instinct in my head shrieked.

He wouldn’t be able to think straight for days. Possibly weeks. It would put all of us in danger. But especially him.

He watched, eyes angry, as I shook my head. “This isn’t the time,” I croaked. “Just promise me you’ll take no action until we’ve spoken… about everything.”

“Oh, I promise you, Yilan. I want every detail, to know exactly what I’m avenging.”

I sighed, but nodded. Then he took my hand and led me to the shadows, and we both faded into them without another word.