Page 1 of The King’s Man (The Kingdom of the Krow #3)

~ DIADRE ~

As the sun rose the morning after the Nephilim battle, I left the King’s tent, the camp’s pathway dirt and pebbles crunching under my boots. I needed to breathe the dawn air. And I had a job to do.

I didn’t care about fucking Nephilim traditions. Among the Shadekin it was a Captain’s duty to see to the battlefield. If enemies were discovered alive they needed to be dispatched with mercy—and without further torment. And if our allies were discovered…

No common soldier should have to endure the pain of assessing a brother-in-arm’s life. Those decisions belonged to their Officers.

Frankly, I was surprised the Neph who spoke of honor were so quick to dismiss the task to underlings.

I didn’t know why I was surprised. Melek was a good man, but he was unique among them—and his eyes had been green all along.

If I understood Yilan correctly that meant he’d already stood in opposition to the Fallen.

I wasn’t quite clear how that changed the color of a Neph’s eyes, but it couldn’t be denied that the men who’d stayed and remained alive were all now in possession of emerald gazes.

As I walked slowly onto the silent battlefield, my breath made a cloud.

When I inhaled, my nose wrinkled. The stench was still mild, but even now in the cool months the bloat of dead bodies was already beginning and the sun’s heat would bring far worse this afternoon.

Either the Nephilim planned to live among that putridity, or they would have to start burying bodies.

Shaking off the dark thoughts, I headed for the corner of the battlefield to the north and west of the rocky outcropping where I’d done most of my fighting. I had some looting to do. Some of those fuckers had fallen under my blade, and whatever weapons or valuables they held belonged to me.

I would check those areas first, then branch out to wherever the Neph hadn’t already cleared.

But I’d only just taken a strange, gold pendant from one of the warriors that seemed very out of place among his otherwise rough and ready clothing, when a throat cleared behind me, and even though I hadn’t seen him coming, I knew.

Fucking Jann.

Fury simmered in my chest, which made no sense. He’d barely spoken to me since the battle started—hadn’t even been a jackass when the others were joking around.

“What is it, Jann?” I asked flatly without looking up, turning that pendant over to see if I could decipher the symbols on its back.

“I came to thank you,” he said quietly.

Thank me? I almost laughed.

The breeze rose and I lifted my chin to inhale the clean air deeply. It wouldn’t last long. But when I was done, Jann remained there, staring at me expectantly .

“It’s not necessary,” I said, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

I tucked the pendant into my cleavage before turning to walk to the next body.

Except, fingers slipped around to cup my elbow and turn me and my body lit up in alarm .

I hissed and whirled on him, snapping my arm around to break his grip as I faced him and sank into a defensive stance, hands up to fend off an attack.

Jann sighed and stepped back, holding his hands up as if in surrender. “I’m not trying to take you. God,” he muttered. “I want to thank you.”

“So you said, and yet here I am, being touched.”

A very low rumble started in his chest, but he didn’t give voice to whatever fuckwitty thoughts he was having. Instead, to my surprise, he bowed.

Had he lost his mind?

“I am Jannus the Halfling, a Captain—no, General—of the Nephilim. And your servant,” he said through gritted teeth. “We stood shoulder to shoulder in battle, and I live and breathe today because of your—”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I warned you a guy was coming and planted a knife in him. I would have done the same for a fucking messenger boy. You’re welcome. Now, let it go.”

“Trust me, I wish I could,” he ground out. “But my honor demands—”

“Honor, my ass,” I hissed, stomping to close the space between us and point a finger at his chest. “Honor doesn’t come from you being humbled. Honor would have recognized a fellow soldier. Honor wouldn’t have dismissed me simply because I am in possession of breasts,” I snarled.

His eyes drifted down to my chest, but then snapped back up. I scowled. He cleared his throat.

“I do recognize your skill. My life is indebted—”

“I don’t give two shits if I saved your life or not,” I spat.

“Our little charade is done. You touch me again without my permission and I will remove your testicles with my teeth. Stay the hell away from me, Jannus the Half-ass. Don’t touch me.

Don’t talk to me. Don’t even look at me unless it’s in service to my King and Queen. Do you hear me?”

His lips thinned. “I hear you.”

“Good.”

I turned and started walking away, but a moment later his footsteps sounded behind me . When I glanced over my shoulder to find him following , I turned on him again and planted my fists on my hips.

“I said, leave me alone!”

His lips twitched like I was a joke and I almost plunged a blade straight into his balls.

“Permission to speak and explain… Captain?” he murmured.

God he was insufferable. I folded my arms. “Speak if you must. But get it out now.”

He shocked me again, this time by taking a knee—a position of humbling, and honoring, in a soldier’s life—as he saluted me despite the fact that he apparently outranked me now.

“It is our tradition that when a Nephilim owes a life debt, it must be repaid. Until then, I am at your call. A… a slave.” His lips tightened.

I couldn’t resist a small smile. “I will do as you wish and give you space. But only if you give me your word—as an Officer of the crown—that if you are in need, you will send for me so I may attempt to make up what you are owed.”

“I am not—”

“If you won’t give me your word, I’ll be forced to shadow you whenever possible, looking for opportunities to release myself from the debt.”

God, not that. My teeth were clenched because I didn’t want to have any more to do with Jann and his games. But if refusing him would mean he’d be even more present than necessary… I shook my head and blew out a frustrated breath.

“Fine,” I snapped, flapping a hand at him. “You have my word that if I am ever in need, I’ll ask for your help.”

“Thank you.”

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head at him. “Is there anything else? Or—”

I’d been feeling like something was off since the moment he’d walked up, but I hadn’t registered why. Until now. He stared down at me, but it was the first time I fully met his eyes… and saw that they were unchanged.

My heart went cold. That couldn’t be right? He’d fought alongside me. Clearly been desperate to protect Melek. He was an ally! But—

“Are you true, Jannus?” I asked quietly. “Do you even serve my King and Queen? Or are you a traitor, just waiting for your moment—”

He shoved to his feet. “I’ll ignore your rudeness and ridiculous spite, but—”

“Ridiculous?!”

“Yes, ridiculous! If you want to be respected as a soldier, don’t drag your feelings into every decision—”

I huffed, but he snarled on.

“—and measure the merits of a man for his character! Since you can’t seem to stop acting like an embarrassed adolescent, let me help you: Melek is the most admirable male and powerful Nephilim in existence.

I believe in him so deeply, I rejected staking my claim to the throne, because I knew he’d do it better! ”

“So you say—”

“So it was. You can kick dirt in my face, insult me, and dismiss my value as much as you like. I will take your criticism and move on, as a soldier should. But do not…” he stepped closer, looming over me, snarling.

“…Do not question my loyalty to my best friend whom I call brother . You will not survive it, life debt, or no.”

I scowled at him to cover the jolt of fear rocking through me. “That’s a very pretty speech for someone whose eyes are still yellow.”

Jann blinked and jerked back a step.

I pushed the advantage. “And Melek’s making you General? Well, shit.” I huffed and shook my head. “Maybe I should let you follow me after all. Keep an honorable eye on you.”

“That… won’t be necessary.” He sounded faint.

I almost laughed and couldn’t resist patting him on the chest like a child. “Servant, I have—”

The moment my hand rested over his heart an electric jangle shot from my palm, up my arm, to explode in my chest. I gasped and jerked away, but my entire skin tingled and my chest suddenly hurt.

What had he done to me? What the fuck had he done?!

Jann panted, blinking, his expression confused and afraid.

I shook like a leaf. I’d heard the Nephilim had secret sorcerers. Was that what he was? Was he fooling Melek into believing he was a brother, so Melek would keep him close? Had he cast a spell on me?! But even as the thought faded, something in my chest surged, making me sway closer.

Jann looked stunned. “Diadre—” he croaked.

I shook my head, jerking back a step. “No!” I gasped, scrambling back, tripping on a body behind me and almost falling. He reached for me, but I yanked my arm away, almost fell again, caught my weight and finally got my feet under me, then turned and fled.

My skin felt too tight. I couldn’t breathe through the steel bands tightening around my chest—that were somehow attached to him. I fled, putting more distance between us with every pace, yet his gaze on my back dragged at me, threatened to pull me off my stride.

What had he done?

An ally with yellow eyes? He had to be a traitor. Didn’t he?

So why did every fiber of my being scream at me to turn and run back?

What had he done to me?