Page 18 of The King’s Man (The Kingdom of the Krow #3)

~ DIADRE ~

I was halfway through to camp and trying to find my bearings before I heard him roar, and that pushed my feet faster.

I dashed tears from my cheeks as I passed a handful of Neph who stood when they saw me and turned to face me, their gazes following me.

Shit. Shit.

The King’s tent. Only servants were allowed in there when Melek was gone, but Yilan had given me permission. As soon as I was out of direct line of sight of any of these fuckers, I’d walk the shadows and slip in there, hide until they returned.

It had been stupid to come here alone, but I hadn’t been thinking.

Thankfully, none of the men I passed followed me, though they watched my passage.

Three or four more steps and I’d turn between those two tents and as long as there was no one there, I’d twist into smoke in the shadow between them—Yilan had been very clear that I wasn’t to let them know we could make ourselves essentially invisible unless it was a matter of life and death.

I looked over my shoulder at that fist of men behind me, relieved that they hadn’t moved as I stepped off the path and between the two tents. But as I turned and gathered my power, an arm whipped out and hooked me around the waist.

It was exactly the same move Jann had used more than once in that battle to yank me to his side. For a split second I thought it was him, that he’d somehow reached this place before me.

But it wasn’t his hot breath on my ear, or his voice that growled in my ear.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

With a gasp, I let my body slump, slide directly down, through his arm to the dirt, then rolled as he grabbed for me and shoved back to my feet, darting between two more tents as I sucked in a breath to scream.

But a steel grip clamped over my ankle and yanked my foot off the ground. Unable to get my other foot down in time, I hit the dirt so hard my teeth clacked and the breath I’d taken was shoved out of my lungs.

Panicking as I was dragged backwards, leaving skin on the gravelly ground, I had a split second to make the call if this counted as life-threatening enough to warrant walking the shadows with a Nephilim witness—and decided that it did.

Just in time for my head to bounce and the world to tilt, then go black.

I wasn’t sure how long I was stunned. But I blinked and the fog cleared by half, revealing a handsome but dark Nephilim, eyes wide and bright as he stared down at me like a child being served dessert.

Thick fingers gripped my chin and shook my head, which only made it spin more. “I’m going to plant a baby in your belly,” he grunted. “If the Halfling wants to kill you for it, come to me. I’ll protect you.”

I gasped, and tried to fight. But when I reached for the blade at my hip it was gone—had I not worn it this morning, or had this fucker stolen it?

I couldn’t remember. I flipped onto my belly, blinking furiously and grasped at the shadows to shift to nothing, to give him nothing to grab.

But I couldn’t get a hold of it. My head sang, aching from the blow, and the darkness slipped through my fingers like smoke.

I shrieked until he clamped a hand over my face—but he misjudged and his upper finger landed right over my mouth. I opened my jaw and bit down. Hard.

His roar of pain was satisfying—until the world rang like a gong and my head spun. I couldn’t tell up from down until a great weight pinned me to the ground.

“Stop. STOP!” I screamed, clawing at anything I could reach—trying for his eyes, but happy to gouge lines in his cheeks and down his temple.

He muttered curses, but gathered both my hands up and locked my wrists in one of his fists.

I screamed, demanding he unhand me and opened my eyes to catch sight of two other men peering around the edge of the tents… watching as he tugged down my leathers.

NO. No, this couldn’t happen. I scrabbled like a bug in the dirt, frantic, desperate.

“Help me! Help me, please! I’m—”

A thick, meaty hand clamped around my throat.

I couldn’t breathe. At all. Not to inhale. Not to speak. Nothing could pass that rock in my throat.

“Don’t worry, it’ll increase your pleasure,” the monster rumbled.

One of the other men said something and my heart leaped—would they help me? But then my attacker snarled, “No. Find your own.”

I clawed at his grip on my throat as he lifted me like I was the prey on a hunt and carried me towards one of the nearby tents.

Lights sparkled in my vision and the pressure made my head scream with pain. I fought for my life—only to find myself dangling by his fist, feet unable to find purchase because he held me off the ground.

In desperation, I swung a wild kick and connected with his groin.

He grunted and groaned, tipping forward, snarling a curse… and staggered into a tent without loosening his grip.

My vision began to tunnel. My head shrieked with pain.

I was about to pass out. I would lose consciousness, and this monster would take me.

Terror like I’d never felt—not in battle, not facing a sword, or a spear, or any other mortal threat—cut through me like a heated blade.

There was a loud thud, a grunt, and I fell to the earth again, clawing the ground and sucking at the air.

Blessed fucking air. I gulped at it, eyes watering, even as every fiber of my being screamed at me to move.

I tried. I crawled on numb hands and shaking knees, my body trembling as I sucked at the air.

But everything was slow. So slow. To move one hand took an age. To shift my weight, a year.

And then I was grabbed again, and I screamed, “NO!” as I was flipped onto my back. To my shock, the hand let me go. I pushed myself backwards, scrabbling in the dirt, looking for the enemy—only to find Jann standing over me with that other monster in his grip.

Jann had twisted a fist in his hair and held his spear against the fucker’s arched throat—pulled back so tight the tendons on his neck stood proud. There was blood trickling down his neck where the blade had split the skin when he struggled.

I couldn’t think. Could barely breathe. I stared at Jann, who stared right back to me as he leaned down into the other Neph’s ear, lips peeled back from his teeth.

“We aren’t servants to the Fallen any longer. Or have you forgotten our new King so quickly?” he snarled.

“No—fuck, no!” the bastard spat through gritted teeth. “But she was alone. She was free to use—”

The man’s eyes went wide and he gurgled and coughed. Red, shining ribbons of blood poured out of his throat and down his body in seconds.

I flinched, blinking, shrieking, scrambling back when the wet heat splattered over me.

But my body fumbled and shook and failed me so I ended up on my ass, back tight against the tent, screaming as Jann let the body drop to the earth with a wet thud, then came for me.

I sucked in the last breath I’d ever take and threw my hands up, screaming—

Thick, warm arms circled and lifted me, but nothing stopped my breath.

A hard, prickled jaw rasped against my ear. “I’ve got you. You’re safe. I’ve got you. Shhhhh. We’re getting out of here. Just hold on, Diadre. Hold on. I’ve got you…”

Then everything moved too fast.

Pulling me tight against his chest, he turned sideways to push out of the tent flap, then immediately shot into the sky, rising so quickly my stomach was left behind and my body quivered.

But almost as quickly, he descended again—towards the trees.

Stunned and unable to think, I froze in his arms. Some small part of me was vaguely aware that his breath fluttered in my hair, and his voice—low, and soft—continued to reassure.

…You’re safe. I promise. Never again, Diadre. I’ll never leave you alone again. Forgive me… Forgive me…

And that voice plucked strings in my chest, like talented fingers on a lyre. I clung, arms tight around his neck, burying my face in his shoulder until there was a brief swoop, then we were no longer weightless.

A shiver rocked through my body from head to toe, and Jann’s grip on me tightened.

“Just breathe… just breathe. You’re safe. They can’t see you. We’re in the trees now. Just breathe…”

I opened my mouth to sob and felt my stomach revolt. “I’m going to be sick—” I gasped, then threw myself out of his arms, stumbling, falling, scrambling across dirt and rotten leaves to vomit behind a clump of undergrowth.

My body turned on me, flashing images of that beast— his bright eyes, his lascivious smile, his clawing, dirty hands.

Again and again my body heaved, purging him from me.

Until finally I coughed and my body slumped.

I landed on hands and knees, trembling like a newborn foal, fingers curled into the dirt.

Moments later a heavy hand rested on my shoulder and I whirled, whipping an arm around to break the grip.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa—it’s okay. I won’t touch you unless… unless it helps. Diadre… it’s me. I won’t hurt you. I give you my word. You’re safe. You’re safe. I promise…” He whispered the words. They came on a breath, his eyes pinched and mourning as he pleaded with me to hear him.

I looked around, frantic, certain there must be another threat. But there was nothing. I had no idea where we were. Where he’d taken me. We were completely alone.

I should have been terrified of him. But something deep inside me ached to be back in his arms.

“J-Jann…” My teeth chattered.

He dropped slowly to a squat in front of me, eyes on me, elbows on his knees and his hands clasped.

“I’m here. Just breathe.”

I nodded, but it was hard. My breath kept hitching. Catching. As if my lungs wouldn’t expand.

But he stayed quiet and still, watching me, glancing around us at times as if making certain we were alone.

I should have been afraid. I should have been terrified because a Nephilim had abducted me and brought me out into the middle of the forest alone. But all I could feel was relief.

And when he shuffled closer and offered me a hand, I took it—mine shaking so badly he had to grip for me because my fingers wouldn’t close properly.

I’m not sure how it happened, but at some point I found myself sitting across his lap, waves of shudders rocking my body as he sat back against the trunk of a tree and kept up that refrain of reassurance.

“…I have you… I won’t let them touch you. Ever. You’re safe… I give you my word, Diadre. You’re safe…”

I blinked and sucked in a deep breath—the first I’d been able to take—and then I raised my head and looked right into his tight, golden eyes.

Jann looked back at me, forehead furrowed, eyes darting back and forth, searching mine. “You’re safe,” he graveled, and his hand stroked my hair.

My vision blurred, but I blinked the tears back and took another deep breath. “Thank you. F-for getting m-me away. I’m… I’m fine.”

I pushed off his lap, to get to my feet, but my arms gave and I fell back into him. He gripped me, held me close and shook his head.

“No, no. Let it out. That was… that was a moment, Diadre. Let yourself process it—”

“I’m fine. It was… that was… b-bad. But it’s done. Y-you saved me. Thank you.”

“Dee—”

I pushed out of his arms, only a flash of panic when his grip tightened for a moment. But then he let me go, and I could push awkwardly off his lap.

Jann cursed, but held my elbow and pushed to his feet, then helped me to mine.

I swayed, my knees weak and wobbling. My hands still trembled. Adrenaline flooded my system and kept my heart hammering.

Eventually I made it upright. Jann stood in front of me, both hands cupping my elbows as he loomed over me, face tight with concern, braced to catch me if I fell.

“I’ll be fine in just… just a moment. I need to… catch my breath.”

“Diadre—don’t swallow it back. It’s okay to be emotional when truly bad things are happening—we let them out, then we get on with the job.”

Even though my head ached and my body still screamed that a threat was imminent, I had the presence of mind to look up and meet his eyes and hiss at him. “Emotional… Like a woman? I’m fine. He didn’t get the chance to hurt me.”

“No, emotional like a mortal. You don’t have to be strong every fucking moment—”

“Y-yes. I do,” I insisted, uncertain why I had to fight this, but sure that I did. “Because fucking men accept nothing less.”

I pulled out of his hands and tested my balance, stamping my feet and gripping and opening my hands, breathing purposefully until my head was clearer.

“Thank you. I… I owe you. Or… or maybe we’re even now? I always s-said that was a fate w-worse than death.”

“No, Diadre—”

“You’re free, Jann.” I turned and stumbled. Jann cursed and leaped for me, but I caught myself and stumbled on.

I was still having some trouble because my body trembled so violently.

“Diadre, please, don’t be so fucking stubborn!” he muttered, staying right at my back.

I shook my head and opened my mouth to tell him that I didn’t need him… until I remembered that I did. I very much did. Against these creatures… I had just had evidence that I needed him a great deal.

And that killed me a little bit inside.

“Diadre…” His fingers brushed my shoulder and I flinched, and almost fell over.

Cursing again, he caught me and held me on my feet, gripped me to his chest and hugged me. “You need to stop and breathe ,” he murmured, stroking my hair. “I’ll take you back to my tent. They won’t even know you’re there.”

I should have been able to walk the shadows and get myself through that camp without anyone seeing me. But I felt weak as a day old kitten.

“I… th-that w-would help… thank you,” I managed through chattering teeth. Then I turned and started walking.

With a heavy sigh, Jann hovered at my shoulder, one hand under my elbow, muttering instructions on which path to take through the trees.

And even though the fear wouldn’t leave me. Even though I knew I wasn’t thinking straight, I let him usher me back.

And I didn’t fall apart because the wall of him at my back made me feel a little less afraid.