Page 26 of The King’s Man (The Kingdom of the Krow #3)

As if he’d heard my mind, Jann pressed closer to my back, guiding me to one of the massive tables where we would sit to eat. I had to remind myself that my mind was well defended, and it was Shadekin who could speak into it, not Neph.

I settled in one of the single seats at the end of a table so that I’d have no direct neighbors.

The chair was too tall for my height and would leave my feet swinging like a child's, so I bent one leg up under me so I could jump to my feet more quickly if needed.

Then I dug into the steaming potatoes, peppers, and bacon with almost as much eagerness as Jann had done the night before.

Jann waited for me to sit, then placed his plate next to me at the top of the long side of the table. His lips pulled up in a grin.

“You eat like a man.”

“And you whine like a child. We all have our flaws,” I shot back instinctively. Growing up with my brother, then all his soldier friends, I’d been forced to become adept in verbal sparring if I wanted to have any chance at an upper hand.

Several of the nearby men guffawed, one slapping Jann’s back as he passed behind him on his way to a different table.

I hadn’t meant to draw attention and tensed when eyes turned to me, but I also found myself smiling because Jann’s lips twisted like he knew I’d landed a blow.

I couldn’t decide if his silence in the wake of it was polite, or suggested I was too weak to spar.

But while I was still thinking about how to tempt Jann back into another round, a shadow fell over me and my blood ran cold.

I turned to identify who’d joined us, only to find a massive Nephilim, leaning down, one arm on the back of Jann’s chair, the other extending towards the back of mine. His head was turned to Jann, his eyes on his General, but his hand brushed my back as he moved to grip my chairback.

There was a flash in my mind—that Neph, dragging me by my foot, clawing his way up my back while I struggled helplessly.

The man hadn’t even looked at me, was opening his mouth to speak to Jann, but my body flinched instinctively.

It would be hours before I could unravel the whirlwind that occurred in that moment.

All I knew was that my ears rang with a feral roar, a massive shadow somersaulted to my right.

I was thrown aside to hit the dirt and roll as the earth shuddered from the massive weight landing just feet from me.

Whipping upright, I caught flashes of gold hair and eyes, a string of grunts and muttered curses peppered the air, then suddenly I was swept into a broad chest and iron arms. A deep snarl vibrated in my ribs, and before I could take a second breath, I was being carried through the camp by Jann.

I blew out a shaky breath. “What the fuck—?”

“You’re fine. Just breathe. Holy shit, I’m sorry, Diadre—he was thoughtless and I reacted and…” Jann continued to mutter curses, his head whipping back towards the tables, lips peeled back from his teeth, his arms tight around me and trembling.

He was shaking.

I’d had a shock and trembled too. But I could feel the way his massive body quivered.

“I’m fine,” I said, then gave a little laugh because my voice shook.

Jann frowned hard as he dropped his gaze to look down at me. He was moving so fast, wings out, blocking my view of anyone else—and presumably, anyone else’s view of me—that we were soon back at his tent.

He didn’t slow until he’d shouldered aside the tent-flap and we were back in the dimmer interior.

But even then, he just stood in the center of the tent, his chest expanding and contracting quickly as he panted, his head turned over his shoulder like he expected someone to have followed.

It was strange—and oddly exhilarating—to see him so flustered.

I put a hand to his chest to reassure him that I was okay, I’d had a fright, but wasn’t feeling undone like I had yesterday.

Except, the moment my palm met that flat plane over his heart, he jolted and something electric snapped between us.

I gasped and yanked my hand back. Jann groaned, dropping his head, but his hold on me tightened. When he opened his eyes they were nearly black, and reddened in the corners.

“Do it again, Dee. Please,” he whispered, and his voice was tortured.

Wide-eyed, uncertain, and strangely thrilled, I lifted my shaking hand, opened it and slowly placed it back on his chest.

Once more, that sizzle of energy crackled between us, but this time… it was as if I felt his heartbeat. Not the faint patter from deep within, but a thick, warm pulse under his skin. Something raw and wild and…

“Jann,” I breathed, staring at his chest. “What’s that?”

He groaned again and slowly leaned down to lower my feet to the ground, but he clapped a hand over my palm on his chest before straightening when I took my own weight.

I stood between his feet, staring at that massive hand flattened over the back of mine, holding my touch to his chest. And under my palm, that surge and fall of warmth and sparkling energy seeded a frenetic energy in me, rising in my veins, pushing me forward. Pressing me towards him.

I stared at my hand on his chest. “What’s… what is this?” I breathed.

A tremble rocked through him and his eyes pinched as if he were in pain, but still that throb continued under my palm.

Moving slowly, as if I were a skittish horse, he lifted his free hand and slid it into my hair, his fingers curling in to tug and send delicious tingling through my scalp as he tipped my head back and forced me to meet his eyes.

As our gazes locked, torment lined his brow. A question in his eyes. A plea .

“Diadre… please,” he said hoarsely. “Please… may I kiss you?”

I blinked, my breath growing shallow as I realized that long, hard length at my belly wasn’t his blade.

“I… I thought you despised me?” I squeaked.

Jann groaned again. “It’s a hate boner, I swear.”

I should have laughed. It was funny. But I couldn’t breathe, let alone speak. And then he leaned down until his nose almost brushed mine, and when he whispered, his sweet breath washed across my face.

“This is… we are…” he swallowed convulsively. “Shit, Diadre. You need warmth and strength. And I need a soft place to be… alive . Perhaps… perhaps we can help each other?”

I should have denied him. I knew that. But when he dropped his cheek against mine and his nose traced the line of my jaw, the touch tingled, racing down my spine and making my heart thrum.

“Yes, Jann,” I breathed. “Yes.”

The growl that rumbled in his chest vibrating under my palm should have frightened me. But I was too consumed to be scared when Jann’s grip on me tightened and he descended on me, his breath tearing in his throat when our lips met in a ragged kiss.