Page 5 of The King’s Man (The Kingdom of the Krow #3)

~ DIADRE ~

I shrieked my rage when he yanked me off my horse—rage, and frustration. I’d let my guard down. He should never have had a chance to get hands on me. But it wasn’t until he dragged me away from the horses and into the trees that fear shrieked in my head and my hands began to shake.

“What the fuck— what are you doing?!”

Jann stalked through the trees, eyes blazing and jaw set. He had my hair in his fist again, the fucker. But the thing that gave me pause was his grip on my wrist. It was as strong as any manacle. For a moment I panicked, but then I remembered… no. No. I was not helpless.

Prying at his fingers, I bared my teeth and turned, looking for the opening to a soft, vulnerable spot—

“If you want to see how quickly I can disarm you—or break your bones—please, feel free to continue measuring me for an attack, Diadre. It will only serve to drive this lesson home,” he muttered.

I threw one elbow out and almost took him in the stomach, but the fucker’s arms were too long and he yanked me away so I was forced to turn the blow into a fist thrown wide—uncomfortable when I slammed it into his stomach, but not debilitating.

“Let me go,” I snapped. “There’s no other Neph here! You want me to believe you’re not a monster, yet you’ll drag me from my horse and threaten me? ”

But he ignored me. The fear in my heart ratcheted up another notch.

There was a blade in the sheath at my back, but his arms were far longer than mine and while he had a hold on me—and I knew how fast he could move—there was little to gain by even going for the knife.

If he didn’t stop me reaching it, he’d simply disarm me while keeping himself at a safe distance until he could use it against me.

“Jann, let me go,” I hissed.

Jann dragged me over a low, fallen tree trunk that was barely half a step for him, but I had to lengthen my stride to make it over.

When my second foot was still in the air to clear it, he yanked me forward and around with such force I was already facing him, both my wrists now gripped in his iron fists, before I could find my balance properly.

“Why are you—?!”

Suddenly I was spinning, whipped around so my back was to him and he locked both my arms to my sides with one arm, while the other hand clapped over my mouth and he leaned down to snarl in my ear.

“You’re going to let your fucking pride get you killed.”

Before I could respond, the world tilted and the earth was rushing up to meet me. Quick as a flash, I raised my hands, but the moment I caught my weight my feet were kicked out and I went down, stomach to the dirt.

Instinct kicked in. I snarled and rolled in an attempt to get out of his reach.

It cost me a precious second to shove my upper body up and draw my knees up under me, but I reached for my blade in the same motion and leaped to my feet—only to find my wrist caught by a stone wall halfway there.

We both froze for a moment—me absorbing the shock of him catching my wrist, him staring at that blade so close to his ribs.

But the world twirled again and a heavy, steel arm circled my body, yanking me back against a hot chest. His knee shoved between mine, and he gripped my hair again, jerking my head back, his quickening breath thundering in my ear.

Terror and rage fought for dominance in my body as I struggled and snarled . But I was caught, only one hand free, and that one barely able to get a grip on his wide forearm as he threatened to scalp me.

I gritted my teeth, swallowing the howl and curses that wanted to come as he lowered his head and hissed in my ear.

“I claimed you, to protect you from men as strong as me, who would come every time they heard you scream,” he growled.

“Fuck you!”

“There’s my girl.”

“I am not your fucking girl—” I hissed.

“Oh, yes, you are. You’re thinking like a child,” he growled in my ear.

“This isn’t a game, Diadre. I claimed you to save you—and by Neph standards, if I was that kind of monster, I’d be expected to take you whenever, and however I choose.

Because that is how my people work. Whether you like to believe that in your little bubble of Fetch propriety, or not. ”

He thrust his hips forward, humping my ass. I bit back a scream and a low rumble vibrated in his chest.

“My brothers want to hear you cry—do you not understand?”

“Get your filthy hands off me you fucking pervert! ” It was supposed to be an order, carrying all the authority I held as a Captain of the crown. But the very real edge of fear sang through it, weakening me.

“That’s it.” His grip on my hair tightened and he craned my head back so I stared up into the misty silhouette of the trees and branches overhead. His voice remained a low, dreadful hiss in my ear.

“I am no more a pervert than you are a child.” He rolled his hips, rubbing himself on my ass and I squawked, but he only whispered again.

“Don’t worry, Dee. I prefer my women willing— and have no desire to force them.

But my brothers? They will take you the moment they believe you are unguarded by me.

You should be fucking grateful for my protection. ”

My jaw dropped and I struggled with all my might, strangled cries breaking in my throat. I got one good elbow jab into his ribs that made him grunt, but the fear screamed higher because even when he flinched, I couldn’t budge him.

I couldn’t fucking move. He was so strong and so much bigger than me.

He chuckled and taunted me as I struggled, but when I finally slumped, tears threatening, he dropped his jaw against mine and whispered in my ear again.

“That’s it. You’re learning.”

“Learning that you threatened to rape me?” I hissed.

Jann went very still. I swallowed hard, suddenly afraid I’d finally pushed him too far—then gasping when I was tumbling to the forest floor again as he roared.

I was forced to tuck and roll so I didn’t eat dirt, but before I was halfway to my feet, he’d grabbed me again and pulled me to face him, that hand back in my hair and yanking my head back, while the other gripped my wrist.

He stood over me, fire in his eyes and his tongue already forming whatever sick thing was in his head—but he’d forgotten my blade. And my free hand.

As he leaned down, I whipped the point of the blade up right under his chin.

We both froze, staring at each other.

But he didn’t back off. And he didn’t release my hand.

“One wrong move,” I hissed, “and I will put this through your throat to the hilt—where it will reach even to your tiny brain.”

His eyes narrowed. “I don’t doubt that you’re stupid enough to kill your savior. But rest assured, before you manage the strike, I’d snap your neck,” he growled, tightening his grip in my hair.

“God, the sheer arrogance of you. You overpower a woman and call yourself a savior?!”

“Ah, suddenly she wants to be seen as a woman. Convenient.”

“Not when I’m in the hands of a Neph,” I spat. “Your people’s traditions are repulsive and abhorrent.”

He stared at me, his upper lip twitching like he was fighting a sneer. He seemed to gather himself, and leaned in until his nose almost touched mine, and his breath washed over my face when he spoke.

“I would never take a woman against her will. I have no need to. You can sleep easily at night, Diadre. I have no need to violate you—no interest in it,” he said with a wicked smile, implying the insult.

“There’s no need to draw steel with me,” he purred.

“You need only use the very honed blade of your tongue if you want to move me.”

“You’re not as funny as you think. Women don’t actually admire you. You know that, right? All those preening, coy smiles? They’re pretending not to resist out of fear of your wrath if they refuse.”

“Oh really?”

“Really.”

His expression went hard. “I am not a monster, Diadre. If you want to be freed, don’t be coy. And don’t fight. Ask me.”

I frowned, still struggling because he had my head pulled so far back it was difficult to balance my weight effectively. Which was precisely why he’d done it.

He didn’t speak again, but his eyes challenged me. There had to be some trick I was missing. Some magik if I submitted or… But I couldn’t see it.

“Let me go,” I spat through my teeth. And when he arched one brow, I rolled my eyes. “Please.”

Then he did. He let me go and stepped back, watching me, but no longer reaching for me.

I gasped with relief and scrambled back and away from him, panting, still holding the blade.

Our eyes locked and I swallowed hard, trying not to let him see my fear.

“Don’t mistake my ability to lie to an enemy for a threat to your safety, Diadre,” he muttered.

“I have claimed you, and yes, when my brothers hear me roar, they’ll assume I’m raping you.

But we know the truth. You and I. We know I’ve never so much as touched you.

I’ve just proven to you that I could whenever I choose.

But I choose not to. If you need evidence of my honor, that’s it. ”

I swallowed hard, frowning.

He didn’t even pause. “When we go back to my people, you must stay close to me. Very close. Always within arm’s reach.

But always wary. Be prickly. Be afraid. Be enraged.

But make certain it’s for their measure, not mine.

By claiming you I’ve imparted value to you.

It tells them I’ve measured you strong enough to carry a Neph babe—and that makes you a very desirable commodity in their eyes. ”

I sneered, “You’re all disgusting.”

“No, they are!” he hissed, stepping closer to me again, his teeth bared.

“I share your revulsion for that practice, but that doesn’t change the fact that it exists.

These men worked with Melek, they know he won’t overlook it.

But trust me, they don’t share my restraint or…

preference about when and how to take a woman.

It’s only their belief that I’ve claimed you that will keep them from dragging you away as easily as I just did.

But if you flee me, or harm me, they’ll see it as my weakness and they will come for you.

And not just to make you howl and humble you.

They don’t give a fuck about your wellbeing.

They just want a fuck. The only lesson they’ll teach you is to how to take it like a good girl… Do you understand?”

My lips twisted on the sour words, but I nodded. “I understand.”

“Good. Then bite and hiss all you want, but do not look me in the eye and tell me I’m the monster here. You’re a soldier. This is strategy. Toe the fucking line.”

He grabbed the back of my jacket and pushed me back towards the horses, but before I could straighten my clothing to prove that I wasn’t afraid, he muttered a curse, then pulled me back around to face him.

His face was tight, his eyes narrowed as he glared down at me.

Fear thrilled through me and I scrambled for some way to reassert control, to stop him feeling fucking smug because he’d won. But he beat me to it.

“I meant what I said—I abhor that practice, and have not engaged in it. Ever. And for what it’s worth, I despise this,” he said, tipping his head towards his grip on me.

“But I would rather offend your sense of propriety, than see you taken against your will. So, please… Don’t force me to prove the need for caution to you again. ”

Then he let go like touching me burned, and stalked back to the horses, leaving me to tug my clothing straight and, once I had stopped trembling, follow him, cursing at every step.