Page 78 of The King’s Man (The Kingdom of the Krow #3)

~ DIADRE ~

“And you’ve already impregnated her, well done!”

Those words, spoken so casually tore the earth out from under my feet.

I grabbed for Jann’s hand and found his jacket instead, which was probably for the best since Lucifer didn’t need to know we actually cared for each other.

But I was reeling. And as I spun, the rest of the world stopped.

A wave of emotion crashed through Jann, boiling and churning, his heart leaping with thrill in the same moment terror ripped through his chest.

I was already floundering—Lucifer greeted Jann as an ally, an assumed servant. And Jann showed no hesitation.

He’d assured me he could handle this… but he’d never said I already work with Lucifer.

Was this why his eyes had stayed yellow?

Was I a fool, had I—?

Then the clunk of Jann’s heart, his fear for me ripped through the bond. I marveled that his expression could remain so calm, his gestures so casual, offering no hint of the turmoil slicing through him.

One, tiny stammer, a hitch in his words was the only clue and even Lucifer didn’t catch it.

He was terrified.

And ecstatic.

And ready to pull me out of that place and flee with me without another thought.

I couldn’t let him do it. It couldn’t be true. I’d been taking the herbs for years with no problems.

But if I was really pregnant, could I risk walking among these monsters?

If I was really going to bear a child, could I afford not to?

Jann was speechless in the bond, but he reached for me. I felt him grasping like a drowning man, yanking me closer—the leap in his heart when he heard those words, or thought them, immediately followed by tidal waves of fear.

Pregnant?

The cold chill of terror when he considered what they meant.

I tried not to tremble. It had to be a lie. Something Lucifer planned to use to keep Jann in his place. It had to be. I’d never faltered in taking my herbs…

Except… these are the Nephilim. Bigger, stronger, more powerful, half-supernatural. Had I been a fool assuming the herbs would work?

Holy shit.

Holy shit.

Lucifer kept talking, but nothing made sense. When Jann turned to walk I stumbled after him, heart shrieking, my mind scrambling. Because if this was true, our entire lives were about to change.

And if it was true… our lives weren’t guaranteed.

I felt the shock shuddering in Jann, the heavy chill as the words sunk in. How he managed to continue speaking and appearing so untouched was beyond me. I shook. Reeling. Searching for any way through this that didn’t end in my death, or his, or…

Or our son?

I looked up at Jann and he snapped his head to look at me, a warning flashing in his eyes.

‘This is not the time. Keep silent until we’re alone. I’ll explain everything then . ’

He thought I was angry about Lucifer. He thought my fear was the tremble of distrust.

I sent him a quavering, fragile rush of reassurance, but my head screamed.

My courage staggered, not because Jann was playing both sides of this war. I knew his heart. I could feel it.

To reassure myself, I grabbed at the bond again and felt the flicker in him as well.

This loyalty to Lucifer was a ruse. It had to be… yet, why hadn’t he told me?

No. There was no fear of this. Jann was good. I knew that better than anyone. I took another handful of the bond, gripping it, wrapping it, braiding it around my heart and sending him every ounce of confidence and certainty I could muster as he followed Lucifer into the Palace.

But it didn’t change the fact that I was on the end of Jann’s leash and possibly carrying his child. But very definitely following the Fallen angel, Lucifer.

The Nephilim despised humanity. And idolized their own offspring—they raped women to achieve it. Yet, Jann believed he was cursed, and the birth of a child heralded the approach of his own death.

How was he going to react to this?

Hell… how would Lucifer?

Did Lucifer know? Was this a game?

Was I even pregnant…?

Lucifer was called the King of Lies… but he was also brilliant.

Something deep within me said that there was no gain in lying about this.

If he was aware of our bond, he could use me against Jann regardless.

And he would. I was certain of it. The Nephilim were so brutal.

So ruthless. And Jann so strong among them.

And I was his mate.

And pregnant?

Would Jann’s child be seen as more Nephilim than Gall’s? A stronger heir?

Dread crept up my spine with cold fingers at the picture Jann had painted of his mother’s life in the wake of his father’s death. And suddenly, that was me. Me, alone in this fucked up society with a son that challenged the King’s primacy.

Dear God… if Lucifer didn’t kill us, Gall would.

Wouldn’t he?

A wave of nausea washed through me as I stumbled after Jann, clinging to that bond.

Never would I have imagined that the discovery of life would be an omen of impending death.

God, help me. Help… all of us.