Page 131 of The King has Fallen

Of course, there was also relief that I would see her again—and my thoughts turned to ways I might justify having her one more time, just in case. I knew it was unwise to take the time, but Ihadtold Jann an hour.

I growled at myself as I reached the flat of land where my tent was nestled against the rock and under the tree, the campfire crackling.

It was habit to keep my steps quiet, to give no indication of my presence in the quiet. I smiled, looking forward to seeing her eyes going wide, and her smile when she saw me back so quickly and it meant we had more time.

I reached for the tent flap with a smile on my face and stepped inside… stopping dead at the sight of Yilan standing,chin high and arms folded, glaring at a tall, male Fetch who loomed over her, his teeth bare and every inch of his stance screaming aggression.

Then both of them caught the flash of sunlight pouring in behind me, and exploded into motion.

45. Fight You

~ MELEK ~

Time always slowed in battle. Everything seeming to happen in slow motion in the moment. Yet, when I remembered it later, it would come in flashes—drives, thrusts, jolts of fear. and of triumph.

As the two of them startled like cats, I was already reaching for my spear at my back—it was taking forever to get my arm high to pull it from its loops and bring it down to bear. Meanwhile, the male Fetch whirled into shadow and seemed to disappear for a blink before reappearing five feet to the right, one arm cocked back to the hilt of a sword over his shoulder, the other reaching across his body to the sheath of a longblade under his ribs, defending his heart as he drew the weapon.

As I moved through molasses to bring the spear down and flip it into position, he brought both weapons forward, his lip peeled back from his teeth and a warning cry breaking in his throat.

We both took our first steps at the same time

A high, catlike scream filled my ears, punctuating my pounding pulse in my ears as we both moved—him lifting that smaller blade just a hair too high, leaving me a small target in the crook of his arm where my spearhead could slide between his ribs—

And just as I thrust for it, Yilan appeared from a whisp of vapor, her back to the fuckingFetch,both hands high and her beautiful eyes wide as she screamed my name.

I had instinctively committed to the thrust, and bellowed, twisting, turning, my body screaming with the effort to turn it from her, thanking God that somehow she twisted her shoulder just enough to the right that my spear thrust ended in the air, just an inch from her shoulder—then time snapped back to its normal pace.

“—no, Turo,no!”

“Yilan!”

I caught my weight and turned onto my back foot, releasing my spear with one hand and hooking my arm around her, pulling her with me as that fucker’s blade flashed, curling her into my side and using her weight as a counter-balance to turn us both away from him, screaming as we tumbled to the ground and I held her, the spear against her chest, rolling to come back to my feet a body length away, with her in the circle of my arms and the spear ready.

“TURO, STOP!I owe him life debt!”Yilan shrieked, both her hands outstretched towards the Fetch who finally slid to a halt, eyes wide and lips peeled back from his teeth.

Then we were all still, chests heaving, eyes darting… and my heart pounded in my chest like a drum.

“Whatthe fuckis going on?” I snarled in her ear

But Yilan still had her hands high and was trying to soothe the other male.

“Turo, listen…listen to me.He saved me—more than once.”

“Impossible,” the male snapped. “This ruttingrapisthas turned your mind.”

“No! He is the opposite—I swear it, Turo. He helped me. He claimed me to save me… It was a ruse. A show, to throw the others off the scent and keep them from me. Turo, you have to believe me. Please…please…”

The male didn’t lower his weapon, but his eyes were bright with vengeance and locked on my mate.

“Yilan…” he said hoarsely. “We heard the roars.”

In the circle of my arms, Yilan sagged, but kept her eyes and hands up. “I’m sorry you were… I’m sorry. But you heard what you were intended to hear.”

The Fetch’s jaw jutted forward and he clenched it so tight I wondered if he would crack his teeth. Then his eyes cut from her to me, and narrowed.

“You will pay for your violation in—”

“NO!” Yilan protested. She tried to push out of my arms, but I gripped the spear and kept her close. “Melek, you have to let me—”

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