Page 133 of The King has Fallen

“I can take her,” he said hurriedly. “She’s already been here far too long. I can take her. And I will keep her safe.”

“Melek!” she hissed.

I looked down at her. “This solves that problem we were discussing,” I said pointedly.

“No, it doesn’t. It’s just a different door—”

I opened my mouth to tell her about the rumor, and needing to take Gall, how I needed to go search, but then the male moved and I was reminded that there was an enemyin my tent.I growled.

“I am not going to discuss plans in front of…him.”

“Good. There is no need,” she said shortly.

Arturo stood in a posture that would seem at ease to any untrained—but I saw the perfect balance, his weight on the balls of his feet, his slightly lowered center of gravity, and the open hands that could become fists, or knifehands in a blink.

I watched him uneasily as I replied to her. “There is every need. And he seems… more than happy to help.”

She opened her mouth, but Arturo nodded once. “Yes. Absolutely. It was my mission to bring her out. Our intentions are aligned in this,” he said shortly.

Oh, what a surreal moment, as thisenemybecame a light in my world. The answer to my greatest fear.

Yilan spluttered when I addressed him directly, but I had to know.

“If I allow you to take her, are you willing to protect her with yourlife?”

He tensed, offended and his eyes narrowed. “She is my bond-vowed. I would give every drop of blood that runs in my veins to keep her safe,” he hissed in an astounding revelation.

It was as if the earth suddenly ripped itself out from under my feet.

It was only by God’s grace that I didn’t let the sudden freefall show on my face, though my grip tightened on Yilan’s arm and she rushed into the silence, babbling, reassuring both of us—but still arguing that it wasn’t yettime.

And in my mind that image bloomed again.

Her, in my lap this time, holding both sides of my face, speaking quickly, frantically.Explaining.And then, as if she heard the questions in my mind, another image—her speaking to this male… his countenance intense and… grieved.

She showed herself drawing away from him and into my arms. And suddenly I could breathe again.

Unaware of what passed between us, the Fetch only stood, watching me, waiting for the verdict.

I cleared my throat and she jerked her head back up to look at me, her eyes wide and pleading…

She did not want me to reveal the bond to this man.

Because he was a danger to her?

Or because she would yet deny me?

A surge of dark jealousy twisted in my chest and I had to make myself release her before I hurt her.

“I have a task I cannot escape,” I said as casually as I could. “I will leave Yilan here with her… general.” I said through gritted teeth. “When I return, we will all speak again and make a plan to get her out of here safely.”

Arturo’s eyes brightened. “Yes,” he said.

At the same moment Yilan whirled to face me and hissed,“No!”

46. Bond-Vowed

~ YILAN ~

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