Page 29 of The King has Fallen

He frowned at me. “I’m a male. Males aren’t lovely.”

Melek rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Enough talk of lovely. Come, Gall, we have duties to discuss. First I need you to run a message…”

I grew drowsy listening to Melek’s deep, quiet voice drone as he listed several tasks for Gall to complete. But then the younger man left and Melek turned to me, his expression angry.

“What?” I snapped.

“If you hurt him or, God forbid, try to seduce him, I will cut you from throat to—”

I leaped to my feet, holding the spear prepared to throw. “You say one more word and I will kill you and consider my life a worthy cost.” I was right at the bars, glaring at him just a few feet away. He stared at me, his eyes flat… but curious as well. I shook my head. “TheGreatGeneral Melek may be blind, butIknow the difference between an enemy in name, and an enemy in truth. And that boy is no enemy of mine!”

Our eyes locked, clashing as surely as swords or spears.

I did not back down. I did not lower my gaze, or the spear. He had deeply offended me and cheapened his son’s precious, innocent heart.

“You don’t like being accused of possessing the wiles of a woman,” he said slowly, as if the idea were surprising to him and he was trying to hide it.

“No, you idiot, I am insulted that you believe I would consider such a heinous act against achild.”

“That is not the body of a child.”

“Clearly you have heard nothing I’ve said—I understand him! My sister is the same! No matter his size or development, his mind is immature—and will stay that way.”

Melek nodded. “That is true.”

“The way he sees the world is beautiful. You would throw shame or perversion on that? How is it possible that guileless heart has not been corrupted byyourfilth?!”

“You wouldn’t know a pure heart it if was served to you on a platter.”

“You bastard—just because you cannot recognize humanity doesn’t mean I’m incapable of it. That child ispure.You and your people are the ones who would defile him, not me, nor mine!”

Melek muttered a curse and turned away from me, his eyes casting towards the tent flap, then scanning the sides as he turned as if he saw through the canvas to all the gathered, dark Nephilim beyond and… and itworriedhim.

“Of course he will be defiled. We are all defiled by this world as we mature. But Iloathethat for him.”

“Wait… Melek, you’reagreeingwith me?”

He whirled to face me. “You speak true words I will agree with them—but that does not mean I trust your motives in saying them!”

Oh, dear Lord…

I sat back on my heels and let the spear drop, point to the ground, though I didn’t let go.

“You love him,” I breathed.

Melek’s brows pinched. “You find a man’s love for his son… shocking?”

“No!” I laughed humorlessly. “I find a Nephilim’s ability to loveat allshocking.”

“Then you are not nearly as intelligent as you think you are,” he muttered. “Of course I want the best for him. But… he is soft. Not a fighter–except in compassion for others. And that truth is growing harder and harder to hide.”

I blinked. “You actually believe it’s not already apparent to… well, everyone?” I asked, trying to keep the stunned disbelief from my voice.

He rolled his eyes. “No, of course not. I didn’t mean the rank and file. I meant his f—”

He cut off abruptly and every one of my instincts perked like a starving wolf who’d heard a twig snap.

I frowned. “You must know this isn’t the place to mold a soft heart. Why, if you love him, would you bring him here?”

---