Page 39 of The King has Fallen

“A Shade,” she whispered. I snapped my head to look at her and our eyes locked—and I saw reflected in hers the same horror crawling in my veins. She broke the gaze to look at that pile of clothes and swallowed audibly. “That was a fuckingShade,Melek.”

14. The Puzzle

~ YILAN ~

I shook like a leaf in the wind, unable to take my eyes off the vacant shirt and leathers crumpled in the dirt.

A Shade? They werereal?

Shades were legendary, stories used by Fetch parents to scare their children. For a people who walked the shadows, we brought light. But none of my people denied the draw of darkness. We were all raised on the tales of the Shades, men who sold their souls to the Dragon. Their bodies were infused with shadow so they could hide easily, camouflage in even a sliver of shade, and so go unnoticed.

They rarely slept, barely needed to eat, and were the Devil’s assassins.

Or rather, the assassins used by the agents of the Devil.

I’d never been certain they were real. But I’d just seen proof.

Melek let go of the breath he’d been holding and took a step back, brushing his skin as if the rot from that thing might be contagious, then he looked at me and went still.

His eyes dropped to my empty lap, then cut up to my eyes.

“You gave me your weapon,” he said hoarsely.

I swallowed. “If I hadn’t, you’d be dead.”

He nodded slowly. “And that would seem to suit you.”

“Not if there’s a Shade loose in the tent,” I pointed out, trying to keep the tremor of fear from my voice.

He didn’t respond, just stared right into my eyes as if he measured me for truth. Then he blinked and looked over his shoulder sharply.

“What? Did you see someth—”

“Hush,” he hissed, hurrying to the trunk where his clothing was stacked and pulling on a pair of clean leathers and his boots. “Stay quiet. Only shout if you sense anything else,” he muttered as he picked up his second spear and darted out of the tent.

I nodded, but he was already gone.

Taking a deep breath I sank to the dirt, turning my attention inwards, analyzing that prickling instinct that had been screaming such alarm just minutes earlier, but now…

Now there was nothing.

And that would make sense. Shades were so rare, surely there wouldn’t be two?

But that turned my thoughts to who might be capable ofbringinga Shade in the first place—and why they would target Melek. Who would have the power to find, or even make one? It would take a very powerful wizard. Someone with direct access to the power of the Dark.

Like a pureblooded Nephilim.

I remembered that moment when it had spoken, its voice a shivery crumble of rot and decay… and its words seemed familiar…

“ThegreatGeneral Melek…”

My mind was taken back to the King’s jibing remarks on the day I was taken.

“ThegreatGeneral Melek may be blind, but…”

And then my instincts prickled again, but this time not with the sense of impending danger, but with the satisfyingclickthat only came with the clarity true insight brought.

The King was jealous of his General—as well he should be. I’d listened to murmured conversations among the ranks. I’d observed the willingness with which the others followed Melek… and their wariness of their King.

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