Page 42 of The King has Fallen

“Bullshit! A true Ruler is both admired and followed willingly! Their people—including their military leaders—serve because theychooseto. Your people are following you… and you serve the King, so they do as well. The moment you declared yourself they would abandon him—”

“Go back to your eating, Fetch.” His eyes blazed, but his tone was even, despite being gruff. “Do not make me gag you. Please. I want to recognize the good you’ve done tonight, but if you insist on this poison, I will have no choice. Just… please. Be silent on this point.”

I sighed and stared at him, but the pleading in his eyes was real.

Shrugging, I threw up my hands. “Fine.”

“Thank you. Now sleep while we can. The sun will be up soon, and my day will begin. I have set patrols nearby. We should not be interrupted again.”

I almost pushed then. But he caught the shift in me and his eyes flashed a warning.

When I didn’t speak, he nodded once, then moved around the tent to blow out the lanterns before walking over to the bed where he stripped down and slid between the sheets with a weary groan.

Still picking at my food and sipping at my kafk, I wrapped myself in my blanket and stared into the darkness to watch the sunlight slowly make the sides of the tent glow while I set my mind to consider the puzzle and solve it.

Because Melek might be unwilling to see his King as the villain in this story, but I was not. And I found I suddenly dreaded the consequences toallof us if that brute succeeded in removing Melek from this earth.

15. Order Received

~ YILAN ~

The following day was difficult. I couldn’t sleep and took advantage any time Melek offered kafk throughout the day, along with plates of hot food that fed more than my stomach.

He was true to his word and brought a female slave for a brief, murmured conversation about the things I would need when my cycle began. And though it wasn’t my first time on a strategic foray that I had needed to alert a male to my situation, it felt… different here.

At least Fetch men were accustomed to mothers, sisters, wives—even friends—who were female. The Nephilim seemed to see women as nothing but chattels, slaves to meet their needs.Alltheir needs.

The legend was that a good many human women died in childbirth when bearing Nephilim because the males were so much bigger. Some even died before the labor, bleeding to death, their bodies torn internally by their own offspring.

The darkest stories told of Physicianstrained to cut the child out when it became clear that the mother couldn’t deliver naturally—at the cost of the mother’s life. It was whispered that any female who’d been strong enough to carry a Nephilim to term was extremely desirable in their society. The males fought over her. She would be kept in luxury—and would lose her freedom from that day on, provided for lavishly… as long as she continued to bear young. But more often than not, the women died, either bleeding out, or simply unable to deliver. And the Nephilim didn’t care, because there would always be more women.

Surviving Nephilim young were far more rare.

I wished I could speak with this woman to find out how she had come to be here and whether these awful tales were true. But with Melek there and his sharp ears… I made do with thanking her for her help and telling her that should she ever be nearby and wish to share a kafk with a prisoner, I would enjoy the female company.

She smiled, but only nodded. I didn’t hold out hope.

I didn’t miss the way her eyes followed Melek around the tent, or her bright-eyed smile when he thanked her, though it seemed that he did, keeping his eyes down on his papers. He had stayed in the tent as we spoke but busied himself writing messages at that little table. He didn’t even look up when he sent her away with his gratitude.

So, as darkness descended on that day I should have been easing towards sleep. Especially when Melek went to bed early. But I found myself unable to sleep deeply. I woke at any littlenoise in the night, including the moment a small mouse slipped into the shadow of my pillow on its way through the tent.

The second day after the Shade’s attack the exhaustion truly hit. I was still very hungry, though no longer with the gnawing ache I’d been experiencing before. I’d definitely gained strength from the food Melek brought at each mealtime. Especially since the portions were Nephilim sized. Even in my greatest hunger I couldn’t possibly fit it all in one sitting. So, I’d kept the breads and fresh fruits aside to nibble at between meals.

But even with the food, I was anticipating my cycle and lacking sleep. On top of which there had been so many dangers… my senses did not want to ease. My mind did not stop conjuring potential threats. And so, my body did not relax.

Thank the Father I did not have a mirror to see how dark the circles under my eyes had become. I saw enough unease reflected in Melek’s to know that they must be bad. But he didn’t speak of it, for which I was grateful.

We’d just finished breakfast when Gall arrived. I was surprised to see that his bruises had already almost faded, and the swelling on his face was gone. These Nephilim healed quickly.

Dammit.

“Hello, Papa! Hello, Yilan!” Gall said brightly as he strode into the tent, not unlike Melek when he was focused.

He was still weaponless, still being sent to Melek daily for “duties.” But I couldn’t help but notice how much happier and more confident he was here with Melek than when he’d been with the other soldiers.

I wondered if Melek would manipulate this event to shift him to permanentassistance.I hoped so.

“Morning, Son,” Melek said, still picking at his breakfast.

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