Page 6 of The King has Fallen

But I would not do it for the honor of this cunt. No. I would help Melek because it would give me the chance to sow the seed of dissent among our foes.

There was a reason my people were rumored to hold supernatural gifts that could control the minds of those around us. Because we were manipulative fuckers who understood something the Nephilim never could: Human nature.

The soulless wouldneverunderstand the vulnerabilities—or strengths—of those with an immortal, impressionable soul.

But I did.

And it was the most valuable weapon in my armory.

These men hadno cluewhat they were dealing with.

Which was exactly why I would win.

3. F*cking Fetch

~ MELEK ~

Gault, the King, was being foolish again. I ground my teeth as he reclined on his furs and instructed the Fetch to begin talking and not to stop until he told her to.

As she gathered herself and eyed him darkly, I knew she would comply. But the truth you heard from a Fetch was rarely the truth youthoughtyou heard. I had fought alongside ancients that claimed to have entered the Fetch city, though I was never certain whether they could be trusted either. They said these creatures were wisps on the wind. They danced the shadows and killed like breathing.

If it was true she’d been watching Gault for three days already, then perhaps the ancients hadn’t been exaggerating. I couldn’t know. I hadn’t been in camp. But we’d seen evidenceof the Fetch near the battlefield, so I had come to request the hounds knowing Gault wouldn’t release them to anyone else—only to find that the signs were here, too.

And now… here we were.

She licked her lips, never taking her eyes off the King, though her expression was empty—no hint of what she felt or thought. And when she spoke, her voice was quiet,submissive.

“I will share what I know with the King, of course,” she said quietly. “But much of what I know is… sensitive, even here. Your enemies learn of you, you understand? You may not wish me to speak these things with an audience?” She eyed the guards and servants on either side of her, and around the King, then waited.

Cunning bitch.

Gault opened his mouth, his expression dark and suspicious, but his eyes darting side to side, probably because she’d revealed that she already knewhissecrets. I couldn’t let her manipulate him so that she escaped. I cleared my throat.

“It is worth remembering, Sire, that the Fetch are deceivers and thieves. Slippery with both words and body. Do not trust her.”

“I don’t,” Gault said bluntly. “But the point is valid. I also don’t trust the dull minds of those who do not carry the blood of the Light Bearer. Clear the tent—you stay, Melek. But everyone else,out.”

I gritted my teeth as everyone—including the guards—immediately turned for the door.

“Remain outside and form a perimeter around theentiretent,” I said quietly, catching the elbow of the Lieutenant as they all hurried for the door. “And send for the tentmaker—she’s cut the side in the corner over there. Get someone to repair it today.”

The man ducked his head once, then marched for the door, urging the others to hurry. None of them wishing to incite Gault’s ire.

I turned back to the Fetch, to find her and Gault staring at each other like two strange cats.

“Sire—”

“You’re here, Melek. If you have caution, use it. But I would hear her speak.” Then he eyed her again. “Do not tell yourself my threats are empty. The moment I discover you have deceived me, I will open your belly with my teeth and drag you through the tent-city by your intestines—and when you die, I will fuck your remains.” Then he smiled and licked his lips, leaning in close to her. “Be careful what comes out of that mouth, you cunning little thing, or I will fill it withmytruth. And if I must do it to your dead carcass, well… a wet hole is a wet hole.”

Despite my disgust, I was impressed that she didn’t even blink.

“What do you wish to know first?” she asked as if they were having casual conversation.

Gault smiled and sat back on his lounge, spreading his legs to display the threat of his bulge to her as he reclined. “Tell me… why we have been sitting here for over a week already?” he said with a flap of his hand to indicate the war camp. “What weapons have my enemies developed? What has arrested our progress?”

Her eyes narrowed slightly before she answered. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” she said quietly. Gault grunted and waited for her to continue. She sighed. “News of your advance reached my people months ago—which means that those pinned between your people and mine heard you were coming weeks before you arrived. They have wisely determined that banding together to defeat you is better than falling alone.”

It was exactly what I’d told him a week earlier, the first time we were turned back. We’d seen banners for both the Tuskarrians and the Zaryndar among the fighters. Had he not believed me? Or was he only checking her for honesty?

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