Page 63 of The King has Fallen

They were as efficient as the soldiers that marched towards the battlefields.

But then one of them broke from the rank to slip up to my cage with a small smile. I recognized her as the woman who Melek had brought to speak with me the week before.

“Are you well, Yilan?” she asked graciously. “Do you have any further needs?”

“No, thank you,” I said, smiling at her. “My courses are done. I am grateful for your thoughtfulness, though.”

She ducked her head. “Please tell Melek if you have any further needs, I’m happy to fulfill them, even if it is during my rest hours.

I was about to thank her profusely—slaves had so few hours of rest that for her to offer to give them up was truly a gift. But then her eyes drifted to Melek and I saw her…yearn.

Ah.

That explained it.

I gave a little huff. “I’ll remind him… when the time comes,” I said quietly.

She nodded absentmindedly as she stepped into the line with the others, glancing one more time over her shoulder towards Melek.

Oblivious to her admiration, he stood over his clothing trunk unbuttoning his shirt, his face a cold mask, his eyes fixed on nothing as if he stared through the canvas wall.

What happened today? He seemed even darker than usual.

Had Gall said something?

It took some time before the last of the slaves poured her tall pitcher into the bath. The steaming pool, filled deep enough to submerge a Nephilim body, sloshed up the sides of the tub, nearly overtaking the rim.

She walked over to where Melek still stood, holding his belt and frowning at it. She curtseyed, then cleared her throat hesitantly when he didn’t notice her.

He startled, as if he’d been deep in thought, then turned to face her, nodding when she indicated the full tub. “Do you have soap and a washcloth?” she asked him carefully. “Do you need assistance? I could scrub your—”

“No,”he said quickly, biting the word off so hard she flinched. He took a deep breath as if he was catching himself. “Thank you. I’ll send Gall when I’m ready for it to be taken away.”

She curtseyed again, which was odd, but then she turned and scuttled out like she was afraid. I watched her leave without really thinking, then turned back to find him shoving his leathers down, pulling them off his feet and folding them quickly to lay in the basket he used for the launderers.

Then he turned, entirely bare, and walked with a heavy sigh to the bathtub.

I quickly averted my eyes and kept them down until I heard the water splash and a deep groan of relief from Melek.

I looked up, surprised to hear such an emotive sound from him, to find him leaning against the high back of the tub with his head tipped back, eyes closed, and his arms resting along the rim on each side.

He was the picture of a troubled man in repose, his face no longer tight, but… pained.

I frowned. “Melek—”

“You have a beautiful voice,” he rumbled without opening his eyes. “This has been a trying day. Would you… would you be willing to sing?”

I didn’t think I’d ever been more startled by a request from a male—and startled again by how self-conscious I suddenly felt… and the warmth that bloomed in my chest at his compliment.

I almost teased him. Opened my mouth to tell him that we hadn’t negotiated the terms of my release, and so I was not his servant. But the way he sighed and the lines on his face…

I cleared my throat. “I… I’ll try,” I said. Then repeated the song I’d been singing before.

I crouch in shadows, but still your heart beats for me.

I am safe.

I lay in the arms of danger, but you do not leave.

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