Page 71 of The King has Fallen

At least, that was what I told myself as I finally gave in to sleep. Because any other thought was far, far too dangerous.

~ YILAN ~

Melek was gone the next morning when I woke up.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Or rather, I didn't like that it felt like a rejection.

I’d only given him a vision. None of it had actually happened. But I found my body thrumming with pleasure as if it had.

Andthatmade my heart shrink. If Ihadgiven myself to an enemy with such abandon, it was an offense to the crown.

And yet, I hadn’t.

But I felt like I had.

And I felt like I maybewantedto. But I never would.

Well,neverwas a strong word.

And yet…

I groaned. Running circles in my head like the circles I ran in the cage to keep my body strong would get me nowhere.

As the day drew on and Melek still didn’t appear, my tension grew wondering if he was avoiding me. He'd been furious last night. Clearly off-balance.

My mind conjured the moment he stood over the cage, naked, body gleaming wet and dripping... and that fire in my belly flared alarmingly.

I hurriedly pushed the thoughts away, just like I'd told him to do the night before. But the restless simmer wouldn't leave me.

Where was he? Why leave menow?

But I would sleep that night with no answers because Melek was gone all day until the very small hours of morning. And when he returned, he did nothing but fall into bed clothed andsleep for a few hours before leaving again, instructing Gall to stay with me.

Then he walked out and he didn't even meet my eyes.

Nerves fluttered like butterflies in my stomach. I turned to Gall, hoping to find a way to reassure him without breaching Melek’s order not to tell him any secrets. But Gall was sullen and quiet.

He was very attentive to my needs though, so on one of the trips when he brought me a fresh waterskin I tried to get him talking.

But even though he was sweet—checking to find out what I needed—he also wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“Gall,” I said at one point. “You don’t have to be worried for me. I’m fine.”

His jaw went tight and his golden eyes finally lifted from the dirt to meet mine, but then flicked away almost immediately. “You got hurt. And it was my fault. You don’t have to make me feel better. I’m not a child anymore. I can take it.”

“No! Gall—”

“It’s okay, Yilan. You just rest and get better. I’ll make sure you have all the things you need.”

“But, Gall, it wasn’t your fault those men—”

“Yes. It was,” he said through his teeth. “They confused me and I made a bad decision. And you got hurt. And Melek—” He bit his father’s name off with bared teeth and turned quickly away from me, shaking his head as he marched towards the tent entrance.

“Gall, don’t go! Come talk to me.”

“No. It’s dangerous,” he mumbled. “I have to stand guard and not let anyone in. ExceptMelek,”he said bitterly.

My heart broke, but he was gone, pushing through the tent flap. I knew he’d set himself a task and wouldn’t be turned from it. It would stress him if I tried.

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