“Escort the King and Queen back to their chambers, then stand guard. They will be cloistered for the next five days to give them the best chance of conceiving an heir.”
A wave of sickening malecheeringwent up in the room. Melek grabbed my arm again because I instinctively reached for my knife.
But then, Gall leaned down to Istral and whispered something in her ear, something we couldn’t hear over the cajoling of the men. Istral nodded, still scared—until Gall swept her up to his chest. I watched my sister sag into his arms, bury her face in hisneck, cup her sweet hand over his shoulder, and let him carry her from the chamber.
I prayed she didn’t understand the nasty words the men called, or the gleaming-eyed jokes the Advisors made. I was grateful when Jann stepped up beside Gall as an escort, pulling Diadre in his wake—and leaned into Gall’s ear. I prayed he was wise with his words.
But as Gall carried her out of the chamber and we crept around the edge of the shadows to follow them, my sister raised her head just barely off of Gall’s shoulder, her eyes peering over that broad expanse… directly at me. And her gaze waspleading.
I sucked in a breath and leaped forward the same moment one of Melek’s hands clapped over my mouth, and the other arm looped around my middle.
My mate—my very strong, very frustrating, veryover-protectivemate, swung me off my feet and held me to him in an iron grip, refusing to let me free until I promised him through the link that I wouldn’t go after her while the others were still present.
‘Nothing has been done to hurt her, Yilan,’Melek sent grimly.
‘You think seeing all of that hasn’t hurt her?!’
‘You know what I mean. We can get her out—get both of them out—when they’re alone. Five days, he said. Just like Jann assured us.’
‘I don’t give a flying fuck what your traitorous friend—’
‘I will hold you here and refuse to follow, unless you promise me that you won’t take her until the others have gone.’His voice held the deep, impenetrable strength of solid rock.
‘But—’
‘Promise me you’ll do this wisely. Promise me.’
I struggled one more time, but it was pointless. Like struggling with a brick wall. Tears pinched my eyes, but I needed my sight, so I swallowed them back.
‘I promise,’I murmured reluctantly.‘But we’re getting them outtonight.’
‘Agreed,’Melek returned grimly. Then finally released me so I could walk.
It wasn’t difficult to hurry out of that dark chamber where such sickness seemed to come alive. It wasn’t hard to keep to the shadows on the heels of the entourage, and reach for my sister’s mind, reassuring her.
It was very hard that she didn’t reply. It was heartbreaking that she didn’t look up, even though I knew she could sense me.
So, I spent the remaining hour until they would be alone planning precisely how I would slit the throat of every man who’d watched her endure that.
Every. Single. One.
2. Together
~ MELEK ~
I had to drag Yilan back to my locked chambers to keep her under my eyes because, despite her assurances, I didn’tquitetrust her not to go after Istral immediately. In the process, I discovered her bristling silence wasfarworse than her hissing fury.
As soon as we passed through the wall where the shadows were thick in the palace corridor, Yilan released that sickening power she had to keep us invisible, and my vision no longer blurred at the edges. She released my hand as well, and began to pace the floor, eyes unseeing of the luxury that surrounded us.
My old chambers in the palace had been held for me—a fact I found curious. We had made them our hiding place when we were forced to be here.
While Yilan’s feet sank into the thick carpet, her face remained twisted in fear and disgust.
I stood aside to let her walk off some of her frustrated energy. No one knew we were here. My chambers remained locked anddark from when I’d left them, when we embarked on our mission to conquer the continent. God… that seemed like a lifetime ago now. I grimaced, and ran a hand through my hair.
I had other hiding places outside the city, but for now, we needed to be close to Gall and Istral—and Jann and Diadre. So, Yilan shadow walked us here every time. We’d agreed to remain in darkness, lighting no lanterns. Not even a candle. We never spoke aloud in here, in case a passing servant overheard.
The city whispered rumors of my presence. I couldn’t afford to give them any reason to believe I’d already infiltrated the palace.
