When I blinked back to reality moments later, I was still breathing heavily, and staring at the side of Melek’s jaw, because I’d fallen into his chest and my head rested on his shoulder.
“M-Melek!” I gasped through dry lips.
He groaned, but turned his head and caught my eyes with his, both of us still breathing heavily.
“I’m here,” he croaked. “I’m never going anywhere.”
28. Afterglow
SOUNDTRACK:On the Runby Katie Garfield
~ YILAN ~
We took more time than we should have, washing in the pools afterwards. But I couldn’t bring myself to care. My body thrummed with spent pleasure. The heat of the pools made my muscles loose. I was languid and half-relaxed for the first time in weeks. Melek clearly felt the same. When we got out of the hot water, we were both steaming. He laid out his cloak, and we lay out for a time to cool off.
As we lay there on the ground, my head on Melek’s shoulder, his arm around me, I sighed.
“What is it?” he asked in that low rumble that vibrated under my ear and made my heart swell.
I swallowed. “I know I should be grateful, but… Why do you think I’m not pregnant yet? Diadre is, and apparently Istral as well. The midwife Diadre saw said you’re all very… fertile,” I said with a twist to my lips, to hide the sudden pinch of fear in my chest.
Melek’s great chest rose and fell under my hand. He turned his head, and kissed my hair before he spoke.
“I don’t know,” he admitted gruffly. “But frankly, I’m glad. I’m not sure I could bear the weight of another precious life that might be lost through my decisions.” He hesitated, then added. “Like Jann. He’s tormented right now.”
I knew he didn’t want to question Jann, but I was growing more and more uneasy. “Jann is a—”
“Jann is terrified,” he said bluntly, cutting me off.
“All the more reason we should at leastconsiderthat he might be swayed.”
Melek shook his head. “My brother would never betray me. I know it.”
“How can you know it?”
He grunted. “Do you think Diadre could ever betray you?”
“Of course not! She’s not a yellow-eyed Neph though!”
Melek frowned, but a moment later he shook his head again. “No. If I can’t trust Jann, I can’t trust anyone.”
“You can always trust me.”
He turned his head enough to look at me from the corner of his eye. “You’re a part of me. That’s different.”
We stared at each other, and my chest tightened. I wished there were no other demands on our time or energy. That we could just lay there together until we wanted to leave. Then fall into bed in the palace, and love each other again and…
“Remind me why we’re doing this?” I sighed. “Why we don’t just fly away and let the Neph submit to Lucifer and—?”
“Because as long as that evil walks the world, and we have a way to fight it, we couldn’t forgive ourselves if we abandoned others to them,” he growled.
I nodded, but hugged his chest harder.
Melek gripped my hair, and pulled my head back to force me to meet his eyes. “Also remember this: No matter what, nomatter who, no matter how… I will always protectyouover any other. You are my mate. My wife. My queen.”
My heart fluttered with a mild panic. I couldn’t resist. I pushed up on his chest and straddled him, pulling his face up and kissing him deeply, then staring deep into his beautiful emerald eyes.
“I think you meantI’llprotectyou,” I murmured. “Because you are very, very good at looking after others, my love, but your self-preservation is forshit.”
