Page 147 of The King has Fallen
“Gall, please…” I begged.
“It’s my fault, Gall. I didn’t explain as things changed,” she whispered. “I know that’s confusing, but I need you to trust me. Melek is the father you always knew. He is agood man.There are things going on here that you don’t understand, but they’re good—
Gall roared and threw his arm wide. Using his elbow to leverage and throw them both over, Yilan shrieked and tried to cut off his air again—to still him—but because she’d been embracing him, her positioning was off.
“I UNDERSTAND MORE THAN YOU THINK! I AM NOT STUPID!”
With a roar, he flipped her over, his weight crushing her for a moment so she wheezed, and in that second her defenses were down, he ripped her arm from his neck.
I leaped to my feet towards them, ready to pull him away from her, but he already had his hand on the spear that had been thrown aside and he was rolling up, his training kicking in as he pushed to his feet with the weapon in place… and pointed atYilan.
His mouth was open, his breath coming in harsh puffs. His eyes darted from her to me, but neither of us was close enough now to get a hand on that weapon before he could throw it or bring it to bear.
I stayed half-crouched, hands up in surrender, but started inching towards Yilan, so I could at least make myself his primary target instead of her.
“Gall… she isn’t lying to you—”
“SHUT UP!”
I snapped my mouth closed, but took another half-step closer to her.
“Stop moving! Stop, or I’ll hurt her!”
I did as he said, but shook my head, let him see my grief. “I’m sorry, Gall. I’m so sorry. I know this is frightening. I’m sorry I scared you. It was a ploy… to stop the others coming for her—”
“I DON’T GIVE A FUCK!” he screamed so hard he spit and his head shook.
Then, in a moment that would always break my heart, he took one hand from the spear and started hitting himself in the head. “SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!”
Yilan gave a little cry and covered her mouth with her hands. “Gall, please—”
“Leave me alone! Both of you,” he rasped, shaking his head and backing away. “Leave me alone. You’re liars and…. And monsters.”
“No,” I breathed. “Son, I—”
But his head whipped to me and his eyes, bloodshot and shining with tears, spoke every accusation his mind could conjure.
“My father isdead,”he hissed, and a tremor rocked through his body. “And I’ll kill you too, if I have to. You’re all just horrible, selfish,rapistswho—”
“Gall… she’s mymate.”
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. He gaped at me, then at Yilan—who nodded, her hands still pressed over her mouth.
“We didn’t know, Gall. I’m so sorry. We didn’t know at the beginning. But it was all—”
He threw the bloodstained spear aside like it was a serpent. I leaped between him and Yilan, hands up, but the spear clattered benignly to the packed dirt, and he turned, stumbling away, out of the tent.
“Gall…Gall!”I called after him, gathering Yilan into my arms.
But she shushed me, and held me as I watched my son reeling away.
And then he was gone, and we held each other. So tightly neither of us could easily breathe. And then tighter still. Trembling from head to foot.
51. Problems to Solve
~ YILAN ~
For a few breaths, we just held each other. But Melek shook with tension and I couldfeelhis mind racing. The bond thrummed with alarm and grief and something I thought was his desperate need to protect.
