Page 36 of The King has Fallen
He lifted a hand and I flinched, yanking the spear up, ready to let fly… then saw him shudder. Then freeze.
There was a moment that he just stared at me, his face still twisted in rage, then the light went out in his eyes. I heard him mutter,“What am I doing?”Then he closed his eyes and shook his head as if he shook off the rage.
He started to turn away and I slumped, stunned to see him take such a leash on himself—but then he whirled back. I tensed again as he strode up to the bars of my cage, though without the edge of anger he’d had a moment before.
Then he pointed at me. “For all your judgment and sneering, if our roles were reversed, I would lay money that you would be more ruthless towards me than I have been with you.”
“Bullshit. My prisoners wouldalwaysbe fed, though nothing rich, it’s true.” Then I smiled. “It gives them more strength to endure torture.”
He opened his hands. “Then we understand each other. I stand by my word, Fetch. If you surrender the spear, I will bring you food myself.”
I pressed my lips tightly to stop the offers flowing off my tongue. Then, as we watched each other, I swallowed and pushed my pride aside. “Does yourpunishmentextend beyond food?”
“Not yet. We’ll see.”
I squirmed and his eyes narrowed. He tipped his head in curiosity. “What is it?”
I looked down at the spear and cleared my throat. “I will have need of… resources, within a couple of days.”
He didn’t respond, and when I let myself look up, his expression was confused. “What resources? You already have a blanket and pillow and bucket… do you think I’d hand you horses?”
I rolled my eyes and squirmed again. God, I’d forgotten that the Nephilim had no women to speak of… But there was no point dragging it out. The situation wouldn’t change.
“I am female, Melek,” I said through my teeth. “In two days, I will begin my cycle and bleed all over… well, everything, unless I have some supplies.”
His brows shot up and his head snapped back. Then he scratched the back of his neck. “Oh, yes… right… Um…”
If I hadn’t been mortified myself, his discomfort would have been glorious.
He cleared his throat. “Uh, how much time until…”
“Approximately two days.”
He nodded. “Right. I’ll make sure one of the women servants visits tomorrow, she can discuss what you need and they’ll bring it.”
I hadn’t expected him to just… give it to me. I’d thought it would be a negotiation. Or some kind of leverage. I blinked.
“I… thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I stared at him, fighting the urge in my chest to soften.
He sighed and folded his arms again. “Yilan, you know you can’t possibly win this,” he said quietly.Normally.As if I were a person, not a prisoner. I was stunned. I didn’t think he’d ever used my name before. “Give me the spear, and I’ll get you a fuckingbanquet.”
“No.”
He shook his head. “You stare down your nose at me for my pride, but cling to your own as if it sustains you. It willnot.Your body weakens—and your mind will follow soon. We both know that. Surely it would be better…”
He kept talking, but something brushed the back of my neck, a prickling instinct, and I stopped listening to his lecture and scanned the tent.
It was still dark outside—the midnight dark just before dawn. There was no sound. The camp was quiet. And he was here… so, what scratched at my senses?
“…need further insight into the—”
“Hush,” I snapped, pushing onto the balls of my feet so I was in a crouch rather than a squat and no longer leaning on the cage. I gripped the spear tighter, with both hands, listening. Looking. Scanning. But there was nothing, save instinct.
Instincts I had learned to listen to years ago.
