Chapter 19 Serious Side-Eye
~ MELEK ~
Hever met my gaze, then dropped his eyes, offering another bow.
My unease increased. Hever did not make a habit of humbling himself.
Yet, he’d always been incredibly politically astute, and never needlessly cruel.
When I looked for reasons not to trust him, they rarely extended beyond the fact that the male looked like someone to fear—but his eyes remained yellow and…
And so did Jann’s, I reminded myself.
“I understand the Fallen are especially interested in those who are traitors.” My mate’s tone was downright hostile.
Hever cut her a flat look, but he offered her another bow as well. “Your Majesty. I’m glad to see you healthy and well.”
Yilan scoffed. I spoke up before she could. With Neph present, I needed to lead here.
“Tell us what you know. How do we get around Lucifer and get Gall and Istral away from him?”
Hever’s brows drew down in a deep V over his nose.
“Melek, you of all people know, no one can be removed from Lucifer’s grip unless they choose it.
Remove the boy-King bodily, and you’ll only provide an invitation for the Fallen to find you.
If he’s given over, they can find him anywhere.
He needs to resist if he wants freedom.”
My stomach clenched, as Yilan shook her head and muttered, “That sounds like exactly what a double-agent would say to keep us from taking him.”
A moment later, as Hever stared at her calmly, she blinked and looked at him sideways. Had she not meant to speak out loud? Her expression hardened, and the intensity in Hever’s gaze raised the hair on the back of my neck. I shifted my weight to remind him who she belonged to, before he spoke.
“If you don’t believe I know anything of value, why ask?” he growled.
“You misunderstand. I’m certain you know valuable things,” Yilan said grimly. “My question is, whether you share them with us, or are just another puppet for that piece of shit to divert us.”
‘Yilan, he’s put himself in danger to even be here speaking to us.’
‘Not if Lucifer is sending him in as a double-agent.’
Hever turned straight to me, unaware of our words to each other. “God knows my allegiance is true.”
I opened my mouth, but Jann spoke up from my other side. “The same God who abandoned us to the Fallen?”
I glowered at him, then turned back to Hever. “My mate is wary because she says you attempted to harm me, then fled the battle near the Shadows of Shade.”
Hever’s eyes narrowed. “I attempted to help you—but she thwarted that effort. I left to position myself to be of further assistance when it was needed. Where I have worked tirelessly, since—and brought you the information to prove it.”
“You didn’t fight when the Nephilim tried to remove me.”
“You and I both know my greatest strength doesn’t lie in blades and battle.”
I stared, once again trapped in uncertainty with this male who’d always told me the truth, as far as I knew.
Yet he was ancient, and always an uneasy presence.
While I considered him—and assured Yilan through the link that I was well aware that she and Diadre were wary of the man, Hever turned to look to my left, regarding Jann thoughtfully.
“You question me, when you have a Golden Eyes at your side, and one who openly claims allegiance to Lucifer?”
The Shadekin all stiffened, gripping weapons or sinking in their stance as they looked uneasily between Hever and Jann.
When I turned to my brother, his eyes glittered.
With rage? Or something else?
“This Golden Eyes has proven his true loyalty countless times,” Jann growled.
“As have I.”
I sighed.
I decided the only way to keep peace when everyone felt so suspicious of each other, was to speak with each people-group individually.
I distracted everyone from Hever by asking the leaders of the gathered Shadekin, Centaurs, and Nephilim already present, to pull their people together.
Yilan and I would speak with each of them in turn.
There were only a handful of Centaurs. I didn’t know how the Fetch had convinced them to join us—after all, I’d led the troops that subjugated them months earlier, and Jann told me about how aggressive they had become after Gall’s appearance.
But the highest-ranking Centaur present was a stallion. A chief. A massive male, with the fur of a predator slung over his shoulders. His dark hair hung in shaggy waves down his back that matched the coat on his lower body and feathers in his wings. Yet, his eyes were as blue as the sky.
“My name is Kavros.”
When I approached with the humble stance—head down and shoulders forward—and offered the formal greetings of respect, he returned them—somewhat stiffly—but the Centaurs always prided themselves on their willingness to listen to wisdom and calm discourse.
So, he listened carefully, and without interrupting, when I explained what had happened between Yilan and I, why I was leading what was considered a rebel faction of the Nephilim, and our shared hope for the future.
“…we envision a truly united Continent. Our peoples allowed to live their lives in their own lands, but all led by a singular vision. One that allows our people to mingle freely—and removes the threat of Nephilim violence.”
The male folded his arms over his thick chest, and stamped his front hoof.
“I am here to hear you out, Melek—we were conquered and we don’t deny it. But my people are less than reluctant to invite any further interference from the Neph.”
“I don’t lead only the Neph—”
“You wish me to celebrate the union of the two most powerful peoples on the continent? You think that makes you less of a threat?” he asked darkly.
That was when Yilan stepped forward, properly addressing Kavros, which surprised me.
He was gentler on her, because she was female.
The Centaurs valued their females, who were just as capable, and nearly as physically strong as the males, but more focused on breeding and raising their offspring, while the males protected and ensured provision for the females and young.
They were a mostly peaceful culture, and one I thought we could all learn from. I told him so.
His gaze flattened. “If you believe common flattery will impress me—”
“No,” I said hurriedly. “Yilan and I want to build a world with greater understanding and unity between nations. We can only do that if we learn how to hear each other—something you Centaurs are very good at.”
His jaw rolled and he looked away, making a low rumbling noise in his thick chest, but when he turned back to us, it was to thank Yilan for her respect and to wish her well in her endeavors, then to meet my eyes with skeptical consideration.
“Your vision does not offend our senses,” he said carefully.
I tried desperately to remember what that meant in their customs, but was still mentally scrambling, when Jann stepped up behind me.
“You bless our King,” he said quietly.
Kavros’ eyes darkened. “You should not speak for your people, Halfling. You entered our land without permission and—”
“It was only under greatest need, and when we were blown off course,” Jann said quickly, dropping his head to offer respect. Kavros’ lips thinned, but he didn’t interrupt. “I only meant to add my gratitude to the King’s.”
Kavros made that low, huffing rumble again, but turned his attention to me, apparently deciding he’d dealt with Jann already.
I cleared my throat. “I have no interest in mercenaries, Kavros,” I said quietly. “I only want to bring those here that would fight for our shared vision of the future. Do you… would you be willing? And do you think any of your brothers might hear me?”
“I could fight for this world you paint—if I were certain it was the goal.” He ruffled his tucked wings, in a universal sign of unease.
“What would make you certain?” I asked him bluntly.
He looked past me then to the Nephilim gathered at one end of this cavern, then to the Fetch at the other and shook his head.
“I never thought I would live to see the like,” he muttered, then locked eyes with me again.
“I will lay my shoulder to this yoke,” he said formally, nodding.
“However I will not tie my brothers to a purpose they haven’t chosen.
If your men will help me return to Kyrion Vale, I will present your ideas, and see who might follow.
“I… surely you would need to speak further—”
“Your heart speaks wisdom, Melek Handras. And strength, as well. It is the goal that must be shared. Not every path to it. I will tell my brothers what you choose, and if they follow me, we will meet with the others in the foothills next week.”
I was stunned. “Thank you!”
Kavros shook his head. “I only said I will fight with you. The others may not. We’ll find out.”
I nodded, stunned, then hurriedly offered him the formal respect again. “It is agreed,” I said, hoping I correctly remembered their customs.
Kavros nodded. “Give me your word on one point?”
“What’s that?”
He eyed Yilan. “Don’t send the Fetch into Kyrion Vale. They give me the creeps.”
Jann burst out laughing behind me, at the same moment Yilan forgot herself and planted her fists on her hips. But I screamed caution in the bond, and nodded. “I’ll do my best,” I said, rubbing my face to hide the smile that wanted to come.
Yilan glared at me, but thankfully didn’t speak up.
Kavros, apparently satisfied, turned and clopped away to speak with the other Centaurs, while I turned back to the gathered Neph, still shaking my head in disbelief.
“That was… easier than I anticipated,” I said quietly to Yilan, Jann, and Diadre at his side, who looked alarmingly pale.
‘She’s feeling her pregnancy,’ Yilan assured me, then spoke out loud for everyone’s benefit. “Where did he get off saying that about us? We’re strong, not creepy. And—”
“Your people are like spiders hidden in shadowy corners,” Jann chuckled, ignoring Diadre’s slap on his arm.
“Speaking of spiders,” I said to distract them before they started arguing again, then nodded towards Hever.
Yilan’s expression went from irritated, to grim. “He deserves the title far more than we do.”
I sighed. “I want to use his knowledge, but I’m uneasy.”
“I trust him,” Jann said emphatically. “He got us through the Shadows of Shade—surely he couldn’t have done that if his heart was dark? The others tell me despite his age, he helped carry warriors across the Peaks.”
That surprised me, too.
The four of us quickly discussed strategy for timing—when we would send Neph back over the peaks to return Kavros to his people, and then take shifts flying others back and forth.
The numbers that had followed me were gathered in Meyrath.
It was a longer crossing, but safer, and an easier land for the Fetch to travel.
Yilan and I had flown it together, but the others came in groups, with several Neph carrying bundles of Fetch, and others who’d volunteered, as we passed through the different kingdoms.
When I’d told Jann how many followed me, he’d been surprised. But now, seeing even Centaurs here, he was clearly no longer questioning my estimates.
“…the only real question is, can we truly house, and keep those kinds of numbers secret, for long enough to get them all here and rested before we move?” he asked.
“As long as you don’t share our secrets, I’m certain we can.”
Jann jerked, then stared at me. I wasn’t sure if it was offense, or hurt on his face. Looking aside at the girls—Yilan leaned over Diadre with some concern, and the two whispered to each other—he pinched my sleeve and pulled me aside.
“Have you truly started to question me?” he asked incredulously. “Or are you just repeating your mate’s prejudice?”
“Do you bring me a challenge, simply because your mate raised it?” I asked him bluntly.
“Of course not, I—”
“Then don’t offend me by implying the reverse.”
“I’m offending you? You just accused me of being a traitor!”
“No, I questioned if you might be.”
“And that’s any better?”
He started to turn away, but I grabbed his shirt and made him face me. “Jann, if Lucifer can turn Gall’s heart, I have to question everything.”
His jaw went tight and his chin rose. “I’ve never given you any reason to question my loyalty.”
I met his gaze firmly. “Yet, you still have yellow eyes.”
“You said—!”
“I love you, Jann, and I believe in you,” I assured him. “You and I both know, to not even ask the question, is a fool’s view of the world. So, answer for me: Do you remain as deeply loyal and single-minded for me and my kingdom as you ever have?”
Jann’s eyes narrowed, and his jaw jutted forward.
Without answering, he turned, leaned into Diadre’s ear muttering, “I have to talk to Hever.” Then marched over to the old Neph, his back bristling as surely as a cat’s.