27. Alpha Male Bullsht
~ YILAN ~
Head and shoulders taller than any us, so broad he would need to turn sideways through some of our single doors. He was massive, sleek, and black as midnight. The torches and sconces of the hallway made the leather he wore gleam gold.
The soldier who’d been startled didn’t move, and looked slightly sheepish when this dark angel of a man only gave him a glance, then turned and stalked up the corridor towards us, his eyes lighting first on me, then on Turo.
I felt the clench in the bond, and sent him a rush of reassurance, but kept my face blank, hating that it was necessary, when all I wanted to do was drink him in as he strode towards us, his long legs eating up the distance, his thick body making the hallway appear much narrower and shorter than it usually did.
“Curse my fucking life,” Turo muttered, turning with his hand still on his weapon, to face Melek as my mate approached, his chin high and eyes hooded, but darting. Taking in every detail of the surrounding space and the people within it.
I was touched when he reached us and ignored Turo, instead dropping to one knee, bowing his head as he offered a salute with his fist to his chest.
“Your Majesty, I am grateful for your mercy,” he rumbled. Turo’s eyes narrowed.
“I trust you,” I said bluntly, daring any of them to defy me.
“Please tell the men what you need. They will help. In fact…” I tu rned to one of the soldiers who’d remained in a cross-hall, obviously appointed by Turo to follow Melek if he took that route.
“Please find me a runner—I need the staff advised that the General is free to roam, and should be assisted with food and drink, or whatever he requires.”
“I can wait for dinner,” Melek offered casually.
I nodded like I was hosting him. “Then please, make use of the next couple of hours. We’ll take the evening meal in my dining room with Turo and some of the others when the bells ring.
The Council will meet after breakfast tomorrow.
If you need directions to the chambers, the servants will aid you. ”
Melek nodded as if we hadn’t already discussed this, then turned with a pointed look at the guard behind him, then back to me.
“They know that you have my permission to be free. But it may take time for word to get around. Turo,” I said as casually as I could, “Please give him your seal. I’ll make certain you receive another no later than dinner.”
Turo’s eyes bulged, and he snapped his head to me, his expression incredulous. “You can’t be—”
“Give him your seal,” I said tightly. “No one in the Palace would question that you carry my orders with honor and integrity. How long has it been since you’ve even had to produce it?” I asked, tilting my head and eyeing him pointedly.
The royal seal was only given to those closest me, those I trusted to make judgments as I would.
Turo was one of only a handful who carried one because anyone producing a seal would be treated as if they carried my personal authority, and given access to anything they requested.
It was a power that could be abused mightily when in the wrong hand, so I awarded them sparingly and only when I needed to allow a person to act for me and trusted them to do so without prior discussion.
Turo’s face visibly paled and the muscles at the back of his jaw flexed, but with his lips pursed, he reached inside his shirt, drawing out a medallion on a leather lace, pulling it over his head, but then freezing with it in his palm, his knuckles white around it and eyes locked on mine.
“Yilan,” he breathed.
“Turo, this is not the drama that you believe it to be,” I said, wishing my voice sounded stronger. “I don’t want to risk Melek being stumbled upon and run-through before a well-meaning Shadekin knows he’s free at my choice. ”
He stared at me like I was a creature he’d never seen. I returned his gaze as evenly and calmly as I could, praying he wouldn’t defy me in the presence of others.
And to my relief, after a few moments, he extended his hand towards Melek, the leather tie dangling below his fingers.
There was a moment when Melek reached for the prize, and Turo didn’t release it. Melek’s eyes rose from the seal to Turo’s face and he went still, his body tensing. I could feel him prepare for battle, and almost swore.
But then Turo leaned in and hissed, “If you abuse her trust I will personally see that you are dispatched by whatever means necessary.”
Ignoring the threat, Melek took the seal, casually lifting the lace around his neck, then unbuttoning his jacket, revealing his collarbones and the vast planes of his pecs as he tucked it inside.
Diadre cleared her throat but didn’t comment as Melek began buttoning his jacket back up.
“I need some directions,” he said bluntly, speaking to me as if we were alone. “Who would you prefer that I ask to escort me—”
“I would be more than happy to make myself available as an… escort,” Turo said through his teeth.
I was about to protest when Melek nodded. “Thank you,” he said, as if the offer were generous and not laced in mortal threat. “Please… take me to my son.” Then he looked over his shoulder and sighed. “And you’re welcome to bring your guards. I would do the same in your shoes,” he added.
Turo blinked and I had to swallow a smile. Not waiting for Turo to recover, I called the guard who’d been startled by Melek’s appearance, and beckoned Lane who’d been standing back watching all of this.
“Please escort General Handras to the cottage where his son is. With Istral and Harris. Are you familiar with it?”
Lane nodded dumbly, then looked up at Melek. “Please, follow me… Sir,” he said uncertainly.
“Thank you,” Melek repeated, ignoring Turo’s glare as he followed in Lane’s wake.
His eyes cut to me before he passed and I felt the bond tighten—like he’d pulled me closer—before he stepped past, following Lane, and ignoring Turo at his elbow, and two others at his side and back.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry .
But as they disappeared down one of the adjoining hallways—Melek cutting me one more burning look before he passed behind the walls—Diadre spluttered and laughed.
‘Holy shit, Yilan!’
‘I know.’
‘Turo’s met his match.’
I sighed. ‘Turo has met his vanquisher ,’ I sent sadly. ‘I only wish he didn’t have to do so publicly. They would appreciate each other if they weren’t rivals.’
Diadre snorted. ‘I don’t want to see Turo hurt either,’ she admitted. ‘But… my heart is full for you, Yilan. That’s a lot of man. But he obviously cares for you.’
I frowned and looked at her. “You wouldn’t even know if I hadn’t told y—”
“Yilan, I could have smelled the alpha male bullshit from the other side of the Palace. That was intense.” She turned her head looking up and down the hallway, but we were alone.
When she was sure, she smiled and leaned in.
“But you’re right… Turo was crossing swords with a shadowman.
Melek knows he’s already won.” She blew out a breath.
“God, I hope I’m there when Turo knows.”
“I take no pleasure in Turo’s pain,” I said miserably. “I hope you won’t either.”
She gave me a look. “You can’t tell me the caging on your verandah didn’t make you want to throttle him .”
I wanted to snap my teeth. “Turo overstepped. But he was afraid. I know he was—”
“Yilan, I love you. But you need to stop making excuses for him. He’s not going to be your husband, or your King. He still half-thinks of you as the child-princess. Stop excusing that in your mind. You’re a grown woman, and he is a grown man. He needs to shift his perspective.”
She was right, and I knew it, even nodded as we started to walk together. But I was deep in thought, and thankfully Diadre had never been one who needed to fill a silence.
Because my thoughts quickly turned inward, and my senses towards the bond. I gripped that cord between me and Melek like a lifeline. Reading even the smallest hint of his feelings that pulsed through it.
The temptation was there to follow him at a distance, to see if I could use the bond to find him. But I shook it off .
I had to let him show himself without me. And we might not get our week before events overcame us. He’d started as soon as he stepped out of that stairwell, and I wouldn’t interfere.
But as often as I dared, I stroked the bond and reminded him that I walked with him in heart.
And I prayed that he and Turo wouldn’t kill each other before we could make this whole situation clear.