—Malakai—
The air stank, or perhaps it was just this place. Even the stars above the Demon Lands looked twisted and sharp, it felt like the whole universe was mocking me.
Because they had takenher.
We’d been walking for what felt like hours. No one had said her name in at least half of the time, but it filled the silence anyway.
Or rather, she filled my mind.
“She’s not dead,” I said, more to the horizon than to the team behind me. “I’d know.”
A snort came from Ashley. “Of course not, but if you know that, then tell me where she is, genius. I’m two seconds away from blowing up the entire Demon Lands if we don’t find her soon.”
“You’ll alert every demon within ten miles with your arguing,” Lionel said, voice even but tight. The barrel of his rifle gleamed faintly in the dull moonlight. “We need tothink.”
“We need tomove,” Ashley corrected with a hiss.
Nate trudged beside her, arm still bound due to his healing wound, giving her a sideways glance. “Maybe try both? Thinkandmove? Radical concept.”
Ashley swung around to glare at him. “You’re lucky I didn’t follow through on that stab last time.”
He grinned, unbothered. “Love hurts.”
Jaden groaned. “For the love of…”
Faelin walked in silence, her eyes flicked to me more often than she probably meant them to. Wariness. Not fear, but close. I could feel my control bleeding thin, the air around me had taken on the faint metallic scent of myblood magic.
Eve, walking on the ridge above us, lowered her rifle. “We can argue when we’re not glowing like a beacon. Malakai, your magic is leaking.”
I looked down. Sharp strands of crimson shimmered faintly between my fingers and hung down to the ground, spreading around me, twitching like living things. I forced them back, the movement a slicing pain through my skin. The blood obeyed, curling back into my veins.
They mirrored my true chaos, my control slowly slipping, and the urge to find her growing deeper, more desperate.
“She can’t be too far,” I said quietly. “I cansenseher.”
“That’s not creepy at all,” Ashley accused, glancing at me. I glared back at her.
This was the reason I had given Ethalyn the carved cat. I had infused it with my magic, allowing me to feel her heartbeat as long as she kept it close.
If her heart stopped, this world would too; I wouldn’t spare anyone.
Lionel’s gaze met mine then, steady, searching. “And if it’s a trap?”
I smiled without humor. “Then I’ll spring it.”
He sighed. “Of course you will.”
He saw me as reckless, but I considered myself productive.
If there was a demon army standing between me and my woman, I’d slaughter them. Simple as that, no need to waste time planning it.
Every godsdamned second I was out of reach of her drove me mad. Not because she needed me, she’s plenty capable of taking care of herself.
No, I needed her.
Without her, everything was dark, the world flat and meaningless. She was the stars, shining through the darkness, guiding me home. Her smile brought me more warmth than the flames she wielded.
The path curved down into a stretch of dead forest, black bark gleaming like obsidian. A thin fog pooled between the roots.
