Lionel nodded once, weary. “Then let’s make sure there’s still enough ofyouleft when you do.”
The air fell silent behind us as we moved on, only the distant whisper of the shadows following, hungry, patient, waiting for me to slip again.
How long did I have before I became their worst nightmare?
We stopped at the edge of a ravine, the fog below us as thick as spilled ink. The squad set up a quick camp, no one said it aloud, but we were too spent to keep moving.
Lionel took charge, as usual. “We rest here. Two-hour shifts. We need clear heads before we go any further.”
I didn’t sit. “We don’t have time.”
He looked up from his seat, rifle tight in his grip. “You want to us to charge forward tired and hungry, possibly making it all worse? Or we could rest a bit, conserve our energy enough to come up with a plan and make sure we save Ethalyn.”
“She’shurting,” I bit out low. “I can feel it.”
Ashley, who was crouching by the fire glanced up. “Then we only take a quick break, but if you burn yourself out now, she’ll have to rescueyou.”
I gave her a faint, humorless smile. “I don’t need saving.”
Eve snorted softly from her watch post. “That’s what every dead idiot said right before doing something stupid.”
The others chuckled, but the sound didn’t reach me. My patience was already thin, fraying like the threads pulsing under my skin.
Lionel stood, crossing the distance between us. “You’re not the only one who cares about her.”
The words scraped against something raw. “You think you understand?”
He didn’t back down. “I don’t need to understand. I just needyouto not get us all killed before we reach her.”
Something in me snapped. My magic surged, threads of blood whispering free, bright and sharp in the dark. Lionel’s rifle hit the ground with a thud.
“Careful,” I said, voice low, dangerous. “You’re talking like you command me.”
He didn’t back down. “Someone has to.”
The air crackled between us. In the dim light of the campfire, I saw the reflection of my eyes in his, red, glowing brightly.
Anabomination.
The markings on my skin flared like molten lava, crawling up my throat.
“Stop it,” Ashley snapped, rising fast. “Both of you.”
But it was already too late. Lionel moved first, shoving me hard in the chest. I caught his wrist mid-swing and twisted, blood threads curling around his arm before I even realised they’d moved.
Ashley’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Malakai! Don’t you dare!”
Eve was beside Lionel in a flash, pistol drawn and aimed right at my head. “You let him go,now.”
I could have ended it there. One pull, one cut, I wouldn’t even need to move and he’d drop.
She would’ve loathed me for it…But he would’ve been gone forever.
She would never utter my name again if I killed him, although, I could always devour her.
No,shit. I’d never see her smile again or feel the warmth of her touch.
Focus.
