“As if she could,” I said, and let my fire loose.
The corridor erupted in cinders and shadows.
My flames met Iris’s darkness mid-air, the explosion rattling the stone. Smoke curled along the ceiling, embers scattering like stars. The lesser demons hissed and lunged, claws scraping against the floor, but Malakai was already there, his red threads slithering menacingly in front of them, every movement controlled fury.
He fought with precision. When a demon moved, his magic moved. When they tried to flank me, his blood threads split them clean in two before they could reach. He didn’t look at me, not directly, but I felt his attention like a tether, hot and unrelenting.
I circled Iris, magic humming in my veins. She moved with practiced grace, her body part smoke, part flesh. Every flick of her wrist sent tendrils of shadow darting towards me,and I burned them to ash, but each one left a bite of cold in its wake.
“You’ve gotten stronger,” she said, her voice velvet and venom. “But fire burns out, little human.”
“Lucky for me,” I said, “I’ve got someone who keeps reigniting it.”
Malakai laughed softly from across the hallway, a dangerous sound that made the air tighten. “Don’t disappoint me now, kitten. You’ve got an audience.”
Iris’s eyes narrowed, her smirk faltering. “He flatters you to hide his hunger.”
“Maybe,” I said, stepping forward. “But I’d rather be the one he bites than you.”
Iris’s smile turned sharp. “We’ll see.”
Her shadows surged again, forming spikes that darted towards me like arrows. I spun, heat flooding my palms, unleashing a ring of flame that melted the black mass. The corridor glowed orange and red, every breath tasting of ash.
Behind me, I heard Ashley curse softly. “Can’t use bombs, can’t yell, can’t breathe too loud, this ishell.”
“Still prefer it to being eaten,” Nate muttered, cutting down another demon with his blade.
Eve and Lionel covered the flanks with sharp precision, Eve’s rifle whispering through the dark, Lionel’s sniper striking true. Jaden slammed his palms to the ground, and the floor stretched, rock spikes impaling two lesser demons before they could reach Malakai.
But Malakai barely seemed aware of them. His eyes were on me.
“Left, kitten,” he called, just before a shadow tendril burst from the wall. I twisted, fire searing through it before it reached me. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
“You’re watching me instead of fighting,” I snapped, panting.
“I’m enjoying the view,” he said, voice low enough that I felt it more than heard it.
Iris’s face darkened, fury twisting her perfect features. “Pathetic,” she spat, lunging forward. “You think he cares for you? He’ll devour you the moment you falter.”
Flames roared up my arms as I caught her blade with my own, swallowing the darkness whole. “Then I guess I’ll have to remain standing.”
I shoved, and the fire surged through her, burning deep into her shadowy form. She screamed, a sound that made the walls tremble, and vanished into smoke, her body dissolving into black mist that scattered and fled down the corridor.
Silence followed, broken only by the crackle of dying flames.
The remaining demons hissed and retreated into cracks in the walls, fading as their mistress became ashes. Malakai was breathing hard, red threads evaporated. His eyes glowed brighter than before, dangerous, but still his.
I wiped the sweat and ash from my face, my heart still hammering. “You okay?” I asked, stepping towards him.
He tilted his head, a faint smirk on his lips as he slithered an arm around my waist and pulled me tight against him. “Okay? I think I just fell in love with you all over again.”
“Arrogant—” I huffed, cutting myself off from finishing the last word. He had already beaten himself up over it all day. I sighed, not able to hold a smile from spreading instead. “I’m glad,” I continued. “Because from now on, I’ll remind you every day that your heart is safe with me… and that you’ll never face anything alone.”
“And I’ll keep reminding you of why you chose me, and why I willalwayschoose you,” he answered, placing his forehead against mine, his eyes burning at me,forme.
Ashley clapped once, breaking the spell. “Great, you’re all amazing and flirty, you burned the demon bitch, now can wepleasefind that cliff before her creepy siblings show up?”
Nate grinned. “You mean before Ethalyn burns the whole castle down?”
