Something broke then, not in the world, but in him.
The air between us thickened with heat. Malakai’s glowdeepened from crimson to something darker, denser. He looked down at me, and in his eyes, I saw the decision crystallize.
“I think I finally understandherchoice now.” He bent closer, voice shaking. “Forgive me.”
For a heartbeat, everything went still.
Malakai’s breathing slowed against me, his muscles locked as if he’d found an answer to a question I couldn’t hear. The fury in his face smoothed into something calm—terrifyingly calm.
He met my eyes, the glow in his irises softened, not fading, but focusing, aware, deliberate. I knew that look. It was the look he gave me before he did something irreversible.
“Malakai—” I tried, but the word died as he brushed past my cheek. His hand came up to my shoulder, fingers trembling, reverent.
The world narrowed to the heat between us, the silence stretching thin. There was a bite of pain, sharp but fleeting; a pressure that stole my breath.
My fire flared instinctively, but I didn’t push him away. I didn’t want to.
He was careful and controlled… Until he wasn’t.
The Demon King’s voice cut through the stillness like a blade.
“Really, boy? You’d feed here, like an animal? Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
He yanked Malakai backward, tossing him aside like a disobedient hound. Malakai hit the floor hard, blood and fire threading the air around him. The King’s disgust was almost lazy.
Lionel pushed up on his feet, charging at the Demon King, as Jaden sent a wave of rubble to act as a distraction, helping Lionel get closer.
Once he collided with the King, they stilled, not moving an inch. Lionel had pierced him with a dagger, twisting it. But the abomination didn’t even wince, hesmiled. The Demon King’s hand gripped around Lionel’s throat and lifted him off the ground.
“No!” I tried shouting, but it came out weak.
“Lio!” Eve panted from across the room, pulling up her rifle and aiming shakily as she must have regained consciousness only moments before. The shot went off, right through the King’s arm and he dropped Lionel to the floor with a hiss.
Something in Malakai snapped.
He rose with slow, dangerous grace, crimson light crawling over his skin. “You should have kept your hands off her and our friends,” he said, voice bristling with power.
“Friends?” The Demon King scoffed. “Adorable.”
The red threads burst from Malakai, slicing through the air in a storm of light. The King deflected them with a single motion, amused, until Malakai was no longer there.
He was already beside me again.
I barely had time to breathe before he caught me, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, eyes bright and wild. “Trust me,” he whispered.
And I did, his teeth burrowing into my skin again.
The world tilted. Magic flooded through me, pulled from somewhere deep, deeper than pain. It rushed out of me and into him, fierce and scorching. I felt the strength leaving my limbs, felt the dizzying pull of our bond.
“Malakai!” Ashley’s voice tore through the haze. “Get off her! You’re killing her!”
He didn’t stop.
Wouldn’t. Or perhaps couldn’t.
“What the hells is he doing?” Jaden barked in the background.
“Should I… shoot him?” Nate asked confused.
