I managed a weak smile. “You know I wouldn’t leave you guys behind.”
His hand brushed mine, hesitant, lingering only a second before he pulled back fast, like the touch burned. He rose abruptly, scanning the trees to hide the rawness on his face. “I’m glad you’re okay… I’ll… I’ll fetch more wood.” And then he disappeared into the dark.
“Lionel?” I asked weakly, but he either didn’t hear me, or chose to ignore me as he continued walking away.
The others busied themselves nearby; Eve muttering as she cleaned her sniper, Ashley snapping branches underfoot forthe fire, Nate sharpening his blades. Their presence hummed around the camp, but no one pressed close. No one but Malakai, whose eyes burned at my side still.
He hadn’t moved since I stirred. Still and silent, as if waiting for me to speak first. I shifted underneath the blanket.
“You shouldn’t sit up,” he said finally, voice low, controlled. “Rest…” His jaw tightened. “You’ll need it after what happened.”
I pushed up anyway, grimacing. He reached out instantly, steadying me, and his hand at my shoulder, hot through the layers of cloth. Neither of us moved. Neither of us breathed.
“You nearly died,” he murmured, almost to himself. “Because ofme.”
I turned my head towards him. The light from the fire caught in his eyes which were beginning to glow dimly again, like embers that refused to die.
“I’m still here,” I said, as firmly as I could.
His fingers flexed against me, tightening and then loosening, until they stilled. It was as if he needed to confirm my statement for himself. Slowly he leaned closer, until his breath fanned warm against my cheek.
The world narrowed to that single point. His hand on me, his gaze pulling me in, the magnetism that had been building since we met again after the battle at Rimefield.
He was too close, and yet, it was impossible to move away.
“Have you…fed… regularly?” I stuttered, my voice barely holding on.
“Why?” he hummed. “Are you offering?”
“No,” I answered way too quickly, making him chuckle.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe. You’ve lost enough blood already.”
My heart tripped against my ribs as his eyes dropped to my lips, then rose again to meet mine, raw and burning. His lips parted, hesitation breaking. I felt his breath, the heat radiating from him.
I should’ve pulled away. It was the most sensible thing to do, yet I let it happen, the faintest touch, the barest brush of his lips against mine and I began melting.
A slip.
A surrender.
“Ethalyn!”
Ashley’s voice shattered the moment. She stood beside the campfire, arms full of branches. “You awake enough to eat for yourself? Or do I have to chew it for you?”
I jerked away, though the air between Malakai and I still burned. His hand fell from my side, but his touch lingered like an imprint carved into me.
My chest heaved, my lips still tingling with the ghost of his.
When I dared look at him, his gaze was already waiting, heavy and unyielding, cutting straight through me. The light caught on the faint red still burning in his eyes, but his voice was low, meant only for me.
“You risked yourself for me in Runora,” he murmured, a quiet edge threading his words. “And even now, after everything, you do it again.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but his lips curved. Not a smile, but something fiercer. “You can be furious with me all you want,kitten. But from now on I’ll be glued to your side, to make sure you don’t try to sacrifice yourself again.”
The heat of his certainty stole my breath. His tone wasn’t angry, it was a truth he carried like a weapon, like a vow.
Ashley dropped the wood onto the fire, squinting between us. “What’s with the looks? You’re both acting like you’ve been caught stealing.”
