I hesitated, unsure how I was supposed to respond. “He doesn’t hide what he is, so I’ve never had to pretend with him. I know he won’t flinch when my fire comes.”
Something flickered behind his calm—pain, maybe, or something buried deep. “So that’s what it takes? Someone who doesn’t flinch?”
I frowned, feeling heat rise to my neck. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know,” he said quickly, voice low and steady. “I just… wish you didn’t have to settle for someone who only appears safe because he’s more dangerous than the rest of us.”
The words stung, not cruelly, but because they were spoken like a truth he hated.
“Lionel…”
He met my gaze then, and all that calmness broke into something raw. “You know I’ll never let him hurt you, right?”
That did it, that little slip of emotion, the old promise still living in his voice. My chest tightened.
I couldn’t find the right response, so I nodded instead.
He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck, exhaling a soft laugh that wasn’t really laughter. “I didn’t mean to sound like I’m still—”
He stopped, catching himself. “Forget it.”
Before I could ask what he meant, a shout cut through the woods, sharp, distant and familiar.
“Flame-wielder!” Our reinforcements emerged from the trees, armor stained with dried black ichor. “We finally caught up to you, then. Earth mages really are the best trackers… Where do you wish us to go?”
Lionel straightened instantly, the soldier mask sliding back into place. I took a sharp breath.
Lionel turned to me, his calm restored but his eyes still soft. “We’ll talk more later.”
“Yeah,” I said, trying to sound steady.
As the soldiers gathered around us, I glanced at him one more time. The sunlight caught the faint scar on his left hand, the one he’d gotten the day he first saved me. He gave me a small nod, one soldier to another. But under it, I saw it; theunspoken promise that he was still there, still the Lionel I knew.
And for the first time in a long while, I didn’t know if that comforted me… or terrified me. Instead, I turned towards the soldiers and instructed them to follow us back.
Upon our return, camp became livelier.
The new soldiers began raising more tents, some began cooking food in pots over campfires, and the low hum of units trying to keep their spirits high filled the air. It was buzzing everywhere… how many soldiers had arrived? Hundreds? Were even more coming? The problem with not being a part of either Aetherions or Ashen Corps fully anymore, was that their leaders didn’t trust us enough to give details.
Malakai stood near the fire, sleeves rolled up. His posture was easy, hands tucked away into the pockets of his pants, like he was waiting. There was something in his stillness that drew eyes without demanding them, the quiet command of someone who used to lead and hadn’t quite forgotten how to. Or maybe it was simply his aura, the way he watched silently like a hawk, ready to strike at any moment.
When his gaze found me, a faint smile touched his lips. Not the sharp one he used when he taunted me. This one was quieter, warmer.
“You’re back,” he said simply.
“You didn’t think I would be?” I arched a brow.
“I’ve learned not to assume,” he replied, voice flat, but the words sharp. His eyes flicked briefly to Lionel beside me. “Good to see you in one piece too, sniper.”
Lionel nodded once. “It’s Lionel.”
“Old habits,” Malakai said, tone light, almost apologetic.
I caught the flicker of surprise in Lionel’s expression; Malakai had offered no bite, no challenge, just calm acknowledgment. Maybe that unsettled him more.
I tried to step past them, but Lionel spoke again.
“You could’ve joined us, you know. Some soldiers still listen to you. Besides, if you’re all about being the good demon, then there’s no reason for you to stay behind and hide in the shadows.”
