That did it. He stopped walking, silence stretching and tension building. I could almost feel my lifespan shortening, as his hand spread across the back of my thigh in a firm, possessive grip, less restraint, more claim.
“Try,” he murmured, voice dark with amusement. “I dare you.”
A thrill sparked down my spine. Was I in control? Maybe not but I had his full attention now.
His challenge still hung in the air when, without warning, he shifted his grip. For a heartbeat, I thought he was about to throw me even higher over his shoulder, like a sack of grain.
Instead, he lowered me, carefully, but deliberately.
As my boots hit the ground, I straightened, only to find myselfcaged.One of his arms was braced beside my headagainst a tree trunk behind me, his body crowding into mine like he was staking his territory. He was too close, too warm, and far too intentional.
He didn’t touch me, but his presence pressed in like a hand wrapped around my throat. Not choking,holding,how was it even possible?
“Go on,” he said quietly. “Ignore me.”
I scoffed, refusing to flinch even as every inch of me prickled. “Don’t tempt me.”
His lips curved, predatory.
“You can roll your eyes, you can insult me, you can pretend to be the one in charge.” His voice dipped, dangerously low. “But the second I step close, you stop breathing in anticipation, sweetie.”
I opened my mouth to deny it, yet nothing came out. He leaned just a fraction closer, still not touching, but looming.
“Try it,” he whispered again, coaxing. “Pretend I don’t affect you. I’ll wait.”
The worst part? He would, and he’d win.
I glared up at him, jaw tight. “You’re insufferable.”
He smirked. “You’re rattled.”
“Am not,” I shot out quickly… perhaps too quickly.
“You are.”
Damn him for having that effect on me.
I stayed pinned between him and the tree, stubbornly refusing to give ground. His arm remained braced beside my head, his gaze fixed on me like he was mesmerized by every twitch I made.
When my pulse finally began to steady, he stepped back, not hurriedly, but with measured slowness, certain that the space he left made me feel cold and empty. Like he’d already taken what he wanted.
“When you were at the Rimefield camp and I couldn’t be at your side,” he said, eyes still locked on mine. “Every damned second felt like torture. Each breath like my last, because I can’t breathe without you by my side.” He took my hand and placed it at his heart. “So yes, kitten, you win. I would die if you ignored me.”
“It’s not a competition,” I murmured, defeated.
“Making your heart skip a beat, sure feels like a prize though,” he quipped.
Malakai turned, not even bothering to check whether I followed, and started walking towards our meetup point.
“Come on,” he said over his shoulder, tone maddeningly calm. “We’re burning daylight.”
I stood there a second longer than I meant to, before noticing that he held his hand slightly angled back, as if waiting for me to grab it.
Damn him.
At least we weren’t the last ones to arrive at the outskirts of the camp. Lionel, Eve, and Nate were already there waiting when Malakai and I arrived.
“Amestele sent a scouting team out not long ago,” Lionel began rambling. “Apparently two people are supposed to meet up with us.”
