“Straight to the point?” Malakai huffed, digging his fingers into his shoulder and pulling the quartz out. It sizzled between his fingers before he released it, letting it hit the ground.
“I had to confirm something,” Lionel said without flinching. “The fake had mixed blood—black ichor and red. But you bleed only red. Why?”
“What can I say? I’m one of a kind,” Malakai finished smoothly, voice lazy as ever.
“Could it be because the demon had fed recently?” Eve asked, looking down at the body.
“At least we confirmed that they’re after Ethalyn, not Malakai,” Lionel said firmly, glancing over at me with a worried expression before turning away.
“Great, so we just need to shoot everyone we see to check their blood?” Nate scoffed. “Who’s next?”
“Because shooting ourselves in the foot sounds like a solid idea?” Ashley argued back.
The argument spun off while I grabbed Malakai’s wrist before he could slip away. “Let me see.”
He smiled down at me, all mischievous. “You get all touchy when I’m wounded.”
I tightened my grip. “You’re lucky I like you enough to not set you on fire.”
“Oh, I’d survive,” he murmured. “But you’d feel guilty.” His eyes shifted, lingering on my face as if he already saw it.
“Don’t look at me with those eyes,” I snapped, averting my gaze.
“What eyes?” he said amused.
“Are you… okay?” I asked, feeling the heat gathering at my cheeks. “You know… how often do you need to…eatwhen you’re wounded?”
He went quiet, but I felt his persistent staring.
“What I mean is… do you need to…eat?”
Why did asking him something so normal for his nature make me feel so embarrassed?
His head tilted closer, his breath hitting against my neck and I felt my skin prickle.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he teased, drawling a moment longer before he stepped back.
His eyes glowed slightly in the dim light, as if waiting for me to ask him for it rather than him needing it.
I hated it.
Before I could fire back, Lionel’s voice cut through. “Enough, we need to move. The fog’s thickening, and fast.”
Malakai’s smirk widened like he’d been caught stealing sweets.
“Let’s go, kitten,” he said, brushing past me, his shoulder grazing mine just enough to show it was deliberate.
I exhaled sharply and followed, the warmth he left behind quickly swallowed by the cold.
The forest closed around us like a death sentence, trunks blackened with age, roots coiled underfoot, mist clinging to every breath.
Ashley clicked her tongue. “I hate this place.”
“Why?” Nate muttered sarcastically. “What’s not to like about a haunted forest? It’s cool, totally fine.”
Caleb’s hand shifted close to his gun. “Keep chatter low. They say sound draws them in.”
“Guess you’re doomed, then,” Malakai said taunting.
