Page 37 of The Reaping Rose

A laugh bursts from me before I can contain it. “I’ll never help you.”

His smile tilts. “Even for the sake of your mate? As you’ve learned by now, playing with death, toying with fate, is forbidden for a reason.”

“And yet you wanted me for that very magic.”

“I want you for many reasons. Consider me curious what could possibly hold Wilder’s attention.” Malachi’s gaze skims downward, and I take a step back. “But yes, I’d settle for your magic.”

I glance at the orb hanging around his neck. “Why do you need me? If that is truly as powerful as I’ve heard, you shouldn’t care about my magic at all.”

His jaw ticks. His nails dig into his palms.

Malachi’s back is stiff, his shoulders tight. He’s dripping with power, but he’s somehow… dark.

Distant?

Something is wrong.

“You can’t contain what you’re trying to control,” I guess. “You think I can help with that?”

“You wield the magic of Voilene.”

I breathe out a laugh because it does not matter. It might be Voilene’s orb, but I am of Fae blood. Idunn is proof that wielding her magic does not mean you can wield the orb. We are not gods. Still, I can’t help but ask, “Even if I could wield the orb, who says I wouldn’t just use it to destroy you?”

“I have no doubt you would, but that’s only because you don’t understand yet. And you are here to see the truth, are you not?”

“What truth could you possibly show me?”

“That your efforts are wasted.”

“Because fate has already written the ending?”

Malachi smirks. “Because it does not matter what comes of this end. This thread, this realm. These people are simply one of many. Nothing survives but the brutality of the gods.”

“Then I’ll settle for destroying you.” I lift my chin, and Malachi’s grin grows.

“You were much sweeter when you first came to my palace. Pity I didn’t have a taste then.”

“You’re despicable.”

Malachi circles the room, drawing closer. With each step, the air thickens. The pulse from within the orb reaches. A magic deeper than any sea. Vast as the sky.

He nears, and I step back. But he’s cornered me against a wall.

Malachi plants one hand over my head, while the other skims my arm. When I try to move this time, something holds me in place like the prison did when I first stumbled upon Wilder’s cell.

“We need each other whether you resist or not. Once this began, there was no putting it back. Help me, and I’ll craft a whole new realm for you should you wish.”

“By destroying both our homes?”

“What is here for you, Elorie? Reminders of those you’ve lost? Ways you’ve failed. Mistakes you’ve made. The fates are unforgiving, but together, we could craft something new. And there, we can control it all.”

“You’re mad.”

Malachi leans in close. A lingering waft of haelmarrow hangs on his clothes, and I think I get a hint of where he truly is. What he may be doing in this moment as he slips inside my head. He presses near, and my eyes flutter. For a moment, I see the flesh. The bodies. The blood.

A feast.

“We can work together, or we can battle as enemies. Either way, you will come find me because deep down your soul knows you aren’t meant to be his.”