“I don’t know. Everyone’s just… off. And I can feel it, but I don’t know what to do about it.”
Malrik doesn’t respond immediately. He just walks beside me, steady and patient, waiting for me to keep going.
So I do.
“Finn’s pulling away. Darian’s nervous. Kieran feels…” I struggle for the right word. My hand flails in the air while I try to think. “Strange. Aspen’s hovering like he’s expecting an attack. Torric’s trying too hard to stay calm. And you—”
I look at him.
“You’re carrying something too. I can feel it.”
Malrik is quiet for a long moment. Something tightens in his jaw—brief, barely there—before he smooths it away.
Then he says, “Finn’s hurting. He’ll come back to himself when he’s ready.”
I wait.
“Darian’s trying so hard not to mess things up that he’s going to accidentally combust.”
Despite everything, I almost smile.
“Kieran is terrified of losing you,” Malrik continues. “Aspen’s on high alert because he loves you. Torric sees danger in every shadow now.”
He looks at me, and his voice softens.
“And none of that is your fault.”
Something in my chest loosens.
“You are not responsible for their storms, Kaia,” he says. “Only for your own.”
“And you?” I ask quietly. “What’s your storm?”
Malrik’s eyes hold mine for a beat too long.
“I’m just trying to give you the happiness you deserve.”
I open my mouth. Close it. Open it again.
Nothing comes out.
Malrik doesn’t seem to mind. His mouth tilts up, warmth in his eyes, and he just keeps walking beside me, steady as always.
We walk in silence for a few more minutes.
The road curves ahead, disappearing into a stretch of twisted trees. The corruption is stronger here. I can feel it pressing against my skin like cold fingers.
“You’re sure he’s okay?” I ask quietly. “Finn, I mean.”
Malrik exhales slowly.
“No,” he says. “But he will be. And when he’s ready, he’ll come to you.”
“But what if he doesn’t?”
Malrik glances at me, something unreadable in his silver eyes.
“He already has,” he says. “You just didn’t see it.”
