I wince, and it has nothing to do with the venom humming through my veins. “I didn’t intentionally keep you in the dark, Maliki,” I growl. “Fuck, you’re my best friend. I just… I didn’t…” I wince again, this time from the pain echoing up my arm from my fingertips. “I didn’t think… it would be needed.”
Darkness overwhelms me again, the venom winning as I crash into the floor once more.
But this time when I come to, I’m on my back and Maliki is standing over me. “Best friend?” he says, arching a brow. “I’m yourbest friend?”
“Well, you were until you fucking stabbed me,” Imutter, my tongue feeling so damn heavy that it’s hard to speak, let alone talk.
“You’re going to have to repeat that, as I didn’t understand it,” he says, folding his arms.
It’s then that I realize he’s dressed in assassin leathers—black pants, a tactical vest, and boots.
“Fuck, you look ready for war,” I grumble, my hand coming up to touch my pounding head. “I’d kill anyone else in this position. You know that, right?”
“Still can’t understand you.”
I glare. “Liar.” My tongue is already back to its normal size, which means my words are more than coherent.
And the grin he gives me confirms it.
“Asshole,” I add.
He shrugs. “You pissed me off.”
“You said that already.”
“It was worth repeating.” He holds out a hand.
I eye it warily. “I’m not falling for another one of your tricks.”
He grunts. “I’m done torturing you for now.” He wiggles his fingers. “Best friend.”
Fuck, I’m never living that down. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Oh, that ship has sailed.”
“Your mortal idioms are tiresome,” I inform him. Because that one I’ve heard.
“Your lackluster communication is tiresome,” he returns.
I sigh. “Fair.”
“Not nearly,” he replies, bending down to grab me by the shirt to yank me upright. “I want you to take me to Sera.”
“I told you I would—after we talk.”
“Sotalk,” he demands.
Ignoring him, I mist to my room for a much-needed drink.
He shadows after me.
“Stab me again and I will consider taking you to the death world,” I warn him from the bar area.
Maliki snorts at that. “Sounds like a date,best friend.”
I roll my eyes and grab a bottle of bloodpagne. I don’t ask if he wants a glass, just pour us both one and hand it to him when I turn around.
He takes it despite not really caring for the liquid. “Are we celebrating our friendship?” he asks, a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.
