But my body betrayed me.
I gravitated toward the place he’d just occupied, sinking into the lingering warmth like a cat curling into its owner’s chair. Emily slid in beside me, her eyes wide with anticipation.
“A Timebound,” Malik began, his tone casual, as if discussing the weather, “can travel with a Timeborne.”
I stiffened.
“What?” My head snapped toward Emily’s eager expression before a fire ignited in my belly. “How is that possible?”
Malik leaned back, his gaze embodied something unreadable.
“Hand me your dagger,” he lifted his palm.
“My dagger? Why?”
He pressed his lips together and made the same gesture again as if he had all the patience in the world.
“I’ll show you how the Timebound works,” he said, then turned to Emily. “And you—hand me your necklace.”
Emily and I exchanged a quizzical glance.
I hiked up my skirt and retrieved my dagger from the sheath strapped to my thigh.
When I looked up, Malik’s eyes were locked on me—his gaze dark and unreadable, a wicked glint flashing like an unspoken challenge.
I narrowed my eyes at him, silently warning him not to push me.
His lips curved into a low, knowing laugh, like the entire situation was one long, delicious game to him.
Oblivious to the silent battle between us, Emily unfastened her necklace and placed it in his open palm.
With one last glance between us, I let my dagger slip into Malik’s waiting hand.
Whatever he was about to reveal…
I knew it would change everything.
Malik placed Emily’s necklace on his polished desk, flipped my dagger in his palm, and turned it to expose the hilt. With a smooth flick of his fingernail, he picked it open.
A hidden slot gleamed inside.
“See this?” he murmured, tilting the dagger so we could get a better look.
My brows furrowed. “I… I never even knew it opened.”
Malik hummed in amusement, then picked up Emily’s necklace.
“This,” he said, holding the charm between two fingers, “fits here.”
With practiced ease, he inserted the golden tip into the slot. It clicked into place seamlessly.
Emily and I leaned in, both mesmerized.
“Wow,” I breathed. “That’s… cool, but how does it help Emily time travel?”
Malik set the blade down and leaned back in his chair. The wood creaked under his weight.
“Let’s say you time travel, Olivia,” he began, his voice smooth as silk. “And Emily wants to come, too.”
