His next words made my stomach turn.
“Your mother met Balthazar at this event.” He sounded eerily detached. “This gathering is debauchery at its basest level.”
My frown deepened.
Then, Malik’s gaze locked onto mine. “And you, Olivia, will be expected to partake.”
My body went rigid. “No.”
He didn’t blink. “Yes.”
I shook my head, my voice hard. “I only care about Roman. I won’t be tempted to do anything besides find my husband.”
“Ah, but you’re wrong, love.” Malik’s voice was smooth, but his gaze grew stern. “The atmosphere is so highly charged you’ll be filled with cravings.”
An uncomfortable prickle ran down my spine.
“I’m a grown woman,” I said, lifting my chin. “I can control my impulses.”
Malik smirked, dark amusement shining in his eyes. “Oh, I see. You’re an expert in orgies and parties of this nature.”
Heat rushed to my face. “No! I didn’t say that.”
His smile widened, but then it faded into something more serious. “I’m warning you, Olivia. You must heed my words. Trust me, you will be tempted.” His eyes closed briefly as if recalling something buried deep in his past. “It’s an intoxicating environment. Lust, in all its forms, will rule the night.”
A shiver cascaded through me—unexpected and unwelcome.
Malik turned toward the window, stroking his jaw in thought. The movement drew my gaze to the strong line of his neck, the way the muscle flexed beneath his skin.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to look away.Roman. Remember Roman. Roman is the man for you.
And he was. I loved Roman—heart and soul.
But I couldn’t explain why Malik’s presence still unsettled me.
Malik’s eyes snapped back to mine as if sensing my inner turmoil. His stare was ice-cold, carrying a silent warning.
“The most important thing you need to remember about Raul Costa, the host of this ball, is that he isn’t just menacing or dangerous—he is downright malevolent.”
I stiffened. “You already told me that.”
Malik’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation.”
I scoffed. “I understand perfectly. You, Balthazar, and every other darkness are all dangerous.”
Malik’s expression didn’t change, but his words sent an eerie chill through me.
“Timehunters are more dangerous than all of us combined.”
His probing gaze seemed to peel me apart, stripping away my confidence until I stood there, exposed and vulnerable.
A cold dread settled over me.
“H-how is that possible?” I stammered.
His face darkened, and suddenly, the air in the room felt heavy.
“Ever since the first Timebornes came into existence, a secret society was formed alongside them. They called themselves the Timehunters—an order obsessed with the idea that time travelers threatened society. They believed we were unnatural, dangerous, and an affront to the balance of time. And so, they made it their life’s work to eradicate us. They made it their passion.”
