Montego sighed. “I’ll drop you at Malik’s and have my manservant bring your things in the morning. It’s a shame you must leave so soon—I’ve enjoyed your company.”
Roman turned to him. “Thank you. You have been most generous with your hospitality.”
Montego waved a hand. “Think nothing of it. It’s been my pleasure.”
The rest of the ride passed in tense silence.
Malik stood outside his estate, waiting. A torch cast low lights over his face, making him look more enigmatic than ever.
Roman helped me down from the carriage, and after bidding Montego farewell, we approached Malik.
His gaze flicked between us. “What happened at Costa’s?”
I exhaled in irritation. “He has the dagger on him. We couldn’t retrieve it.”
Roman crossed his arms. “We gave him a ruse—told him we’re explorers hunting for artifacts.”
“And that we’re leaving immediately,” I added.
Malik rubbed his jaw, his expression unreadable. “Good. None of us can stay behind—it’s too dangerous. I’ll find a way to get the dagger back.”
Hope surged through me.
Then Malik’s gaze darkened. “But we must move west. The Moon Dagger must be found.”
I pressed my fingers to my temples, exhaustion creeping in. “That’s the plan.”
“Montego will send your belongings in the morning. By then, we’ll have a strategy in place.” Malik turned, striding toward the estate.
Roman and I followed.
Once again, I was on the run.
But this time, my dagger was in the hands of a mortal enemy—and the stakes had never been higher.
Chapter 29
Olivia
As I stood before the full-length mirror, dragging a brush through my hair, Malik’s voice made me jump.
“Olivia? Are you decent?”
I glanced at my robe-clad form. “Decent enough.”
I had been preparing to retire for the night, but sleep felt impossible. My mind wouldn’t quiet—not with my dagger in the hands of a brutal killer, not with Roman, Emily, and me forced to flee yet again.
Life in the twenty-first century had been so easy compared to this. Back then, my biggest concerns were income and relationship troubles. Running from demons and losing my only means of time travel to a monster had never been on my radar.
Malik appeared behind me in that uncanny, silent way, his emerald eyes gleaming in the mirror. His hands settled on my shoulders, grounding me.
“We’ll be leaving at dawn,” he murmured.
I tensed beneath his touch.
“Don’t worry, Olivia.” He leaned down, pressing a fleeting kiss to my shoulder before stepping back, giving me space.
Even with my boundaries firmly in place, my body still responded to him, drawn in by his sheer presence alone.
