Malice keeps moving, the ground under him is hard, dark dirt. The trees tower overhead, branches spreading like hands reaching out from the trunks. Bushes speckle the ground, leaves bright green, dotted with various colored flowers. Patches of grass grows in spots where the sun reaches the ground.
He’s not very familiar with the forest around Valtara, but Malice knows where he is going. The first thing he did when he arrived in the South was scope out this spot.
Just over a thirty-minute walk, with his head pounding the entire way, Malice makes it to the small clearing Northwest of Valtara. The meadow is just large enough for Malice’s needs and far enough away that no creature from Valtara should bother him. And should a Rogue come upon him, well, he’ll deal with it.
The pounding increases, in tempo and violence. The creature knows he’s moments from being released. The walls inside Malice’s brain tremor with the effort it takes to stay erect. Malice can barely see as he scans the clearing for creatures.
Once he decides the coast is clear, Malice sheds his shirt, tossing it aside. A rustle, far off in the woods, catches his attention. Malice narrows his gaze, shoving the thumping away to focus.
A flash of gold.
No.
No. No. No.
Panic surfaces, like a wave crashing over him.
Aerin reveals herself a moment later, her eyes guarded as she scans the area.
“Going for a late-night swim?” she asks, gesturing to the small creek that runs through the grass between them.
“You need to leave,” Malice says through his teeth. His insides are thrashing, the creature seconds from ripping out of him, whether Malice wants him to or not.
Aerin, not one to respond well to being told what to do, plants her feet, folding her arms over her chest. “Tell me what you’re doing out here,” she demands.
Malice storms across the clearing, for a moment all the pounding in his head is lost to his anger. Aerin doesn’t have an ounce of self-preservation. She doesn’tthink.
Grabbing her bicep, Malice drags her to the edge of the clearing.
“Hey!” Aerin protests. She tries to pull her arm from his grip, but Malice is furious, his grip bruising, and his determination enormous. He will get Aerin out of here. He will keep her safe.
Malice shoves Aerin out of the clearing, back into the trees. Aerin stumbles, wrath rising in her eyes when she whirls around on him again.
“What the fuck?!” she roars.
“Go! Back to Valtara. Back to the apartment. Now.”
Aerin’s rage simmers. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
The creature inside of Malice settles for a moment, his interest piqued.Fuck.
“Aerin! It wasn’t a fucking suggestion. It’s an order. Go! Now!” Malice hopes, along with his anger, Aerin senses the other thing inside of him, the desperation.
[What is she? Bring her closer.]
Panic swells.[No! You don’t touch her. You don’t even look at her. Do you understand me?]
The creature roars, so loud Malice holds his ears in reflex, even though there is nothing he can do against the sound.
[You do not control me!]
Talons shred through the door keeping him caged in Malice’s mind. They swipe, sending wall after wall tumbling.
When Malice looks back at Aerin, concern laces her features. He thinks about their kiss. How Aerin felt in his hands, against his mouth. How in those moments, he was terrified to have found something so beautiful.
This is why.
Malice destroys beautiful things.
