Chapter Forty-Four
I turned and looked at Braxis.
“No,” Braxis said.
“You won't let me call Malik?” I asked in shock.
“I won't let you call him alone,” he clarified.
“You may hear some things that will make you uncomfortable,” I said gently.
“Amara, loving you hasn't turned me into an emotional weakling,” Braxis huffed. “You don't have to cosset me simply because you don't return my feelings. I am still the man I was before I said those words.”
“No, you're not,” I protested. “Words have the power to change everything and that's what you did when you said that you love me.”
“That sounds promising,” he murmured as he stepped closer.
“It's not.” I held up a hand but with his movement, it wound up pressed against his chest. I could feel his heart beating—strong and sure.
Braxis stared at me a second before he stepped back. “I can be patient.”
I snorted.
“I can befor you,” he clarified.
“I feel as if you've swung from one side of insanity to the other,” I muttered.
“I've never felt more sane,” he argued. “Or more certain. My mind is clear and focused.”
“If you could focus on contacting Malik's ship for me and then on being silent, I would appreciate that.”
Braxis chuckled and went to the console once more. He typed in the code Lucifer sent us and stood back. I wrung my hands as we waited and tried not to look at Braxis. He had his arms crossed, increasing his bulk, but it no longer felt intimidating. Well, at least not in the same way as before.
Malik suddenly filled the screen and my heart leapt at the sight of him. He looked far worse than Lucifer—his eyes haunted as well as ringed with shadow and his hair as unkempt as his clothes. But he was still so handsome. Not like Cyprian, who had the kind of striking male beauty that just makes you sigh and wonder what miracle of genetics had to happen to create such a wondrous thing—such a sublime, otherworldly visage. No, Malik didn't make people sigh. He made them shiver. Women trembled in desire and men in fear. I trembled now in relief and nervousness, a shaky breath coasting over my lips.
“Malik,” I said breathlessly.
Malik's deep amethyst eyes widened as he lurched forward. “Amara!” He pressed his palm to the screen as if he could reach through it and snatch me up. “Mvarra, are you all right?”
“I am.” I pressed my hand over his. “Mal,” I whispered, “oh, baby, it's good to see your face.”
“Did you kill him?”
I let out a startled laugh and hung my head. Braxis made a snorting huff.
“Is that him?” Malik tried to peer past me.
“Yes, it's him,” I confirmed and sighed. “A lot has changed.”
Malik narrowed his eyes. “Did he...”
“No,” I said immediately. “He didn't do that.”
“Sweet stars,” Malik muttered. “I've been out of my mind with worry. We all have. But you're all right? Unharmed?”
“Unharmed,” I confirmed. “And I'm coming home.”
“You're bringing her home?” He asked the unseen Bleiten. “Why? What's your game, Braxis?”
