“She is still one woman in comparison to your whole tribe,” Malik argued.
I stiffened. I understood what Mal was saying, but at the same time, I was insulted. Hurt. “You once told me that I was worth a thousand crowns,” I whispered as I set my accusing stare on Malik.
The entire table went silent. Braxis looked from Mal to me.
“Of course, then you abandoned me,” I went on. “So, that was a lie, was it? Meaningless romance.”
Malik's mark surged with icy cold, but this cold wasn't fear, it was pain. I had hurt him back, and I instantly felt horrible for it.
“Mvarra, we've discussed this. You know why I left and you also know that I would have given up my crown for you,” Malik said tenderly. “I meant every word I said.”
“So, it's okay for you to abdicate, but not me?” Braxis pounced on that.
“My abdication would have had no impact on my people,” Malik swung his head back toward Braxis. “My father rules.”
“But one day, your father will die,” Braxis insisted. “And if you had abdicated, Hell would have been without a king.”
“Hell would have had plenty of time to find a new heir. Your people, however, need you specifically. My father only accepted your terms because he believed you could control the Tribes. If you don't return, all of that could change.”
Braxis's jaw clenched before he said, “And you're saying that if you were me, you would abandon Amara? You would choose duty over love?” He held up his hand when Malik started to speak. “No, you don't have to answer. I think you've made it abundantly clear that you would. After all, you've already abandoned her once.”
Mal's mark went from cold to searing hot in a second. It was all the warning I had before he roared and shot out of his chair. Braxis rose to meet Mal as he surged around the table. They tumbled to the ground in a tangle of flailing fists and bared fangs. Everyone in the vicinity vacated their seats and hurried out of the blast zone. The men punched each other viciously, snarling and growling like animals. Blood sprayed over the carpet and walls but soft grunts were the only indication of pain.
“Well, there goes all that goodwill Mal showed Brax earlier,” Cyprian noted as he sipped his wine.
Cyprian sat to my left at the head of the table, within a few feet of the brawling Bleiten, but hadn't moved. He held out a hand, and I knew he was about to drain Braxis's energy.
I grabbed his wrist to stop him. “Malik is furious. He won't notice if Braxis passes out.”
“Now, this is more like what I was expecting,” Alex said dryly as he cut into his meat. He was on my side of the table, opposite the fighting, so he hadn't stood either.
“We can combine our efforts,” Cyprian suggested. “You cast an illusion over Braxis to hide him, and I'll drain his anger.”
I nodded, then winced as Braxis landed a punch to Malik's jaw. “You know what? No. Let the barbarians brawl.” I stood up, collected my plate and wineglass, then walked out of the room. “Anyone who'd like a peaceful meal, come with me.”
Everyone but Jason and Leo grabbed their plates and walked out. I glanced back and saw the guys waiting a safe distance away from the fight, arms crossed as they watched avidly.
“Are you serious?” I called back to them.
“This is better than boxing!” Jason called back.
Then Malik lifted Braxis and tossed him through a window.
I gaped at my husband. Mal had shifted into battleform—a powerful body with deadly claws and horns. This was the form that had inspired humans to label Bleiten as demons. Malik snarled, thrashed his horns through the air, and leapt out the broken window after Braxis.
“Sweet sepia, they'll kill each other,” I whispered.
I hadn't expected them to take it so far. I thought they could work out their issues in a physical way, but this was getting dangerous. I set my plate and glass on the floor and rushed outside. Cyprian went with me.
“Have you reconsidered my offer?” Cyprian drawled as we came upon the Bleiten men pummeling each other.
“Do it!” I snarled.
Braxis dropped suddenly to his knees. Malik pulled back his fist but before he could land the blow, I wrapped an illusion around Braxis, making it look as if he disappeared. If Mal had been in his right mind, he would have figured it out. He may have even found Braxis by feel and continued to beat on him. But my husband was lost to his bloodlust and rage. I knew because it was burning down my neck through his mark. Malik roared in frustration and searched the shadows as if he might find Braxis hiding there.
Why didn't we drain Malik too? It wouldn't have hurt him, simply weakened him. But there was a problem with that—we couldn't use our magic on each other. Once a man entered our fusion, he shared magic with all of us. That connection made it impossible for us to use our magic against each other.
So, we couldn't calm Malik or drain his fury. We'd have to rely on more basic measures.
