As if pulled by an invisible thread, his eyes slid to mine, noticing me staring as he arched a brow. “Sweetie,” his voice carried over the crunch of boots hitting dirt. “Stare that hard, and people might think you’ve developed… an interest.”
My stomach knotted itself at what he implied.
“Wha—I wasn’tstaring!” I scowled, averting my eyes, which only seemed to amuse him.
“Of course not.” His smirk curved sharper. “Just… reliving fond memories, perhaps?”
My step faltered, as heat began surging across my cheeks.
He wouldn’t. Not here.
“You—” I hissed, quickening my pace until I leveled with him. “Keep that mouth sealed.”
His eyes sparkled with mischievousness, reveling in my reaction. “What? You mean I’m not supposed to talk about our kiss?”
My hand swung out and pressed against his lips, silencing him. “Stop, don’t utter another word!”
Behind us, Ashley’s voice rang out, oblivious. “Hey, what are you two whispering about?”
Malakai grabbed my wrist, removing my hand from his lips.
“Should I tell her or will you?” He grinned wickedly.
That piqued her interest even further, her eyes almost glittering at whatever we were holding secret.
“I—” I struggled finding an excuse, lying to her didn’tsit well with me.
“I’m part demon,” Malakai uttered, the words rolling off his tongue so easily, we almost missed the importance of it. But the air shifted, grew colder as we all held our breaths for the next moment.
Had anyone else heard?
“That’s not even funny,” Ashley snorted. “I would’ve believed you if you tried telling me you were a mage too, but a demon? That’s stretching the joke a bit too far.”
I swallowed hard, Malakai chuckled dryly. “Yes, you’re right.”
Ashley sighed, disappointed and continued past us. I nudged his shoulder. “Why did you do that?”
His eyes slid back to mine, a moment of pause stretched, before he raised his fingers, flicking my forehead.
“Hey!” I snapped, rubbing the spot he struck.
“I’m waiting, sweetie,” he answered, slowly, dragging each word out. “I’m patiently waiting for you to acknowledge whatever you feel for me, in spite of what I am. And I’ll continue waiting, even if it takes a life-time, even if you end up choosing the sniper boy in this one. I’ll wait for the time you choose me and then, I’llcherishit, even if it only lasts for a few seconds.”
My breath hitched, my heart stuttering while listening to his words. He noticed, his eyes softening as a warm smile spread on his lips, earnest, contagious, filling my body with heat. Then he snagged my hand, forcing his fingers between mine, braiding them, as he tugged me along and continued our walk.
My eyes were glued to them, flustered and still I didn’t even try to pull away, sparks igniting inside my palm. It didn’t matter how much I battled my feelings, he wasalways there, by my side, staying no matter how frightful I became or what hateful words I spewed.
And I kept asking myself, why?
The question burned hotter than any flame I could conjure. It was dangerous, this feeling that kept unfurling inside me, no matter how hard I tried to stomp it out.
Malakai came to an abrupt stop and I stared, baffled, up at him. “What?”
The mages around us all tensed as well. They moved up, taking cover as they crept forward.
A sudden hard tug on my hand forced me behind Malakai before I felt the earth shake and an explosion echo ahead of us. Nate sprinted and threw himself onto Ashley, knocking her down to the ground as another explosion went off, sending debris our way.
“Are you okay?” Mey shouted towards Nate and Ashley.
