I took a step closer, my fists curled. “Say that again.”
Ashley’s hand brushed my arm, a silent ‘don’t’, but it only fueled the fire burning in my chest.
Before I could spit the next word, Lionel’s voice snapped like a whip. “Enough!”
I froze. He stood between us, jaw tight, eyes sharper than I’d ever seen them. “This isn’t the time. Not when Nate’s bleeding five feet away.”
“She started it,” I muttered, but it came out small even to my own ears.
“I don’t care who started it,” he shot back, his glare fixed on me, not her. “Youshould know better.”
The words hit harder than Eve’s insult. My chest twisted, breath catching. He’d sided with her against me—of course he had. It made me want to burn that—
Wait.
Shit, no burning.
Behind him, Eve smirked, subtle and satisfied.
I bit down on my lower lip so hard I tasted iron. My emotions were off, I needed to calm down. These were the consequences of letting the flames free for the briefest moment, they became greedier.
Mey didn’t look up, too focused on pressing cloth against her brother’s head. Ashley stood beside me,whispering low and dangerous as she found a spot and began looking through her equipment to pass the time. “Ignore her. She’s not worth it.”
But the sting was already there, sitting heavy in my throat.
“You shouldn’t let her rattle you.”
The voice came from behind me, deep and calm, too steady for the storm inside me. I stiffened, recognizing it instantly.
Malakai.
He leaned against one of the tree trunks right behind me, arms crossed, eyes fixed on me like he could peel back every layer I’d tried to hide. His presence always felt larger than the space around him, suffocating and magnetic.
I wanted to snap at him, to remind him what he was—a monster in our ranks, a demon in human skin—but my lips remained sealed.
The visions of him biting into the mage, blood pouring down his mouth, covering his teeth; it was a fear I’d not soon forget. But no matter how much I wanted to shout it out, he knew my secret too.
“Your friend’s right,” he continued, nodding faintly towards Ashley. “The sniper-girl wants to get under your skin to vent herself, and you’re letting her.”
I spun towards him, heat rising in my chest. “Don’t you dare—”
“I’m not defending her,” he cut in smoothly, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “But you know I’m right.” He pushed off the tree, stalking closer to me.
His gaze flicked to Lionel, who was still standing rigidly between me and Eve, his back turned now as he muttered something at her.
“Funny,” Malakai murmured, his tone softening. “I could’ve sworn I saw somethingburningin your gaze.”
I flinched.
Malakai’s mouth curved, not a smirk, not exactly. Something darker. “You burn so hot, but you let yourself get scorched so easily.”
My stomach twisted. “Don’t pretend like you care.”
“Pretend?” His eyes caught mine, glowing faintly in the dim light of the shelter. For a second, I couldn’t breathe. “I don’t pretend, kitten. Not with you. After all, you’ve already seen… everything.”
My eyes snapped towards his. “I don’t believe a—”
He raised his index finger, pressing it against his lips that curved into a taunting smirk. He bent down, his breath hitting against the top of my ear. “You snitch and I’ll do something even worse to you.”
