What did they expect? That we simply lie down and surrender to our fate? Give up, because of such a stupid reason as to be born in the wrong place, at the wrong time?
No.
I refused to give up, and so did Lionel. We stayed together, both of us desperate to survive, struggling for a place in this world. We only wished for a chance to live, was that too much to ask for?
We were like two sides of a coin—he stole something, I distracted, or the other way around. But it always ended up the same with us running for our lives. Yet, those were fond memories that I looked back on with a smile. We were close, it was just the two of us, it was easy. Our days might’ve been uncertain, but at least they were filled with laughter and understanding.
Family.
Something brushed the side of my face, snapping me away from my dream, pulling me back into the reality I dreaded. Instincts took over, as my hand tried to wave away whatever was waking me up.
“Comfy, are we?” an amused voice teased, making my eyes fly up. I felt a hand playing lazily with my hair, like someone bored.
Shit.
Slowly, I turned my head up and was met with his red, smug eyes. My head was resting on Malakai’s chest, my arms wrapped around him as if he was my pillow… I jolted back, glaring at how satisfied he seemed to be about the situation. He rested his head in his hand, half-lying, half-sitting against the trunk.
“Are you going to purr for me next?” he sneered, pushing to get a reaction out of me.
“I merely followed orders and kept my worthlessLieutenantfrom freezing to death.” I fought to keep control over my voice, keeping it firm and unbothered.
“How considerate,” he chuckled.
I began packing while he watched lazily without moving from his spot. As I walked around, I intentionally kicked his boot, earning a huff from him at best.
Something snapped further into the woods. My head turned towards the direction of the sound, but I saw nothing.
Malakai lunged for me, pulling me back towards him, my back against his chest as his hand pressed against my mouth to silence me. I struggled against it.
“Shh,” he whispered in my ear, making me freeze immediately. I held my breath, trying to sharpen my hearing by staying utterly still.
Another twig breaking, closer than the previous, and I heard Malakai inhale deeply, like he smelled something I couldn’t. I felt his hand tightening around my mouth, his head dipped to my shoulder. I tried to turn to look at him, but then I felt his teeth, threatening my collarbone and I tensed.
I tried to ask what he was doing, but his grip was so hard my sounds were muffled. His teeth squeezed lightly against the fabric of my shirt and I shivered. Then they were gone, quick as lightning, I heard him smash his head against the trunk, a strained pant leaving him as he violently pushed me out of his reach. I fell forward, catching myself with my hands as I swung my head furiously back at him.
But all my anger died when I saw him—the red glowing threads across his skin, his clenched teeth, and those flaming eyes that watched me with utter hatred.
I lost all words, baffled. Was it me he had reacted to? Why? What had I done?
Out of nowhere, an ice shard came at me, piercing into my shoulder. I gasped, the cold mixed with the pain.
“My bad, I thought it was an animal moving,” a man stepped into my view, eyeing me up and down. “Well, I guess it really depends on who you are?” Before he even finished his sentence, he began preparing another ice shard.
“You’re the ‘strike first and ask questions later’ type?” I chuckled surprised, wincing from the pain.
The man shrugged as a dark, twisted smile emerged on his lips and I felt as if the air turned icy cold instantly.
“If you’re a fellow wielder, you’ll be able to defend yourself… unless you’re weak.” He lifted his hand, preparing to throw the other shard at me, before he stopped, eyes widening.
Malakai had tilted his head in the man’s direction, red threads keeping his body locked in place.
“What the…” the man panted, panic creeping into his voice.
Malakai rose, his feet dragging behind him as he closed the distance between them. “You were going to hurt her, without hearing her answer?”
His voice was cold, deadly.
“What… what are you?” the man shrieked, until he finally saw Malakai’s vivid eyes.
