He leans forward in his chair, scratching his chin, “Do you think Barlowe felt it that much? When the poison entered his veins?”
The words hit me like a blow to the face. Anger rises within me, and the darkness creeps up.
And, it doesn’t quiet down. The dark veins on my hands vibrate, and for a moment, I think that Kalix coming forward and wiping this man from this realm sounds like a great idea. He wants to provoke me, and I refuse to give in to his demands.
“Malachi, the only power you hold over me at the moment is your words.”
“And other things,” he smiles.
“I can promise there is nothing you could say that would hurt me.”
“Is that so?”
I nod, crossing my arms.
“Then let me try,” he insists, grinning maniacally. “I like games.”
“Go ahead. I have all night, and nothing to do.”
Malachi tilts his head. “Does Silas know?”
I freeze, and the air leaves my lungs. “Does he know what?”
“Oh, Briar. You know exactly what I’m asking. Do you think he loves you because of you? Or because he was designed to?” He leans forward. “It would be such a shame if his love for you wasn’t real.”
I stand with such force that my chair flips and I rush toward him. I bring my face inches from his and snarl, “You are a fucking child.”
“Am I?” He laughs. “Seems like I just won.”
“This isn’t a game,” I spit.
“But,” he grins broadly, “it is.”
“Instead of taking the fate of this kingdom and our realm seriously, you sit in your velvet chair of misery and taunt people,because after all these years, you’ve realized that’s the only control you truly have.”
Before I can react, his large hand wraps around my throat and squeezes. He stands and pushes me backward against the wall. His hot breath brushes the nape of my neck, and I try to fight against his grip, but it holds. His eyes pierce into mine, and in this moment, they are unlike any Wielders I have ever seen. They are dark, ancient, and animalistic.
They are inhuman.
“You don’t know what you’re up against,” he whispers in my ear. “I’m not the only one playing games; you are, too. You think you can win, but you’re wrong.”
I gasp against his hold, feeling the burn in my lungs.
“You’re living in a delusion, and I will make sure that I’m the one who snaps you back into this harsh reality,” Malachi says.
He releases my neck, and I fall to the ground, inhaling as hard as my lungs will allow. The handprint around my neck burns, but I don’t touch it. I don’t dare give him the satisfaction of knowing he can hurt me. Malachi sits back down in his chair and gazes at the fire.
I stand on unsteady legs and grasp the edge of the dark velvet chair. He ignores my struggle, and I pull myself up again, sitting across from him once more.
“The only one living in a delusion is you,” I say. “I think you are scared, and I’m going to find out what of.”
This meeting is over.
Taking a deep breath, I stand. “You might think we don’t have a chance, but at least we’re trying, Malachi.”
He places his elbows on his knees, listening to every word.
“Carobon has possessed the Prince of Eddris, Rohhit Harte, while Calia Thornfield is orchestrating plans that have been years in the making with my apparent half-brother, Nolan. They have the resurrection stone and are planning to raise an army.”
