Sahak wrinkled her nose and joined the conversation, her expression heavy with contempt.
"And why do you think you can?" she provoked.
I shot her a cold look, feeling the familiar spark of fury ignite within me at the blatant disrespect.
"I didn't ask for your opinion."
Sahak growled, but Drak intervened before the tension could escalate, resting a heavy hand on her shoulder.
"Calm down, Sahak. The akra’yn’s just curious." He turned back to me, assessing me with that ever-watchful gaze, amusement glinting beneath the surface. "The cage’s in a secure place. If you want to see it, Malek will take you."
"I’m an adult, Drak. I don't need him to accompany me."
"Then speak with the Ruk’hai," he retorted, ending the matter with a dismissive gesture before turning his attention back to Sahak.
I shot them both an indignant look. Drak was wasting words there when he could have been by Kalisha’s side. Instead, she was forced to watch him flirt with every single female in the clan except her. I hoped that one day, when Kalisha was happy with another male, he’d finally realize what he had lost.
Without waiting for explanations, I turned my back on them and marched toward Malek’s hut.
Chapter 17
When I reached the hut, I called out for him and waited outside. The response came almost immediately; he allowed me to enter. I pushed through the beads and, as soon as I found him, I froze.
Malek was naked, the firelight contouring his powerful body as if it had been carved from marble. He raised his gaze to me, unhurried, as if my seeing him naked was the most natural thing in the world.
I should have apologized and looked away, or anything other than allowing my eyes to roam over every inch of his body. His broad shoulders seemed even larger under the sparse light. His skin, a shade darker from his days in the forest, reflected the glow of the hearth fire. His arms, thick and corded with veins, hung relaxed at his sides, but there was nothing careless about his posture. Everything about Malek seemed deliberate.
It was a body made for war, yet there was something dangerously intimate about such unashamed nudity. Nothing about him asked for permission—Malek simply was. That confidence made my stomach tighten, a sudden warmth pooling low in my belly, betraying thoughts I shouldn’t have.
The air seemed thinner inside the hut, too heavy for my lungs. Every second before him made me more aware of the way his presence filled the space. When he turned and stood fully facing me, I felt my soul abandon my body. It took every ounce of my self-control to keep my gaze on his face, and not on the member hanging between his legs like a snake poised to strike.
I took a step back, swallowing hard. Heat rose like a wildfire through my body, igniting my skin and consuming everynerve ending. Before me, Malek closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, nostrils flaring as he inhaled my scent.
When he opened his eyes again, his pupils were so dilated that the brown of his iris had almost vanished. The shift in his aura was subtle but clear to me. The Ruk’hai adjusted his shoulders, his entire body assuming a predatory stance. There was no rush in his movements, only a dangerous restraint, as if he were deciding exactly how far to let us both go.
"I-I’m sorry," I stammered, trying to look away, but my treacherous eyes refused to obey. In my peripheral vision, I could almost catch a glimpse of everything. "I didn’t know you were…" The words died on my mouth as I gestured to his naked body.
Malek raised an eyebrow, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Washing myself?" he finished for me. "You called."
Before I could muster a response, he turned and stepped into the wooden tub, already filled with steaming water. The liquid displaced around his massive frame, small waves lapping against the basin's sides as he settled in. He leaned back, resting one thick, scarred arm along the rim, looking entirely at ease, making it obvious that my presence was absolutely no reason to embarrass him.
Finally, I forced my gaze to his. He watched me through lowered lashes, eyes heavy. I had the distinct feeling he was waiting for my next move to decide his own.
"I wanted to ask you about the cage," I said, straining to keep my voice steady.
"Why are you so interested?"
Because it was protected by Fae magic, and because the Autumn Court was marching toward Ceilte. The truth burned in my throat, but I didn’t speak it.
"I’m curious," I replied instead. "I’ve never seen a cage protected by magic."
It was the only truth I allowed myself to offer. I tried to ignore the racing of my heart and the way his gaze remained fixed on me. He seemed to read not just my words, but everything I chose to hide.
Malek didn’t respond immediately. He remained motionless, his dark eyes locked onto mine, calculating.
"It’s not your problem, akra’yn," he said.
