There was no turning back now. I told Malek everything.
He listened without a flicker of surprise or shock crossing his face. There was only the cold and focused intensity of a warrior mapping out a battlefield. I revealed my lineage, the familial ties between Leone and me, and the truth of how I hadended up here. I spoke of Merith, the curse, my desperate flight, and the constant fear of discovery. By the time I reached the part about Leone, the words spilled out with the raw urgency of grief.
"This is my brother," I said, my eyes brimming with tears. "Leone, my twin."
I finished the confession exhausted and trembling, bracing myself for fury, disgust, or judgment. Instead, Malek crouched down, maintaining his distance, and examined Leone with eyes that were no longer hostile but analytical.
"What did Alasdair do to make the Autumn Court come for his son in his own home?"
"I don't know what happened. But Alasdair isn't one to break agreements."
Malek shook his head and turned back to me. The weak torchlight played across his eyes, revealing a distrust he made no effort to hide. I knew I had no right to expect otherwise, but that look cut deep.
"What do you expect me to do?"
"Help me save him," I pleaded, moving closer and extending my hand until my fingers brushed his knee. He didn't recoil from my touch. "If the Autumn Court is willing to strike down Ceilte’s heir, the alliance has been broken."
"And why does that matter to me?" His voice was cold as steel. "Ceilte’s our enemy. This war is yours, not ours."
"Because if Grìosach attacks Ceilte, the Winter Court will strike back," I said, trying to appeal to his logic. "Lyraen will become a battlefield, and your people will be caught in the crossfire."
His jaw tightened. He couldn't deny the truth in my words.
"I’m not your enemy, Malek. And as much as I have lied, I’d never do anything to hurt your people. I need your help."
Malek surged to his feet, pacing the cabin. He absorbed the information, weighing risk against reward. The revelation that I was High Fae—a Kerridan, nonetheless—hadn't made him explode in rage, which brought a flicker of relief. But his distrust remained a solid, impenetrable barrier between us.
"What guarantee do I have that, as soon as he recovers, the two of you won't turn against us?"
I lifted my chin, forcing my legs to hold steady, and met his gaze head-on.
"None," I answered without hesitation. "Only my word."
Malek’s eyes narrowed to slits.
"And what’s the word of a kir’shakur worth?"
The word struck like a physical blow. The bitter weight of the resentment it carried—ancient and deep-rooted—pressed against my chest, and I recoiled at my own insignificance.
"It’s worth the lives of your people," I whispered. "Alasdair’s my father. If I ask, he’ll help."
Malek stopped and spun to face me. His eyes were cold and unyielding, but they betrayed a quiet conflict simmering beneath.
He hated my people, but he loved his own. Centuries of war and bloodshed could end in the blink of an eye. All it took was for him to accept my offer.
"I trusted you, and you deceived me," he accused. "Why should I trust you now?"
He wasn't asking for an answer; he was demanding a guarantee he knew I couldn't provide. No words could erase centuries of ingrained distrust and hatred between our peoples.
Even so, I took a step forward, closing the distance between us. He stood so much taller than I did that I had to tilt my head back just to meet his eyes.
"Because I’m one of you now," I countered, my fingers brushing his face in a gentle, lingering touch. "And I want to help you."
Malek’s amber eyes shimmered in the cabin's gloom, sweeping over my features in search of a lie. The silence stretched thin while he decided whether I was an unlikely ally or the most dangerous liar ever to cross his path.
"What do you propose?" he asked at last.
"A trade," I said, a knot tightening in my throat. "You help me heal and protect Leone, and I’ll use my influence to ensure Alasdair accepts a peace treaty with you. Not a temporary truce, but a real, lasting peace. Beyond that… I can help your people with my magic."
