Malek crossed his arms, the movement causing the muscles of his shoulders and chest to flex.
"You think Alasdair, the most arrogant High Fae in all of Tir na Sí, would sign away his war for you?"
The mockery in his tone stung, but I refused to let it shake me. I took a deep breath, grounding myself in the memory of my father—the unwavering love he held for Leone and me, a love I had never doubted.
"He’s my father," I replied, my voice steady. "He loves us above all else, even his throne. Alasdair will do anything toprotect us. If I tell him that peace with Oksha is the only way to ensure our safety, he'll do it."
Malek closed his eyes, caught between instinct and rational thought. His hatred for Ceilte and the primal need to protect his people clashed with the possibility of peace they had never dared to imagine.
"What guarantee do I have that this isn't a trap? That instead of peace, you'll bring death to Oksha?"
"There are no guarantees, Malek," I replied, raw sincerity threading through every word. "But… I can give you my word. Strike a bargain with me."
I opened my hands, showing him my palms.
"What kind of bargain?" he asked, his attention fixed on my outstretched hands.
"One that binds us beyond mere words," I answered, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. "A blood oath from the Princess of Ceilte, Fionnuala Kerridan."
Malek froze. A bargain sealed in blood was the most sacred and unbreakable promise among the fae. Once struck, it bound their fates together, forcing both parties to act in their mutual interest. To break it meant a slow and agonizing death for the traitor.
"Do you have any idea what you're asking?" His tone turned dangerous.
"I do. I swear by my name and by the laws of Oksha that I'll seek peace for your people. And in exchange, you swear that you'll protect both Leone and me, and that you'll see me as one of your own."
His hand rose slowly and settled over mine. His rough skin, etched with scars, contrasted sharply against the softness of my own.
His eyes drifted shut as he murmured something in Okshakai. Then he drew the knife from his waist and, without hesitation, sliced a diagonal cut across his palm. He held the blade out to me.
His energy wove into the current of An Talamh pulsing through my veins. The two forces met, shifted… and became something more. A subtle thread formed between us—an unseen tether anchoring us in a way neither of us fully understood, yet both of us could feel thrumming beneath the surface.
"I accept the bargain, krash’uk," he declared, his voice resonating like distant thunder. "May the oath bind us, and may the traitor perish beneath the claws of the forest."
An intense heat erupted from the point of contact and surged through my entire body, sealing our fates with a mark that was invisible yet permanent.
The moment was shattered when Malek abruptly released my hand and turned toward Leone’s still form.
"We need Uruha," he said, his commanding tone returning.
Chapter 19
The old orc wasn’t pleased to have to heal a kir’shakur; however, a single stern look from Malek was enough for her to begin applying the foul-smelling pastes to Leone. My brother only groaned in pain as she smeared the ointment into his wounds.
I ran my hand through his hair, brushing a few damp strands away from his sweat-soaked forehead.
"It’s going to be alright," I sniffled, feeling my heart fracture at the sight of him in such a state.
Uruha shot me a suspicious look, but I didn't care. She could judge me all she wanted. My life had already been decided by the bargain I had struck with the Ruk’hai.
It was his duty to protect me, and in exchange, I would help him. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed him. He hadn't moved from the spot where he'd stood since arriving at the hut with Uruha. He had positioned himself like a sentry at the door, shoulders tense, hands balled into fists, jaw locked tight.
I couldn't begin to imagine what he must have been feeling then. To discover that not only had he helped the daughter of his greatest enemy, but that he was now sheltering the very warrior he had faced in countless battles.
When Uruha finally finished applying the ointment to all of Leone’s wounds, she spat something crude at the Ruk’hai and stormed out of the hut without a backward glance.
Leone’s breathing was no longer ragged, and the agony etched into his features had softened. I pressed a lingering kiss to his forehead before lifting my gaze to Malek, who was already watching me with an unreadable expression.
The bargain tugged at me, a golden thread stretching between us and binding us beyond life itself. I had never struck one before, but the sensation wasn't entirely unpleasant. Just unfamiliar. In a way, I could feel him at my very core.
