With Leone sleeping comfortably nestled in the furs, Malek hesitated, uncertain of what to do next. His gaze flickered between me and the hut entrance, weighing whether he should stay or leave.
"You can go. I’ll stay with him, if that’s alright."
Malek’s gaze lingered on Leone, laden with indecision—and something darker. Dread, perhaps. But what was there for him to fear?
"I'm staying," he said through gritted teeth.
He walked to a corner of the cabin and sat on the floor, leaning his back against the wall, then crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes, his posture tense yet resigned.
His presence comforted me. It felt good to know someone remained by my side.
"You’re exhausted," I murmured. "Why don't you rest? I’ll look after him."
Malek cracked one eye open, exhaustion etched into the lines of his face. He had been away from the village for days, patrolling the forests for invaders. I doubted he had slept at all during that time. Orcs—and fae in general—could go long periods without rest, but consecutive days running through the woods were enough to exhaust even someone of Malek’s size.
"I don’t trust sleeping High Fae," he declared.
I wasn't offended by his honesty.
"I’m a High Fae," I countered, trying to ease the tension with a subtle smile. "And I’m awake."
He stared at me in a way that made my heart race, his eyes scanning my face, searching deeper than words.
"You’re different. You always were."
The conviction in his voice stole my breath. Under the weight of his stare, a strange impression settled over me: he knew more about me than he was letting on.
"Different how?" I asked, curiosity overcoming my exhaustion.
He hesitated, holding my gaze.
"You’re... an orc with soft skin," he said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly—almost a smile.
I frowned, surprised by the unexpected answer.
"Is that a compliment?"
"It’s the best way I can describe you," he affirmed, meeting my eyes. "You’re kind. Soft-hearted."
Not for the first time that day, my body reacted to his words. Heat rose to my cheeks, and my stomach fluttered. He saw me in a way no one ever had. To him, I wasn’t PrincessFionnuala of Ceilte, burdened by my lineage, nor the cursed orc. I was simply myself—a soft-skinned orc, as he had called me.
A tightness spread through my chest, like something inside me had shifted out of place. Relief loosened it one moment, only for unease to coil in its wake. Being seen so clearly left me exposed, with nowhere to hide.
“You’re strange, Ruk’hai.”
He only shrugged. Silence returned, more comfortable now, broken only by Leone’s steady breathing.
I held my brother’s hand, noticing the stark difference between us. My hand was larger than his, and our skin tones were now completely different. Leone and I were identical twins—each other's mirror image. When we were children, my mother used to dress us in the same clothes just to confuse people.
It had been fun to pretend I was him whenever someone asked. We did that until puberty, when our bodies changed too much to remain identical. Now, the difference was undeniable. I was green and large, and he was not.
Malek watched from the shadows, a silent yet reassuring presence. He offered the same sense of security I once felt at home—in the warmth of my parents' arms.
The exhaustion that had stalked me for days finally settled in with full force, and I fought to keep my eyes open.
"Go to sleep," Malek commanded, his voice softer now. "I will keep watch."
"I can't. I need to..."
