Chapter 18 #2
The word landed like a stone in my chest.
My mind whirred, sluggishly piecing together everything Malik had just told me and what I was about to do.
“So, you want me to attend this masquerade ball, put on a mask, pretend I’m not horrified, try not to get seduced, and waltz around as if everything is fine?”
Malik let out an unexpected laugh.
It was the first laugh I’d heard from him since we left Zampa’s house.
And though it was hardly comforting—and it barely even reached his eyes—somehow, in the suffocating darkness of this conversation, it felt like the closest thing to solace.
“Don’t worry,” Malik said, his grin stretching slightly too wide. “Timehunters can’t easily determine who’s a Timeborne. Your dagger is always hidden, unlike the Timebounds, who wear their marks like a beacon.”
He reached between us, tapping my collarbone with two fingers.
“Your job tonight is simple—find the Sun Dagger and leave Costa’s ball like a shadow—unknown and unseen.”
I let out a breath, then rolled my eyes. “Piece of cake.”
Malik’s brow furrowed. “Piece of what? Are you hungry?”
I almost laughed at the absurdity. “It’s an expression from my time. It means something will be easy, which we both know it won’t be.”
Malik gave a short nod. “Ah. Sarcasm.”
“Yes,” I said flatly.
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Well, sarcastic or not, the ball is at Costa’s estate. The dagger should be in his study. We have two hours—no more. We don’t want to be there when he begins his... exhibit.”
His tone darkened at the last word.
A wave of unease crawled over me. I shot a hand, pressing it against his arm before he could rise. “I’m a little frightened. It sounds dangerous.”
Malik exhaled, his gaze flickering with something softer, something close to understanding—but it was gone instantly.
“It is dangerous, especially for me, love. If Costa realizes I’m there, he’ll kill everyone with a special concoction of belladonna.”
A gasp left my lips. “Oh my God, Malik! Don’t you think I deserved to know this sooner instead of minutes before we walk into a damn death trap?”
Malik stood at his full height, towering over me.
“If I had told you everything earlier, you would have obsessed, overthought it, and made yourself as sick as Emily.” He shook his head, lips pressing into a grim line.
“You think if you kill Balthazar, all your problems will disappear. That you and Roman can ride off into some fairy-tale ending.”
His voice dropped, colder than before.
“Nothing could be further from the truth.”
A chilling pause.
“Even if Balthazar dies, the Timehunters will remain. And they are far deadlier than anything you’ve faced.”
Then, without another word, Malik turned and strode away, leaving me unsettled, unnerved, and more uncertain than ever before.
I bolted upright and lunged for his arm. “You don’t get to drop this kind of news at my feet and then walk away.”
Malik stilled, then turned back to me with infuriating slowness. His tongue flicked over his upper lip. “Oh? And what should I do instead?”
I let out an exasperated breath. “God! This is a joke to you, isn’t it?”
His expression turned to stone. “I assure you, it’s no joke.”
My hands curled into fists. “Why am I only learning about this now? Why didn’t I know when I was catapulted into ancient Rome? Or the Wild West? Why didn’t my time-traveling mother mention any of this?”
Malik’s fingers brushed against my temple, a light tap.
“You know the answer as well as I do. In Rome, you spoke to no one except Roman and his housekeeper, Amara. Who would have told you there? In what you call the Wild West, the Native Americans were focused on their survival. Your father protected you after your mother was killed.”
“Were there Timehunters in Seattle?”
Malik’s gaze didn’t waver. “Yes. They are everywhere.”
A chill settled in my bones. “Was I in danger? Was my mother?”
His response was matter-of-fact, emotionless. “Probably. And yes.”
He turned down the hallway, his long stride unhurried, as if this conversation hadn’t just altered my entire perception of reality.
I chased after him, my pulse thrumming. “Then why didn’t they ever come for me?”
Malik stopped at his office door, blocking the entrance as he turned to face me. “They were waiting and always watching. The nexus that started in Italy has only grown stronger. Their network has expanded, and their influence has spread. And tonight, we walk straight into their den.”
A lump formed in my throat.
“You must retrieve the Sun Dagger,” Malik continued, his voice dropping into something almost conspiratorial.
“They stole it from Zampa for a reason. They have a plan for it. We need to be extremely cautious. If Raul Costa realizes who you are, or worse—if he discovers I’m there—it will be catastrophic for both of us. ”
I braced myself against the wall, trying to suppress the tremor in my hands. Could I do this?
I hadn’t been the same since the loss of my child. I had barely pieced myself back together, barely held on to what remained of my strength and confidence. But now… now I had to summon courage, no matter how broken I felt.
Malik stepped closer, his fingers tilting my chin up. His touch was unexpected—gentle, almost reverent, as if I were made of something fragile, fine-spun glass.
“Follow my lead tonight.” His voice was low, a murmur meant only for me. “I will do my best to protect you… but I can’t always be there.”
His emerald eyes softened, glinting with something unreadable—something tender.
I exhaled shakily, falling into his pull, my body instinctively leaning closer—
Then, as if sensing it, Malik withdrew.
“It’s getting late.” His voice was abrupt, colder than before. “We should start preparing for the masquerade.”
Without another word, he ducked into his office and closed the door behind him.
I stood frozen in the dim corridor, my heartbeat loud in my ears.
Shaken. Fearful.
And dreading everything that was about to come.