Chapter 26 #2
The flickering fire cast shadows across Malik’s face as he continued. “I vow to destroy Balthazar and the Timehunters.”
His hands curled into fists, his jaw tightening. “And you must know… taking Marcellious into my confidence was vital. I needed someone inside Balthazar’s circle. Someone who could spy on him without suspicion.”
He released a breath, his fingers unfurling as he stared at his open palm. He seemed momentarily lost in thought as if choosing his words carefully.
Then, at last, he spoke.
“I recruited Marcellious the night you were heading to Philip’s estate to find the journal.” His gaze flickered to Roman and me. “While you were asleep by the campfire, I compelled Marcellious into the woods and told him my plan.”
His frown deepened, memories stirring behind his eyes.
“At first, he was suspicious. He asked, ‘Why should I believe you over Balthazar? Why should I trust you?’”
Malik’s expression darkened. His voice was low, edged with quiet intensity.
“I told him, ‘Balthazar is only interested in one thing—himself. He’s using you, just as he’s used countless others before you. Everything he does is for his selfish gain. But what I do? It will benefit you. It will benefit Olivia. Roman. Emily.’”
He looked between me and Roman, his piercing gaze unreadable. Then he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped together.
“It was hard on him, but Marcellious proved himself a strong soldier.” Malik’s voice held a hint of reluctant respect. “He was the perfect man to gain Balthazar’s confidence and retrieve his dagger. Both his and Alina’s.”
His eyes flickered with something unreadable before he sat back, rolling his shoulders as though they bore the weight of centuries.
I narrowed my gaze. “Why did you need those daggers in particular?”
A glint of satisfaction flashed through his eyes. A secretive smile stretched across his face.
Oh, boy. I exhaled sharply. He was still Malik, a man of secrets.
Then, without warning, his expression hardened, his emerald gaze cutting through me like a blade.
“Your mother’s prized possession is mine now,” Malik spat.
The air in the room thickened.
“You see,” he continued, “when I took away something Balthazar loved, I rendered him powerless.” His smile turned razor-sharp. “His dagger is in my possession. He can no longer time travel. No longer manipulate time. No longer escape.”
I sucked in a breath, the full force of his words crashing over me like a ten-thousand-ton brick.
Malik had taken away Balthazar’s greatest power—his ability to run.
Well played, my friend.
Shivers ran down my spine as I realized what this truly meant. No matter where Balthazar tried to go or what shadows he attempted to crawl into, he was trapped.
His greatest weapon had become his greatest weakness.
I exhaled, my mind reeling. Then, another question climbed its way to the surface. “Why did you bring Tristan here?”
Malik’s smirk deepened. “Why, to keep the demon distracted.”
He let out a hearty, unapologetic laugh, the sound rolling through the room like thunder.
“Tristan, as you must know, isn’t too smart. Or too fast.” Malik shrugged, eyes gleaming with amusement. “And now, Balthazar is on babysitting duty.”
I blinked.
What a clever, clever man.
Malik had thought of everything, down to the most exacting detail.
Roman and I couldn’t help but smile, caught in Malik’s rare moment of mirth.
But then, his expression shifted. The laughter faded, replaced by something heavier, something final.
Malik stood, clasping his hands behind his back. His emerald eyes darkened with resolve.
“Everything I’ve done—all of this—is to destroy Balthazar.”
His voice was unshakable.
“And once you find the Moon Dagger, you two will become the most powerful people. You will take both daggers, learn how to wield them, and then kill me.”
The words struck like an arrow in my chest.
I inhaled sharply, my heart lurching. “What?”
I shook my head, stepping toward him. “You can’t be serious. Kill you? No! I refuse to do that!”
Roman was beside me in an instant, gripping Malik by the shoulders. His expression was a mixture of disbelief and anger. “You may be the darkness, but you won’t die as one.”
His voice was fierce, unwavering. “I respect you, Malik, for everything you’ve done. Let yourself be transformed. Stay and live with us.”
Malik exhaled through his nose, prying Roman’s fingers from his shoulders. His gaze remained eerily composed, resolute. “I won’t have a purpose once Balthazar is gone.”
A heavy silence settled between us.
I refused to accept that.
“We’re a family,” I said, stepping before him, my hands clenched. “We’re an unstoppable team now. We could never destroy you. You’re a good person, Malik.”
He let out a breathless chuckle, though no humor existed. “I’m no saint, Olivia.” His gaze dropped to the floor. “I’ve done terrible things. I still do terrible things.”
His voice was quieter now. “But… being in your life has made me want to improve.”
I reached for him, my fingers barely brushing his arm. “Then stay. Keep learning. Keep living.”
He said nothing.
I took a step closer, forcing him to meet my eyes. “Think about Rosie.”
His body tensed.
“You love her. She is your family. How can you leave her?”
I searched his face, hoping, praying for a touch of hesitation, a sign that he wasn’t beyond saving.
“She should be your reason to live, Malik.”
A tortured, anguished look passed through Malik’s eyes.
Before I could stop myself, I placed my palm against his stubbled cheek—a quiet, instinctive act of comfort.
For a fleeting moment, he leaned into my touch. His hand covered mine, fingers pressing against my skin as if grounding himself. His eyes squeezed shut.
Then, suddenly, he tore away, wrenching himself free.
He started pacing, his movements restless, like a caged animal. “I’ve lived a long time—too long. I will do what I must.”
I turned to Roman, my vision blurred with unshed tears.
He shook his head slightly, his expression filled with helplessness. I didn’t know what to do either.
I swallowed hard. “Malik, I feel your pain after everything you’ve told us. You have love inside you. Even if you try to deny it.”
He paused, his broad shoulders tense.
I took a breath and forced myself to continue.
“And when you told us how you once wanted to share love with both of us…” I hesitated, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Being a bisexual man through centuries of bigotry, of homophobia, of constant mistrust… That must have been unbearable. It must have been impossible ever to have your needs met.”
Malik turned toward me then. His expression—wounded, raw—was that of a lion with a thorn buried deep in his paw, one he refused to let anyone pull free.
I reached for his hands, taking them in mine.
“Look, Malik. We love you. That is not in question. And we don’t want to destroy what we have between us.”
My voice softened. “I want to continue loving you in whatever way we can. I don’t think you’ll object to that, Roman?”
I turned to look at my husband, hoping he would understand what I meant.
Tears spilled freely down Roman’s cheeks.
“I love you, too, Malik.” His voice was thick with emotion. “Just not in that way.”
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward and clasped Malik’s shoulder.
I couldn’t hold back my emotions any longer, and before I knew it, I was sobbing.
“Thank you,” I choked out, my words thick with gratitude. “Thank you for taking care of me when I lost my child. For always watching over us. Maybe—because of you—we’re one step closer to destroying Balthazar.”
Malik’s expression remained still, unreadable, but I pressed on.
“Yes, you had Marcellious betray us, but look at what you did—you pulled all the threads together. Without you, we would be lost. We’re not just allies, Malik. We’re family.”
I took a trembling breath, clutching my chest. “Marcellious. Roman. Emily. Rosie. Me. And you. You can’t ask us to kill you. You just can’t.”
The tears came harder now. “I know now—not all darknesses are evil. You taught me that. You are good. A good, good person.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer. I lunged forward, throwing my arms around him, burying my face into his shoulder as I sobbed.
For a moment, Malik stood there, arms stiff, as if resisting the temptation to return the embrace.
But then, Roman stepped in behind him, wrapping his arms around him, too.
That was all it took.
A shudder ran through Malik’s body, and his arms finally came around me.
All three of us stood there, locked in an embrace. Malik—sandwiched between us—was no longer a lone soldier in the dark, a monster resigned to his fate.
Just Malik. A man. A brother. Family.
When we finally pulled apart, our eyes were red, and our faces streaked with tears.
I reached up and kissed Malik’s cheek.
“You are so much more than a friend, Malik.” My voice was hoarse but steady. “We’ll work together to destroy Balthazar. And then maybe—just maybe—we can find peace.”
Malik exhaled, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling as if seeking answers from the heavens.
After a long moment, he murmured, “Maybe.”
Roman and Malik wiped the tears from their faces. Watching these two strong men—these warriors—weep was almost too much to bear.
But there was no shame in it.
Only truth.
Only family.
I sniffled and took a calming breath. “So, how do we find the Moon Dagger?”
Something flickered in Malik’s gaze.
Relief.
Purpose.
“I’ll show you.” Malik’s voice was steady, resolute.
He straightened his shoulders, his emerald gaze moving from Roman to me. “We must take one step at a time.”
Without another word, he turned and headed toward the stairs.
Roman and I followed in silence, a new bond thrumming between us—one woven from tenderness, vulnerability, and shared truths.
When we entered his office, Malik strode toward a cupboard built into the wall. Without hesitation, he opened it with a flourish, revealing a gleaming wall of daggers.
I sucked in a breath.