Chapter 45 Malec
Malec
Could it be that the pull I feel toward her is because of the blood in her veins?
She’s carrying the blood of my kind, and my chest twists at the thought. How can something so forbidden feel… magnetic? My mind races—how did they even get close enough to catch one? How did this happen without my knowledge?
Myko’s already acted. Huntresses in our ocean are moving quietly, avoiding detection, hunting elsewhere for now. He also sent a huntress to Mal-El, so my grandma could warn the other cities in our ocean.
I lean back against Pedro’s SUV, shoulders pressing into the cool metal, but my eyes never leave Roran’s back. She’s guiding Chris and Kayla, laying down the rules as we wait for my father in the parking lot. Every gesture precise, every word sharp. I can’t believe I actually let my sister help.
I draw a deep breath, hands shoved into my pockets, trying to anchor myself. Earlier, she almost saw the real me—the part I’ve spent years hiding. And I can’t shake the memory of how close I came to taking her soul, how easily it could have happened if I hadn’t yanked back fast enough.
The thought leaves a heat in my chest that no amount of distance can cool.
I lost control when her soul called to me. That black, shattered soul moved in waves—pulling on strings I didn’t even know I had.
The way she bites her lower lip when she’s nervous? It’s damn near impossible to keep control around her.
I’ve never cared for the women who threw themselves at me, desperate, begging, destroying themselves in front of everyone just to get my attention.
I never blinked. I never dared to try. Not with who I am. Not with the weight I carry.
But with her?
My gaze slides down her long, wavy hair, following the curve of her perfect ass that hardens my cock without effort, all the way down to the white Jordans Chris probably gave her.
She’s too simple… and too complicated at the same time.
I don’t want anything to do with her—and I want everything to do with her.
Jaw clenched, I shake the thought from my head.
She’s not mine. I’m not hers.
I’m going to keep my word and rescue her sister. And with the Red Dock’s location—where her ‘medication’ is produced—I’ll find the missing merfolk.
They’re still alive. I can feel it in my bones, under my skin.
“Took you long enough,” I groan when I hear footsteps coming from the elevator. I don’t even need to look to know it’s them. Their souls are practically screaming.
Rage. Wrath. They’re not going to spare a single fucking soul once we find that dock.
We’ll have to move the second we get the location—no time for anyone to run. Our men are already on standby.
And I’ll be making damn sure that VIP doesn’t lay a single filthy finger on Roran.
I subtly adjust my pants before standing up straight, trying to conceal the proof I’m still rock-hard thanks to her.
I won’t touch her again. Not a chance. Not risking it.
“Keep lying to yourself. Let’s see where that gets you,” Myko huffs.
I jerk my head around, only to find Pedro staring at me with a smirk.
Of course, he noticed. He’d live to make it worse now.
“How did Pedro used to call you again?” I tease. “Oh, right—delusional sushi.”
“It took me forever to find that pendant in the office,” Pedro grumbles, tossing it at me.
I catch it easily and snort when I see it’s wrapped in Bay’s favorite pink handkerchief.
“You’re dead when she finds out.” I unwrap it quickly—just to make sure it’s still glowing like I feel it should—then rewrap it, stuff it into my pocket, and turn my attention back to the girls.
“Roran rides with me,” I say, pointing at her, then between Kayla and Chris. “You two ride with dad and Mariano. You know your job, right?”
Chris rolls her eyes like I just asked if the sky was blue.
“We both know I’m better than you in the field. Stop pretending I’m not.”
Mariano chuckles, and I fight the urge to laugh too.
She’s more than ready.
Roran walks toward me, careful, quiet. She won’t even lift her eyes, staring at the ground until she’s standing next to me.
Not too close—but close enough that I hear her shaky whisper. “Please don’t judge me when we get there.”
I step toward her, instinctively reaching for her chin to lift her face to mine—but stop myself just in time, yanking my hand back and jamming it into my pocket.
I can’t touch her. Not again.
“What exactly do you plan to do in there?” I ask, voice gruffer than intended. I tilt my head, trying to catch a glimpse of her face beneath the strands of dark blonde hair.
She takes a breath. Deep. Controlled.
“You’ll see.” She moves toward the car door behind me, but pauses.
“I know we had a deal, and that’s why I’m still alive and staying here, but please trust me. Everything I’m going to do—everything I’ve done—it’s all to protect the people I love.”
Before I can stop myself, my hand grabs her arm. I release it instantly, like it burned.
I can’t risk it.
She follows my reaction and then finally looks at me. Like she’s hurt by it. But her eyes snap back to the ground before I can even register it fully.
“If it’s worth anything… I trust you to get me and Diana out of that hellhole. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even be suggesting this.”
Her words hit me right through my chest.
I try to ignore the sound of goodbye buried inside her tone. Try to make sense of it. Is she trying to tell me something?
What the hell is she planning?
I don’t answer. I just follow her silently to the car, open the back door, and gesture with a tilt of my chin.
She climbs in. I close the door behind her, making sure she’s all set in, and then a hand rests on my shoulder.
My father.
“Ivan’s still in New York. But we’ve got no eyes on Fedor. No one's heard from him since that day—and I don’t like it. I think they’re playing us.”
I glance at him. His face gives nothing away. As always.
But mine? Mine doesn’t show weakness either, because at this point, I don’t think I have any.
“I don’t care what game they’re playing,” I say, voice low. “Roran’s staying. And I’m getting the merfolk out of the Red Dock.”
His eyes flick wide—just for a second—then return to that unreadable calm.
“You figured it out?”
I nod.
“Still piecing together how they got them there and where. Especially the Sur-El princess—she wasn’t even from our ocean. But I won’t let them get away with it. And I hope you won’t try to stop me when the time comes.”
He studies me.
I don’t blink. I don’t breathe, not when he’s testing me.
Then, finally, he nods.
“You’ve got my back. If you start a war… we’ll make damn sure we finish it.”
That’s all I needed to hear.