Chapter 6
CHAPTER
“Okay, how far from Darkshire were we in the last attempt?” I asked, as we stood around a makeshift table built from crates shoved together.
“We barely walked an hour past the border, we can hardly call that being on the way,” Malakai said, crossing his arms with a sigh.
“We had reports of demons lurking around the village, not the borders,” Lionel added. “We weren’t prepared to fight them in their environment; they ambushed us so easily… We’ll be more alert next time.”
“We should’ve been the first time,” Ashley muttered, earning herself a glance, but none of us were able to argue against her.
Demon territory was completely unknown to all of us, except for Malakai.
Nate sized me up and down. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
“And I’m a princess,” Ashley snorted while rolling her eyes at me.
“Could’ve fooled me,” Jaden smiled at her.
“Really?” Eve almost sounded offended by it.
“Focus,” Nate snapped, and everyone quietened.
Jaden’s eyes slid to Nate knowingly as a smirk spread on his lips. He was clearly enjoying getting Nate riled up.
I cleared my throat in a sad attempt to smooth things over. “Did we take all of them out?”
“Yes,” Eve confirmed, patting her sniper.
“Then I would say we try the same route but change our formation a bit.” I glanced at them.
“Ethalyn in the middle,” Malakai said, his voice firm and leaving no room for arguments.
“Why—” I began but was cut off.
“Agreed,” Lionel said, choking my opinion out of the equation. “She’s still not fully recovered, and this way, we can all protect her.”
I silently glared at them, and for a brief moment wished they would go back to arguing rather than getting along. It wasn’t as fun when they were on the same team after all.
“Perhaps, we could send some soldiers from the reinforcements to scout the border in advance, put them to some use while they’re here,” Nate suggested glancing over at the camp.
“Because your life is worth more than theirs?” Eve cut off.
“No, I just—”
“This is people’s lives we’re talking about,” Eve continued, her words trampling over Nate.
Silence found its way into the air, weighing heavily on our shoulders once more.
“I think sending a small team to scout is a good idea, not to use them instead of us though,” Lionel said carefully. “But it would give Ethalyn more time to heal before heading out.”
“I don’t need—” I hissed.
“One more night, that’s all,” Lionel said, his eyes piercing into mine.
“I can head out with the scouts, if that makes you feel better,” Eve suggested. “It wouldn’t sit right with me to send others in our stead.”
“Yeah, I’ll join,” Lionel added. “I’ll get restless otherwise.”
“Me too,” Jaden nodded.
“What? I don’t want to miss out on action,” Ashley fumed and Eve scoffed.
“Well, if all of you are going anyway, there’s no use in me staying, is there?” Nate shrugged.
Wait, so I was the only one staying behind? As if I had said the words out loud, I felt him shifting his weight to one leg, closing the distance between us slightly and I glanced up and met with Malakai’s eyes.
Shit.
I pouted as the others left camp, a slight fear lingering; what if they never came back again? What if I stood here, sending them into their deaths?
I shivered, turned on my heel and walked away.
The soldiers in the camp had already installed plenty of tents for everyone to sleep in, supply tents, campfires, and even a tent for washing off the stench living as a soldier brought.
Thankfully, they had placed it a bit outside the camp, to secure some privacy, and I figured I needed it, if only to clean my wound.
Some water mages had arrived with the reinforcements, so in other words, I didn’t hold back and filled the simple wooden bathtub so that it was all the way to the edge when I slid into it.
The water wasn’t even close to the same warmth I had in Runora, but that was also a luxury inn in comparison… At least it wasn’t freezing cold. Maybe if I tried producing fire underneath the surface? Would that even work?
I looked down at my hands, focusing, and a few bubbles began rising, along with a slow wave of warmth.
“Need some help?”
The voice made me jolt, and my head turned fast as I saw Malakai standing a few feet away from the tub. When our eyes met, a knowing smirk spread on his lips as he began rolling up his sleeves.
“What—” I stammered.
“Relax, sweetie,” he chuckled low.
Quickly I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him as my cheeks burned. He pulled up a stool placing it behind me. My heart was already slamming against my ribs.
“What are you doing?” I said, voice more collected this time.
“Helping you wash,” he answered easily as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
His hands scooped up my hair, and with careful and gentle motions, using his fingers to comb through it.
“How’s the wound?” he asked, voice lowered.
Was he still feeling guilty about it?
“A bit uncomfortable when I stretch,” I admitted.
He huffed, I could almost hear the smile in it. “Strange, you tend to say, ‘I’m fine’.”
I bit my lower lip. “No point in lying, you see through it anyways.”
His hands stilled for a brief moment, before he began massaging my scalp.
Whatever tension I had evaporated and I began to lean into his hold.
“No fair,” I mumbled.
“Are you really in a position to say that, kitten?” Malakai’s voice was like a caress, making my skin prickle, his warm breath hitting my neck as he spoke. “You’re the one completely naked.”
Slowly, I turned, my gaze colliding with his glowing scarlet eyes, and I released a shaky breath.
It was hard to remember why I was mad at him. For not letting me in on his plans? Sure, but clearly my stupid heart hadn’t gotten the same memo. Or perhaps it was I, who was being stubborn and childish, wanting to make him suffer a fraction of what I had.
But… he was still here.
No matter what I said or did, he remained at my side, waiting, just as he had promised.
Feelings were stupid.
I was stupid.
“Malakai…” I whispered, searching for the right words. His eyes sparked, as if he had been waiting to hear his name all along, but he leaned back. His hands kept washing my hair, patiently waiting, his fingers combing through the tangled strands, sending shivers down my spine.
“Tell me you don’t want me and I’ll leave,” he purred, but the challenge in his tone was clear. “Tell me to stop.”
I couldn’t, and he knew it.
I hated the way he knew my feelings better than I did.
I hated that he used it to push me forward.
I hated the fact that no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to dislike him.
“Bite me,” I dared firmly, challenging him head on.
A low chuckle rumbled through him as he released his grip on my hair.
I listened as he began removing his harness, shirt, and then pants. I kept my eyes forward, moving away from the back of the tub to make room for him behind me.
His movements were slow, dragging each second out, as he stepped into the tub.
Once he lowered himself, the water began to flow over the edge, splashing against the ground, but he didn’t seem to care.
His arms slithered around my waist, tugging me until my back was flush against his chest. I felt him all around me, embracing my whole body with his own.
His hands reached for my arms, guiding them up, placing them around his neck.
“What are you doing?” I asked, without resisting.
“Returning the favor,” he said, a smirk hiding within his voice. I furrowed my brows confused, until I felt my wrists locked in place behind him, as he used his magic to bind me.
“Poor kitten,” he mused right next to my ear, his hand making slow strokes at my lower ribs. “You should’ve finished me when you had the chance, now you can’t save yourself from me. I’m the sin you’ll never stop craving.”
I pressed my lips together, defeated, as his lips brushed along my neck, down to my collarbone. He drew a sharp breath, taking in my scent, as his hand began traveling up my body. His teeth sank into me at the same time as he clutched my breast, pulling a shivering gasp from me.
He bit down harder and my fingers curled into the back of his hair as I whimpered. It was difficult to separate the pain of his bite from the pleasure of his hand massaging my breast. My body began burning hot as a groan rumbled throughout his body, vibrating into me.
Then, his teeth retreated, his breath ragged against my shoulder. I tried to pull my arms down, but they were still tied behind his head. He noticed my struggle and chuckled.
“Stay focused, kitten,” he mumbled. His hand that had held me firmly pressed against him, began descending, while he kissed a trail along my neck.
My heart kept pounding with both frustration and longing.
“Why are you still holding back?” he murmured, not accusing, but coaxing, his voice velvet smooth. “Your body speaks louder than you think.”
I turned my head, my cheek brushing away from his lips, trying to hide the storm brewing in my eyes.
Silence was safer. Silence was all I had left.
He didn’t force me, didn’t snap. Instead, he pressed a lingering kiss to the side of my jaw, a soft contrast to the strength that held me close.
“Ethalyn,” he breathed, his words like a secret against my skin. “I don’t need your lies. I need your truth.”
My chest tightened, stubbornness warring with the ache in my heart.
I wanted to stay quiet, to keep my walls in place, but his patience undid me more than any demand could.
His hand spread across my lower stomach, steady and grounding.
It was the kind of touch that made me feel both captured and safe.
“Tell me,” he whispered, his forehead resting against my temple, his breath unsteady. “Say it. Just once, that’s all I’m asking.”
“Why?” I forced myself to ask.
He stroked his head against mine, his hair tickling my ear. “Because there’s one thing I crave more than your body, more than your blood, more than the air in my lungs… Your love.”