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The sounds of the attacks from the deadlings dwindled with every second.

I snuck back inside and headed straight for my bedroom. Anywhere else would be no good.

Malachi didn’t see me as his equal. He didn’t see me as a strong partner that could help him rule this kingdom.

He saw me as a child he still had to protect.

I waited up until I couldn’t hear a single clash of metal through my open window.

This fight was over.

But this was only the beginning of war.

* * *

Ihad just dozed off into sleep when Malachi knocked. I could tell it was him right away—he knocked like it pained him to do so.

I stood up and secured my robe around my waist before shuffling to let him in.

“Are you alright?” he asked as he shut the door behind him.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?” I examined him closely, running my eyes over all of the splattered blood that stained his skin. I grabbed his chin and tilted his face to the side, looking for any sign of injury.

“I’m okay,” he said quietly. “The blood isn’t mine.”

A breath of air escaped me as I let my hands fall back to my sides. “Good.”

I turned my back to him and walked further into my bedroom. My feet chilled against the cool, hard floor.

“You scared me half to death, you know,” Malachi continued. “Seeing you out there wasn’t exactly calming.”

I tilted my head back and stared at the dark ceiling. “I was only trying to help,” I admitted under my breath.

Malachi approached behind me. The shadow of his wings illuminated on the wall. “I know you were,” he said just as lightly.

I spun to face him. “Then why not let me? Why not let me assist the people who are saving my life?”

“They were just fine without you,” he said. He took another step closer.

“Well, that makes me feel very valuable. Thanks.”

A bloodied hand came up to tug on the bottom of my hair. “There is nothing more precious to me in this entire kingdom, Jade. I’m sorry I lashed out at you, but…”

“But what?”

His eyes darkened. “I can’t think straight knowing you are in danger. I can’t… I can’t–”

I interrupted him by placing both hands on his face. “I know,” was all I said. He closed his eyes under my touch. I rubbed my thumbs lightly over his chiseled cheekbones before saying, “You’re covered in blood. Let me help you.”

Malachi let me pull him to the dimly lit bathroom in my room. Silence lingered between us as I dampened a cloth and returned to where he leaned against the doorframe.

When he reached for the cloth, I stopped him. “Let me do it,” I whispered.

He nodded.

Malachi bowed his head under my touch. He let me clean the blood and dirt from his skin in silence until the sun began to rise.

When he suggested he needed to return to his own room, I didn’t stop him.