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We hadn’t had an exchange like that since before he held the knife to my throat in Trithen.

An exchange that didn’t end in yelling or malice.

It was a start, I supposed.

Did I want this?I thought to myself. Did Iwantto rebuild my relationship with Malachi?

He was terrifying yet thrilling all at the same time. I couldn’t keep my thoughts straight when he was near.

I did know one thing, though. No matter how much I said I didn’t want to spend dinner with him…

I would be counting down the hours until I saw him again.

CHAPTER3

Malachi

Ishowered three times to get every last drop of Isaiah’s blood off my skin.

Normally, I would feel some sort of guilt or sorrow while I washed blood off of myself.

This time, though, I feltsatisfied.

Isaiah and Esther needed to be punished.

We had let them live, which showed more than enough mercy. I should have killed them both for what they did. I should have ripped their heads off for hurting Jade.

But they were alive. Esther wouldn’t shut up about how we needed her to save Jade’s life, although she resisted telling us why. It was a ridiculous thought, considering she was the one who had put Jade’s life in danger.

With Isaiah’s help, of course.

I shook my head as the hot water ran down my back. How could I have been so blind? I should have seen it coming. I should have known Esther had an ulterior motive to help us.

She wanted me dead. She was going to kill me so that she could have unlimited access to Jade withoutmegetting in the way.

That wouldn’t be happening again.

Jade hated me right now. I knew that. I cursed to myself silently as I remembered how it felt to hold the blade to her throat. To pierce her delicate skin with my weapon.

She was terrified, yes. But I had no other option.

Did she not see that? Did she not see howdesperateI was to save us both?

I stepped out of the shower and got dressed in my usual black attire, making sure to strap my sword tightly on my hip.

These days, I wasn’t going anywhere without my weapon.

Not after my own power had failed me.

The wound in my shoulder from the poison arrow had healed over the last few days, but the memory of being so helpless remained stained in my mind.

Never again would I feel that weak. Never again would I feel so helpless.

Serefin waited to greet me outside my bedroom door. “Everything is ready,” he announced as I stepped into the hall. “Just as we planned it.”

I smiled. “Good. This is good. Thank you, Serefin.” He nodded, but worry lingered in his eyes. “What?” I asked. “What is it?”

“I just really hope this is a good idea, bringing them here.”