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“What?” I asked, pushing her even though I knew I should stop. “What would have been so bad about killing someone who wanted to hurt you?”

Jade shook her head and rubbed her hands down her face. “That’s the thing, Mal. I don’t know if I would have hated it…because as soon as I saw what I did, deep down, there was a small part of me somewhere that actually hoped he was dead.”

I hid my smile. Jade was more like me than I had originally thought.

It’s not that I wanted to kill people. Truly, I didn’t. But there was something about possessing a power so strong, any enemy could be shoved to their knees before you.

It felt powerful, yes. But it feltright. It felt like it belonged to me. All those times where I was helpless, all those times where I could do nothing but stand and watch as my father did what he pleased.

Even though I was the King of Shadows.

No, I would never be that helpless again.

I had this power for a reason. The Saints had given it to me for a purpose, and I wasn’t just going to stand by and watch injustice continue.

Yes, I killed people. Many people. Some good, some bad.

But at the end of the day, my enemies quit breathing. And that’s what mattered. That’s why my power rumbled in my blood.

I saw it in Jade’s eyes, too. The need to right the wrongs. The need for justice. And in turn, the need for power.

“It’s okay, Jade,” I assured her. “There’s nothing wrong with hoping your enemies are dead.”

“But they were members of this kingdom. That does not make themmyenemies.”

“No?” I teased. “Because at one point, I think it sure did.”

A flash of amusement flickered across her face. “I liked using my power,” she said after some time. “And that scares me.”

I ignored the voice in my head that screamed at me not to do this, and I slid my body closer to Jade’s on the bed, grabbing hold of her arm so she looked me in the eye once more.

“Being powerful shouldn’t scare you,” I whispered. “It should excite you. You were made for this, Jade. I knew that the moment I saw you.”

“I don’t want to become like…like everyone else who put me down. Who abused their power. I don’t want to be like them.”

“Then don’t,” I said. “Become the advocate. Become the one that shows up when nobody else does. I don’t know what you are, Jade, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re still human. You can betheirpower. You can betheirvoice.”

“The humans will never accept me again,” she stated coldly. “Especially after everything that’s happened.”

“You don’t know that,” I said. “They’ll love having you, Jade, because you’re on their side.”

“Am I?” she asked. She stood and began pacing again, this time lost in her own mind. “Am I really on their side?”

I asked her a simple question. “You’re on my side, aren’t you?”

Jade stopped pacing and looked at me. “I am.”

I closed the distance between us, close enough that if she even took a deep breath, her chest would touch mine.

The space that lingered between us was a silent question.

“Are you with me in this, Jade?”

I could feel her emotional turmoil. Her power reacted to it, causing mine to do the same.

Jade tilted her head to meet my eyes. “I’m with you, Malachi.”

“Be their queen,” I pushed. “Be powerful and fearless and wild. And bemine.”