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“Then I suppose we should talk about how in the Saints we plan on defeating the Paragon.”

He grabbed my hand and gently began leading me down the hallway, in the direction of his bedroom.

Or was it our bedroom now?

“Before we do that,” he started. “I think it’s time I tell you a story.”

“I’m not sure now is really the best time for st–”

“A story about my time with the Paragon.”

In the peaceful hideaway of the bedroom, Malachi began from the beginning. He told me about when the Paragon came to him for the very first time, demanding that they were required to observe exactly how powerful each new gift was.

And Malachi’s gift was particularly impressive.

Malachi was honored at first. Honored that such a powerful entity wanted to know him. Wanted to see what he could do.

He had no problem showing them what his power could do.

It was around that time, however, that his own father also began learning about just how powerful he really was. His father discovered that Malachi could become much more than a boy.

He was no longer just a son, no. With the expansion of his gift, and with years of training, Malachi became the most powerful weapon in all of Rewyth.

This attracted more and more attention to him, specifically from the Paragon. They tried building a genuine relationship at first. They explained that they would help Malachi, that they would take him away from his father who clearly didn’t have his best interests in mind and they would harbor his talents like they do for other gifted individuals.

Malachi’s eyes lit up as he explained all this. This was a side of him that I hadn’t seen before. A side of him that I never even knew existed.

“I trusted them,” he explained. “I was young and naive and I wanted a way out, so I trusted them.”

Pain flashed across his features.

I reached across the short distance between us and grabbed his hand, holding tight. “And they betrayed you?” I asked.

“Not at first, no,” he started. “At the beginning, they upheld every promise they had made. I packed my things and moved to the mountains, so deep that even my father could not find me if he sent an entire army after me. The mountains are a different place. They’re secluded and hidden from all prying eyes.”

The smile that flickered across his face was one of both joy and grief.

“But that didn’t last,” he explained. “Silas was the one who took me in. He nurtured me. I was so young, this was decades ago now.”

My blood froze in my veins.

“Silas?” I repeated. “Why haven’t you mentioned him before?”

Mal’s eyes darkened. “He wasn’t worth mentioning.”

“And he’s the leader?” I asked. “Of the Paragon?”

Malachi took a deep breath before answering, “Yes. He is. We were friends for a while, believe it or not. He guided me while I became powerful. He helped me realize who I could be in this world. But that was before I decided to leave. That was before I learned just how much they wanted from me.”

I shook my head. “I have a hard time believing the Paragon, being as power hungry as they are, enjoyed the fact that you wanted to leave.”

“They tried to convince me to stay. They offered me a home there, and a position in the Paragon. But I was the heir to Rewyth. I had duties back in the castle. After years, it was time for me to return home.”

He stayed quiet for a few moments.

“Do you think Silas will try to kill me?” I asked, finally speaking the questions we had both been thinking.

Malachi looked me in the eyes when he answered, “If killing you will give him more power, I have no doubt he’ll take the chance.”