Page 19 of Night Fae (Monsters of Veridia #3)

It took Malik some serious effort to claw his way back to consciousness. His eyelids weighed tons, his mouth felt packed with sand, and every inch of his body ached with a peculiar hollowness, as if something vital had been scooped out from inside him.

He tried to swallow. Failed. Tried again.

Voices filtered through the fog in his brain, familiar yet distant.

"—think he's waking up. Get the water?—"

"—should we call the healers back?"

Cool fingers pressed against his forehead. Malik forced his eyes open, immediately regretting it as light stabbed his retinas. He squeezed them shut again with a groan.

"Easy," someone murmured. Daniel. "Take it slow."

Malik tried again, opening his eyes to narrow slits. The room gradually came into focus—amber crystals floating near the ceiling cast a soft glow over dark stone walls.

Daniel's concerned face hovered above him, hair a shock of faded blue and purple against the darkness.

"Where...?" Malik's voice emerged as a painful rasp.

"Shadow Kingdom." Daniel lifted Malik's head gently, pressing a cup to his lips. "Small sips."

The water felt like heaven against his parched throat. Malik drank greedily until Daniel pulled the cup away.

"Not too fast. You'll make yourself sick."

Adrian appeared at Daniel's side, relief evident in his expression. "Welcome back. You had us worried."

Malik nodded slowly. He remembered their escape from the Shadow Kingdom, but what stood out even more starkly was the memory of the dream he'd had before waking. The violet meadow. Zev's guilt-ridden eyes.

He tried to push himself up and immediately regretted the decision as the room tilted sickeningly around him. Daniel's hands steadied him.

"Whoa. Maybe don't try to sit up just yet."

Malik sank back against the pillows, frustrated by his weakness. "Zev?"

Daniel and Adrian exchanged a glance that sent a spike of worry through Malik's chest.

"He's here in the palace," Adrian said carefully. "In one of the guest chambers."

"Is he okay?" The question slipped out before Malik could think better of it.

Another exchanged look.

Daniel sighed. "We're not happy with him right now."

"Why?" Malik asked.

"Because…" Adrian hesitated.

"Because of me?" Malik guessed. Really, they didn't have to tiptoe around the topic. Malik was fully aware of what had happened to him.

"Knox had to separate you two," Adrian said. "Zev lost control. He was…"

"Dangerous," Daniel finished. "He fought with Caelen in the Singing Gardens and... well, they kind of destroyed the place. Which is a damn shame. I loved that garden."

Malik blinked, trying to process this new information. "They fought?"

"Caelen claims he was helping Zev burn off energy." Adrian ran a hand through his hair. "A few guards ended up injured."

"Where is Zev now?" Malik asked.

"East wing," Daniel said. "That's where all the nice guest quarters are. Caelen isn't mad at him, but I am," Daniel added. "Zev almost killed you."

"Caelen almost killed you once or twice," Malik pointed out.

"No, he didn't." Daniel crossed his arms in front of his chest, and Malik knew there would be no arguing with him… and Malik was too exhausted to argue anyway.

"Look," he said. "I supported you when you fell for the villain, so…"

Adrian turned to him. "Are you saying you're falling for Zev?"

Malik almost laughed at the surprise in Adrian's tone. He'd been Caelen's prisoner. A legit damsel in distress locked up in a basement, and then a drop-dead gorgeous night fae warrior with the most beautiful violet eyes came and carried him out princess-style.

Who wouldn't have fallen?

Zev would always be his hero, no matter how hard he was struggling with everything that was going on.

And Malik knew that Zev was struggling.

Do you think I want another person to die because they cared about me?

He remembered those words from his dream.

Had Zev really said that?

A shadow crossed the doorway, interrupting Malik's thoughts. A slender fae woman with silver markings around her eyes stepped into the room. One of the healers?

"You're awake," she observed, approaching the bed. "How do you feel?"

"Like I've been hollowed out with a spoon," Malik admitted.

She nodded as if this were perfectly normal. "Your life force was severely depleted. The shadow paths took much from you, and the rest..." She left the sentence unfinished, but they all knew who had taken the rest.

"But I'll be fine?" Malik asked.

"With time and rest." She placed cool fingers on his wrist, her expression unreadable. "Your pulse is stronger. That's good."

"How much time?"

"A few more days, I would say." She turned to Daniel and Adrian. "Don't overtax him. Short conversations only for today."

After checking a few more things, she left them alone again.

"So," Malik said when the silence stretched too long. "We're in the Shadow Kingdom now? Is everyone else here too?"

Daniel glanced aside. "We're still looking for my brother and Leon. Lyrian might be with his grandmother."

"I'm sure they're safe," Adrian said. He looked at Malik. "We were most worried about Zev, actually. On the way here, Knox and I heard rumors about Veridia's Deadliest Assassin returning to service."

Malik licked his lips. His mouth still felt so dry. "They forced him."

A sad look crossed Adrian's features. "We figured it had to be something like that. Knox said Zev would never serve his family voluntarily."

A moment of silence passed as they all contemplated this.

"Did Zev say anything before..." Malik gestured vaguely, "...before the fight with Caelen?"

Daniel shook his head. "Not much. He was barely holding it together when he arrived. Knox said he's never seen Zev so... unstable."

A pit opened in Malik's stomach. "I need to talk to him."

"Zev?" Daniel shook his head. "Not a chance. Not until you're stronger."

"Not until he's calmer," Adrian added.

"He's alone right now," Malik whispered. "He shouldn't be alone."

Adrian placed a gentle hand on Malik's shoulder. "I promise you he'll be okay. You should focus on healing now. We'll let you get some rest."

He and Daniel both stood.

"Is there anything else you need?" Daniel asked. "Anything we can get you?"

Malik shook his head slightly. "I'm fine." That was a lie, of course. There were many things he wanted, but nothing Daniel could help him acquire.

"Okay, if you're sure," Daniel said. "We'll check up on you again in a little bit."

The room fell quiet when they closed the door behind them.

Left to his own devices, Malik drifted between wakefulness and sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the violet meadow from his dream. Zev standing at its edge, guilt and hunger warring in his eyes.

I've never tasted anyone like you.

The words echoed in his mind. Had Zev really spoken to him in his dreams? Or had it been just his own imagination, giving voice to his hopes and fears?

There was only one way to find out.

Malik waited, gathering what little strength he had. When the palace fell quiet and no footsteps passed his door for some time, he pushed himself up and swung his legs out of the bed, bracing against momentary vertigo.

The stone floor felt ice-cold against his bare feet. Good. The shock of it helped clear his mind, if only for a moment.

He found a robe draped over a nearby chair and pulled it on. His legs were shaky but held his weight.

He would be okay if he took things slow.

Sticking close to the wall, he made it to the door, pausing only to steady himself against the frame before stepping into the corridor. More amber crystals cast long shadows along the stone walls.

East wing , Daniel had said.

Malik didn't know which way that was. But he wasn't going to let that stop him.

He would try to go left.

He even made it a few feet before his vision swam, dark spots dancing at the edges. And then his legs gave out.

He pitched forward into empty air, bracing for impact with the stone floor.

It never came.

Strong arms caught him, one around his waist, the other supporting his chest. Familiar arms. A familiar scent—forest and night air and something uniquely Zev .

"What are you doing?" Zev's voice was low, tight with anger or concern or both.

Malik looked up into violet eyes, so bright they seemed to glow in the darkness, even though Zev's glamor was back in place. "Looking for you," Malik managed. His heart pounded painfully, and not just from exertion.

Zev had come for him.

"You shouldn't be out of bed." Zev's grip tightened, supporting more of Malik's weight.

"You were in my dream." The words tumbled out. Malik needed to know. "Wasn't just my imagination, was it?"

Something flickered across Zev's face—surprise, then guarded caution. "We can discuss this after you're back in bed."

"So it was real." Malik's lips curved into a weak smile. "Everything you said."

Zev's jaw tightened. "I didn't intend to invade your dreams."

"Not an invasion. I like… you there." Malik's vision darkened at the edges. His body sagged further against Zev's support.

Without warning, Zev swept him up, one arm behind his knees, the other supporting his back. The sudden movement made Malik's head spin, and he instinctively curled toward Zev's chest.

"This is familiar," he murmured, and if he hadn't been so tired, he might have laughed.

"Familiar?"

"Mhm." Malik closed his eyes. With his head against Zev's chest, he could hear the fae's heartbeat, strong and steady.

He didn't care what anyone said, this was what safety felt like.

"You shouldn't have left your room." Zev's voice was a low rumble. "You're still recovering."

"Had to find you."

Zev didn't ask why. Maybe he already knew. He probably knew.

Malik had not been subtle, recently. Especially not in his dreams.

They reached Malik's chamber, and Zev shouldered the door open. A moment later—all too soon—Zev laid him on the bed with a gentleness that belied his stern expression.

Malik caught his wrist before he could pull away. "Don't go."

Zev's eyes flashed. "I shouldn't be here."