Page 23 of Night Fae

Malik wasn't sure he believed that, but he also knew that Zev could not tell an outright lie. Nothing had been done to Zev.

So then…

"Did they make you do something?"

"Why do you want to know?"

The coldness in Zev's voice didn't deter Malik. "Because I care what happens to you."

Zev's expression remained impassive, but Malik caught the slight tightening at the corners of his eyes. He looked closer, noticing the raw skin on Zev's hands.

Was that from scrubbing?

But why would Zev be scrubbing his hands so hard?

Could it be…?

"Did they make you hurt someone?"

Zev didn't respond.

Fuck.

"Did they make you kill?"

Still, nothing but damning silence from the beautiful-but-deadly night fae.

Malik took a cautious step forward. "Who was it?"

"What does it matter?" Zev's voice remained detached, empty. "I've killed many people."

"And yet you tried to wash your skin off." Malik gestured to Zev's reddened hands. "Tell me."

"He was an enemy of the Court."

"What kind of enemy?"

Zev's jaw worked silently for a moment. "A werewolf."

Malik's breath caught. A werewolf. The bastards had made him kill a werewolf. Malik couldn't begin to imagine how difficultthat must have been for Zev, given his history. Zev's family knew exactly where to twist the knife.

And judging by the way Zev held himself, their actions were getting them exactly what they wanted.

Zev retreating into the shell of an assassin.

"I'm so sorry," Malik said softly. "You should never have been forced to do that."

Something flickered across Zev's face—pain. He suppressed it quickly. His shoulders tensed, and he turned away. "What's done is done."

"But they chose a werewolf deliberately, didn't they?" Malik pressed, taking another step closer. "To hurt you because of?—"

"Stop." The word was clipped, strained.

Malik could see the tension radiating through Zev's body. He was getting annoyed. Maybe even angry.

Good.

Heshouldbe angry.