Page 57 of Night Fae

He'd been so overwhelmed he hadn't even cared that Zev's lips were on his only because the night fae was feeding on him.

He would have given Zev anything in that moment.

And then he'd passed out.

So was this a dream?

The lake, the meadow? Zev?

No, Zev might be real. He looked at Malik as if he didn't know how to approach. He kind of looked as if he didn't want to be here, actually.

But then, why was he?

Malik took a few steps toward him. "Is that you?"

Zev's jaw clenched. God, he looked terrible. Beautiful and terrible at once, violet eyes glowing so brightly. Malik had never seen a color so stunning. "I didn't mean to intrude on you here," Zev said.

"I don't mind." Malik shot him a smile. "You can visit my dreams anytime."

"You're only dreaming because I put you in a coma."

Oh. Was that what had happened? Malik worried his lower lip, unsure what to say. "You got us away from the Night Court."

"I lost control." As always, it seemed Zev was not interested in softening the truth or sparing details. "You offered power, and I couldn't resist taking it, even after you passed out. If Knox hadn't pulled me off you, I would have killed you."

That was a scary thought. In retrospect, Malik probably should have tried harder to push Zev off after the shadow paths had spit them back out.

"And I'm in a coma now?" he asked.

That was… not ideal.

But it certainly explained why he felt so tired.

"Caelen's healers are working on you." Zev didn't offer words of comfort, but his expression spoke volumes. He hated what he'd done, hatedhimselffor what he'd done.

That was why his posture went ever more rigid the closer Malik moved toward him.

"Okay, so you nearly killed me," Malik said. "I don't love that, but I don't think you meant to do that."

"That doesn't change what happened."

Malik shook his head, coming to stand just two feet from the night fae. "You had to get us out of the Night Court. I wouldn't have survived there, and neither would you have. I don't blame you for losing your mind in the shadow paths."

Zev, who was usually so good at facing the truth, averted his gaze. "It wasn't the shadow paths that made me lose my mind."

"What was it then?" Malik resisted the urge to reach out and touch the fae warrior, trace his thumb along his jaw and make Zev look at him.

"Something inside of me." Zev's violet gaze flicked to him. "Something inside of me craves the power you give me and…" He paused. "The taste of you. I've never tasted anyone like you."

Heat rushed to Malik's cheeks.The taste of you. Malik desperately wanted those words to mean more than they probably did.

They brought back the memories of Zev's mouth pressed to his.

Twice now the night fae had kissed him.

But neither of those kisses had been romantic.

Malik needed to remember that. Zev didn't like Malik the way Malik liked Zev. But Zev did like the taste of him.