Page 63 of Night Fae

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

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

"But you came here for me." Malik's grip was weak—they both knew Zev could break free without effort—yet the fae remained still.

"I was..." Zev hesitated, then sighed. "I wanted to check on you."

A smile formed on Malik's lips. Zevcared. He couldn't deny it.

That was enough to give Malik the courage he needed to push on. "You're sorry, aren't you? About what happened."

Zev tensed visibly. "Yes."

"You can make it up to me."

Zev's gaze snapped to Malik's face, wary and uncertain. "How?"

Malik's heart stopped. This was the moment to be brave, to ask for what he truly wanted. "Be here when I wake up again."

"Malik—"

"I know you don't like me the way I like you," Malik pushed on, the words rushing out before his confidence deserted him. "And I'm not asking for that. I just want..." He swallowed hard. "I just want you to be here."

Something shifted in Zev's expression—a softening around the eyes, a slight parting of lips. He seemed about to speak, then stopped himself.

Instead, after a long moment, he lowered himself to sit on the edge of the bed. "Your dreams are too tempting," he said. "That is why I left earlier. I was going to take from you again."

"But you're calm now. You're… you." Malik couldn't think of a better way to phrase it. His eyelids grew heavy, exhaustion dragging at him once more.

Zev looked down at where Malik still held his wrist. With his free hand, he gently disentangled Malik's fingers, but instead of pulling away, he curled his own hand around Malik's.

That was nice.

That was really nice.

"Sleep," Zev said. "I'll stay."

Fae couldn't lie, could they? "Promise?"

A pause, then: "Yes. I promise."

As sleep claimed him, Malik felt the mattress shift slightly as Zev settled more comfortably beside him. The last thing he registered was the gentle pressure of Zev's hand squeezing his.

The room fell silent except for Malik's slow, steady breathing. Zev watched the rise and fall of his chest, fighting the urge to flee. He shouldn't be here.

But he couldn't leave.

He'd promised not to.

And besides, he didn't want to.

I know you don't like me the way I like you.

Malik's words replayed in his mind. The worst part was that Zev didn't know if Malik was entirely right about that. There was some sort of connection forming between them. Zev didn't understand it, but he'd never been one to deny the truth when it was staring him in the face.

The truth was that he shouldn't have slipped into Malik's dream without wanting to.

Something pulled him toward this human.