Page 66 of Night Fae

"All night?" he asked Zev.

"Yes." Zev stood, moving toward the window. Distance. He was creating distance between them.

Sunlight caught in Zev's dark hair, illuminating strands of midnight blue that drew Malik's gaze. The fae warrior looked out of place in the morning light—a creature of darkness reluctantly touched by dawn.

"Thank you." Malik swung his legs over the edge of the bed, pleased to find them steadier than the night before.

Zev turned to him, arms crossed. "How do you feel?"

"Better. Not great, but better." Malik rose cautiously to his feet. The room stayed mercifully steady this time.

Zev watched him with hawk-like intensity, poised to intervene if Malik's strength failed. The concern in his posture contradicted the careful neutrality of his expression.

He cared; he just didn't want to admit how much.

For a second, Malik considered calling him out on it, just to watch him squirm. But he didn't want to push his luck—or Zev—too hard.

"Knox has called a meeting," Zev said after a moment. "To discuss our plans going forward."

Malik nodded, taking a few experimental steps. "Knox did? Did Caelen blow a gasket?"

Zev raised an eyebrow. "A what?"

"Never mind. I was just thinking that the Shadow King probably isn't loving that Knox is giving commands in his castle."

Zev remained quiet for a moment longer. "Daniel seems to have leashed the Shadow King."

"I didn't think he could do it," Malik admitted.

"Because you couldn't?"

Ouch. Did Zev really have to remind him of his brief crush on Caelen? And how it had ended? Malik winced. "He's an ass."

"Yet he was your favorite."

What was Zev getting at? "Did I say that?" The memory came back to him slowly. He hadn't told Zev that Caelen was his favorite, but hehadtold Zev that Zev was hissecond-favorite, while Zev had carried him out of his temporary prison.

Oh God.

Was Zev really not gonna let that go?

Malik hadn't been thinking clearly. "He's not my favorite anymore. He hasn't been for a while!"

Zev regarded him quietly. It was impossible for Malik to tell what was going on in the fae's head.

"Let's not talk about Caelen anymore," Malik said. "Tell me about the meeting."

Zev seemed fine with the change of topic. "It's in an hour."

"Good. I'll be there."

Zev's eyes narrowed. "You're not recovered."

"I'm well enough to sit and listen." Malik met Zev's gaze, a silent challenge passing between them. "I need to know what's happening."

For a moment, it seemed Zev would argue, but instead, he gave a curt nod. "Fine. But you won't walk there alone."

Malik couldn't help the small smile that curved his lips. "Worried I'll collapse dramatically in the hallway again?"