Page 85 of Night Fae

And Zev—despite knowing better, despite the amulet's warning pulse against his skin—found he had no answer to that question.

CHAPTER 17

Malik's head pounded. He pressed his fingertips against his temples, but the headache would not go away.

And now Adrian wanted him to eat breakfast.

His friend gestured at the tray on the small table beside his bed. "The cook said this would help you recover your strength."

Malik glanced at the array of unfamiliar fruits and bread. His stomach turned at the thought of food, but he forced himself to pick up a piece of something that resembled a plum.

"How do you stand it?" Malik bit into the fruit. It tasted almost like honey. "The waiting."

Adrian settled into a chair, though he didn't look like he wanted to be sitting. He had a restless energy about him. "I don't. Not really." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "I just pretend I'm not falling apart until Knox returns. It's all I can do for him right now."

"It must be difficult."

"It is." Adrian studied him for a moment. "So. You and Zev."

Malik nearly choked on the fruit. "What about us?"

"Come on. I've seen how you look at him. And how he tries not to look at you."

Heat crawled up Malik's neck. Everything that had happened between him and Zev still felt like a dream—the kind you wake from feeling both satisfied and robbed, knowing it wasn't real. Except it had been. Zev's hands on his skin, his mouth?—

Did Malik's thoughts show on his face even now?

"I don't really know what's going on," he made himself say.

Adrian snorted. "Welcome to loving someone from Veridia."

"I didn't say anything about love."

"I guess you didn't." Adrian's expression softened. "But I know you're worried about him."

"I'm worried about all of them." Except maybe for Caelen. Caelen could drop dead for all Malik cared.

"Of course, but that's not how I meant it."

Malik nodded vaguely and picked at the bread, pulling it apart without eating. "Zev is still in love with someone else." The words tasted bitter.

He and Adrian had both read the web novel obsessively. They both knew Zev's story. They both knew Zev was never going to forget his first love, and Malik would neveraskthat of him. but…

"How do you compete with a ghost?"

"You don't." Adrian reached across the table, his hand covering Malik's. "But that doesn't mean there won't ever be room for something new."

Malik wanted to believe him, but doubt gnawed at his insides, sharper than hunger. Or maybe it wasn't doubt at all. Something felt wrong today—more than just worry for Zev and the others.

More than just the stupid headache that wouldn't go away.

"They should have been back by now."

Adrian squeezed his hand before letting go. "They'll be fine. Knox has survived worse." His confident tone didn't match the worry lines between his brows.

"What if they're not?"

"Then we'll figure something out. That's what we do."