Page 42 of Dark Captivation

A strange, yet familiar flickering noise drew my attention. My ears pricked up and I went on high alert.

The largest cockroach I had ever seen came flying toward my face. It cruised with such speed it was like it saw a buffet on my forehead and it hadn’t eaten in a week.

I was a fighter and would willingly jump into battle with an alpha wolf, demi-god or even a mage without a second thought. But there was one thing that scared the crap out of me for as long as I could remember. The single thing that made my skin and every cell in my body crawl.

“Roach... Cockroach!” I panicked. My head lost to fear, both of my legs ran in different directions, leaving me stuck in the roach’s flight path.

Malek crushed the vile creature against a nearby tree with the bottom of his boot.

“Are you okay?” He drew me against his chest, his protective hands exploring my face and neck for injuries.

“I’m okay,” I said in a quick burst, embarrassment making me tremble.

His thunderous laugh chased the quiet away and my brows arched.

Okay, maybe it was silly to be scared of roaches. But I still had my pride, and watching him laugh like a hyena stung like a bee’s sting.

“Sorry, Sunny. Don’t look at me like that. I’m not laughing at you. It’s just, well….” He rubbed the back of his head gazing skyward as if remembering. “……Things like this happened all the time years ago. Every roach or big fluffy insect to peek its head out would send you running. I’d kill them for you, not letting a single one touch you. You used to call me the roach terminator.” He repeated the term again, his eyes widening to circles, expecting me to remember and join in the laugh.

“I’m sorry. It sounds like a great story, but I-I just don’t remember any of it.” My shoulders drew up and slowly fell.

He gave a hollow smile pretending it didn’t bother him, but I saw right through it, straight to the pain that hid in the darkness of his eyes. “It’s alright. Let’s keep going.”

We continued through the thickening oaks.

The spiritual power that permeated the forest intensified to the point where I could almost smell it. It grew stronger in the direction we went in. A divine presence warmed the air, the wind feeling like the caress of fingers over my face and shoulders.

This magical force was so strong, that it woke Mellow, sending her barreling to the surface.

Mellow’s impatient growls tore open the channel between her and I.

“Useless girl! Why haven’t you shifted in so long?” A spark of pain lit up the side of my head as Mellow’s shouts triggered a headache. “I want to go hunting! I need to hunt something! Preferably a rabbit or deer!”

“I’m sorry I haven’t shifted in a while, Mellow. Things have gotten a bit complicated recently.” My eyes scrolled over Malek’s back like a crayon as he pushed some branches out of our way.

“Where are our mates? What are you doing with a demon?” Surprise and anger twisted in her voice.

“Forget them, Mellow. They’re bad men, they’re dangerous. I’ll explain it to you another time.” Sadness bubbled up in my belly as memories of the demi-gods’ betrayal replayed in my mind like a never-ending horror movie.

I could feel Mellow's attention hard on Malek, through my eyes she watched his every move, reading his power and aura in a way that only magic touched beings could. As the most magically inclined part of me, Mellow had a far stronger ability to read energy and spiritual power than I had.

“I don’t like him. You said our mates are dangerous, but I think this demon you’re with is dangerous. His soul is dark, evil and full of lies,” she said.

“Come on, you don’t like anyone,” I argued. “Most of the time I ‘m pretty sure you don’t even like me.”

“True,” she said plainly. I was waiting for a ‘but’, however, one never came.

“Thanks for the love, partner.”

“Call me if you need someone to save your butt, but don’t wait until he’s already torn you half to shreds. Remember, I’ll be injured too if you shift while injured.” Without bothering to say goodbye, Miss Congeniality went back to sleep.

“That’s what I needed, Mellow. Real helpful!” I bit back, not sure if she even heard me.

The trees thinned out to nothing. The wide and dark mouth of a cave was edged out of the hillside in front of us.

A dark, ominous energy emanated from within, and it was deathly quiet.

Malek neared the cave, but I hesitated, Mellow's warning still fresh in my mind.

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