Page 97 of Dark Captivation

Malek said my name and before he could go further, I yanked my sleeve down reaching into my dress. I screamed as the dagger burned my sensitive skin.

“What’s wrong?” He bellowed, taking my flailing arm.

Panicking, I tore the scalding dagger free, flinging it to the floor.

The instant it clattered over the hardwood, it spewed a thick gray mist that smelled of sickness and rot.

Malek watched the building mist in confusion. His questioning eyes traced my face.

Malek coughed violently, his face turning blue. His eyes rolled back and he stumbled over his own feet. Whatever was in this mist was poisoning him and sapping his strength.

“Sunny, run! Get out of here now.” His breath labored as he choked.

I caught him as he fell over.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He was so heavy; it took all of my strength to keep him on his knees.

Malek cursed, his eyes narrowing with rage as Varcus emerged from the mist, the dagger clutched in his hands.

“Get out of my home or I’ll feed you your own heart!” Malek bawled.

Varcus laughed, the mist had stolen so much of Malek’s strength that his bark was infinitely stronger than his bite. I knew it and Varcus knew it,too.

“How did you get in here? What dark magic is this?” I screamed hysterically. “Guards. Anyone. Someone help us! Please!”

“That won’t help you this time, she-wolf. I told you, you would help me save this world. And you’ll do it whether you want to or not.” Varcus launched for Malek, plunging the dagger into his chest.

My vision went red as a circle of blood pooled on his shirt.

“Sunny, run.” Malek choked on his own blood, blinding agony masking his face.

A virulent storm surged to life in me. It was powerful enough to destroy the world, decimating all life in its path. I wanted the world to stop spinning and time to just freeze at this very moment. Because, what purpose would life still hold without my demon?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

LIVY

“Sunny, run.” Malek coughed up more blood.

“For the last time. I’m not a princess in a tower. I’m a warrior. I’ve been fighting my entire life. I’m not going anywhere, especially if it means leaving you.” My hands wrung his shirt and I struggled to keep him upright.

His eyelids drooped as he fought unconsciousness.

He coughed bitterly as the gray mist encircled us. The gas barely had any effect on me but it was poisoning him without mercy.

“You should listen to him, she-wolf. This is not your fight. You know nothing of our people or our history. Leave us while I’ll still allow it. Don’t make me have to kill you, too,” Varcus wiped the blood from the blade with his shirt.

“I know enough.” I cried. “It was you who orchestrated the coup against Malek, in the underworld. You and your demon cohorts chained and tortured him for a century! You dared call Malek cruel. You said he was crazy and evil, but you were the one who drained the light from his soul. You broke him.”

Varcus laughed at me, looming closer. “Yes, and I’d do it again if given the chance. The entire city should see him now. They would love to see their mighty Demon King brought to his knees. They should get to enjoy watching his life bleed away. It’s so beautiful I wish I’d brought a camera.”

He swatted a tear from his eye.

“You’re sick!” I spat.

Malek’s body went stiff as a plank, murderous intent turning his gray skin black. His anger salted the air, electrifying and raising every hair on my body.

He jerked himself forward, attempting to stand.

---