Page 87 of Dark Captivation

“How did you get around the palace walls and why in the world would I want to talk to you?” I asked harshly.

“I have friends everywhere, that’s all you need to know. And yes, you want to talk to me. Because you're not like him. You have a conscience, that’s why I’ve risked my life to come here and talk to you. You know what’s coming, and unlike him you care about innocent lives. You know if things continue, a lot of people are going to die. Don’t you want to stop it?”

“Your methods are brutal. You’re no better than Malek is. Besides, Malek will come to see reason. He just needs time.” I folded my arms and my jaw tightened. “Now, I’m willing to let you leave without calling any guards, but only if you leave now.”

“I’m only asking for five more minutes.” His shoulder slumped and his gaze sauntered over to the palace in the distance.

“Make it two minutes,” he pleaded.

I sighed miserably. The fear of war and death had been whispering to me. That same voice now begged me to give him his two minutes.

Reluctantly, I acquiesced. We delved a couple steps into the forest so that we both had tree cover and the privacy that it held.

Whatever this was he’d come to tell me, it had better be worth the risk.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

LIVY

“Ishould shift and rip out your larynx for the shit you pulled at the community center. You nearly killed Malek. I don’t want a thing to do with you, you’re a danger to him.” I wrung my fingers together, trying to hold myself back from doing just that.

I watched Varcus stand there, daring to continue to occupy space after what he’d done. When I first met him in the church, some of his grievances made sense. But to resort to terrorism was way past the line. Innocent people could have gotten hurt.

“Yes, I nearly killed him, and I would have succeeded had you not gotten in my way. And if you think I’m still a danger to him, you vastly underestimate the Demon King. He’s on high alert now that he knows I’ve resurfaced. I couldn’t get within five feet of him and live to tell the tale.” Contempt made his eyes go charcoal black, but he quickly unclenched his fist as he remembered why he’d come to me.

“You’re in love with him. I get that,” he said.

I sunk within myself as if he’d accused me of doing something wrong.

“Don’t look at me like that. You’re wearing his scent like perfume. You’re even starting to look a bit more like a demon as his essence rubs off on you.”

“Get to the point.” I bit out, having had enough of his poking into my business.

“Okay.” He relented, folding his legs and casually leaned against a tree. “My point is that we’re coming to a crossroads. Soon, you will have to make a choice. Malek or the world. And I don’t just mean Demon City, I mean the shifters, the mages, and the humans. Your boyfriend is on a direct course to destroy this world and you are the only person who can stop him.”

“Why me?” I avoided direct eye contact.

“Funny that you didn’t see the need to disagree with me about the horrors on the horizon. And it has to be you. No one has been able to get as close to him as you have. Not even his sister or his stupid bird familiar.” His eyes scrawled circles over my face and neck as he seemed to try to read what I was thinking.

I haven’t been able to stop pondering about the chaos that Malek’s war would bring to the world. But every time I looked into his big, beautiful eyes something brought me to believe that there was no way he could bring that kind of terror. There was goodness in him. I saw it more and more every day.

A fly perched on my cheek, and I batted it away. “You don’t know Malek or the kind of man he truly is. He will come to his senses. You haven’t seen the changes I’ve seen in him. He’s- he’s...”

“He’s a monster and he has been one for centuries. Sorry to have to put it so bluntly but you are the one who doesn’t get it.” He stalked closer and the air took on a sour odor. My senses heightened as the essence of Varcus’s demonic power surged around like a whirlwind.

“The king is cold. He cares nothing for his demons. Even those of us made by his own hand are little better than disposable objects to him.” Sadness ebbed at him as his head dipped.

Was he made by Malek? Is that why there was so much tumultuous tension between them?

The annoying fly hovered around Varcus, and he swatted it angrily. “He’s about to drag us into a war that no demon wants. Thousands of us will die. Don’t you care?”

“Of course I care.” I blurted before looking around to make sure we were still alone. “Malek doesn’t hate his demons. He’s been allowing more and more demons into the castle every day. He’s softened so much. He’s changing.”

“He’s doing it to gain your trust. It’s just a pretense. He wants your heart so he’s making himself out to be a kind and loving ruler.” Bobbing his head, his voice took on a high pitched, mocking tone. “Oh, look at me. I’m making friends with my subjects. Who cares that I kept them all at arms length since the city was founded.”

“Enough.” He could hate Malek if he wanted, but I wouldn’t let him mock him in front of me. “Look. I don’t know the whole history or demon politics. All I can tell you is that the Malek that I know is a good man and deserves a chance to change. I believe in his goodness. And I know he will make the right choice.” I said with such conviction, that I’d even managed to convince myself.

Too bad I was the only one. His lids went limp, and he looked at me like I was either the most naïve, love drunk shifter in the world or I was crazy.

---