Page 7 of The Demon Who Loved Me

I sigh, the weight of our mission settling heavily on my shoulders once again. "I know. It's just... nice to have a moment of peace, however fleeting."

Malakai's hand settles on my knee, his touch searing even through the fabric of my jeans. "We'll have plenty of moments like this, once we've stopped the apocalypse. I promise you that."

I meet his gaze, my heart stuttering at the intensity I find there. "I'm going to hold you to that, demon boy."

He grins, sharp and wicked. "I'd expect nothing less, little human."

The sun finally slips below the horizon, plunging the world into darkness. But as we make our way back to the temple, I can still feel the warmth of Malakai's touch on my skin, as constant and unyielding as the desert heat.

"Aha!" I exclaim, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and dread. "I think I found something."

I swallow hard, my finger tracing the faded ink on the page, the symbols seeming to twist and writhe before my eyes. "It's a passage about a powerful demon king who was sealed away by the gods eons ago. It says that the artifact we found is the key to releasing him and starting the apocalypse."

Malakai's eyes widen, and he snatches the book from my hands, his fingers brushing against mine, sending sparks of electricity up my arm. "Let me see that."

He scans the passage, his brow furrowed in concentration, the ancient words reflected in his glowing eyes. "Well, fuck," he mutters, tossing the book aside, its pages fluttering like the wings of a trapped bird. "This just got a whole lot more complicated."

“You’re going to bring about the apocalypse?”

“This humid and crowded realm? And play ruler and host to it for all eternity? Stupid girl. I thought you were a scholar of this world. Of course not.”

“So what do we do? I certainly don’t want the world to end either.”

I nod, my mind racing with the implications of my discovery, the weight of the world suddenly feeling very heavy on my shoulders. "And those mercenaries and demons who attacked us? I bet they're working together to summon a demon."

Malakai nods, a grim smile tugging at his lips. "Smart girl. So you aren’t entirely useless. That’s good."

I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest, the rough fabric of my shirt scraping against my skin.

He chuckles, the sound echoing off the temple walls, sending shivers down my spine. "Don't sell yourself short, little human. You've got a quick mind and a sharp tongue. Those are valuable traits in my world."

I feel a flush of pride at his words, but I quickly tamp it down, focusing on the task at hand. "Yeah, well, flattery will get you nowhere, demon boy. We still need to figure out how to stop the apocalypse from happening."

Malakai nods, his expression turning serious, the planes of his face carved in harsh relief by the dancing flames. "You're right. And the first step is making sure you can defend yourself against any more demonic attacks."

I raise an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Are you offering to train me, Malakai? I didn't realize you cared so much about my safety."

He rolls his eyes, but I can see the hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Don't read too much into it, sweetheart. I just don't want to have to keep saving your ass every five minutes."

At the break of dawn, our training begins, the clang of steel against steel ringing. We are staying at my little villa and training in the backyard. My home, albeit temporary, should be a sanctuary, and yet, Malakai is a harsh taskmaster, pushing me to my limits and beyond, his movements fluid and graceful as a desert snake. He teaches me how to wield a sword, how to anticipate an opponent's moves, and how to use the enemy's mistakes to my advantage.

At first, I resist his methods, my stubborn pride getting in the way, the heat of the Moroccan sun making me irritable and short-tempered. But as the days pass, I begin to see the value in his teachings. Malakai is dedicated to keeping me safe, even if he has a funny way of showing it.

"Again," he barks, his sword clashing against mine, the metal singing a deadly song. "And this time, don't leave your left side open."

I grit my teeth, my muscles screaming with fatigue, sweat dripping down my back and pooling in the hollow of my throat. "I'm trying, damn it. Not all of us were born with supernatural strength and stamina."

He smirks, his eyes glinting with mischief, the torchlight dancing across his tattooed skin. "No, but you were born with a brain. Use it."

I narrow my eyes, a surge of determination rushing through me, as hot and fierce as the desert wind. I feint to the left, then quickly spin to the right, my blade slicing through the air towards his unprotected flank, the move as fluid and graceful as a dancer's.

Malakai parries my blow with lightning speed, a surprised laugh escaping his lips. "Not bad, little human. Not bad at all."

I can't help but grin, a feeling of pride swelling in my chest, as warm and bright as the Moroccan sun. "Told you I was a quick learner."

He shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips. "So you aren’t entirely useless."

As we continue our training, the ancient temple our constant companion, I can feel something shifting between us. The animosity and annoyance that once colored our interactions are slowly giving way to grudging respect and understanding, as subtle and inexorable as the shifting of the desert sands.

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