Page 39 of Blood of Two Crowns

Malekai stood on the other side, dressed in dark brown fighting leathers with simple but beautiful gold embellishments. It made me feel slightly less self-conscious about my own outfit.

Several days of golden-blonde scruff covered his face. His usually unnaturally bright turquoise and gold eyes were now dark and dull, as though some inner light had been snuffed out since Mareina had left with Azrael. He offered me a stiff smile that gentled as he took in my emotional appearance, and understanding passed between us.

His eyes roamed over my gaudy outfit before darting to Bernard, already halfway done with Pomona’s gown. When his gaze returned to mine, he gave me a knowing, compassionate grin. “You look great.”

Val stepped forward before I could reply, tugging Malekai in a bear hug. “Good ta see ya, mate… Been a minute.”

I hadn’t told anyone about Malekai’s claiming of Mareina. No one, other than myself and probably Miroslav, knew about it. My gaze flicked to Rumiel, frowning at the interaction as his eyes danced between me and Malekai.

Malekai’s grin was warm and unrestrained as his arms wrapped firmly around Val, and his relief at the small gesture was palpable. Truly, Val gave hugs worthy of world renown. When they separated, Malekai strode towards me, nervous tension lining his features as hewilleda small gift into his hands. It even had a bow.

For the first time in too many days, a vision washed over me.

The chamber filled with my loved ones fell away to be replaced by barren land and dead corpses as far as the eye can see—many of them dressed in Atratusian armor—all rottingbeneath the heat of five suns, causing sweat to trickle down my back. The sound of flies was a deafening roar.

The vision lifted, and I was left blinking into the faces of Malekai and Val, both wearing furrowed brows.

“Yew ok, lad?”

I nodded, trying to shove away the anxiety of impending doom.

Malekai hesitated for a moment, still holding out the gift.

“Would it be ok if we spoke in private?”

The prospect of clearing the air between us was both a relief and a welcome distraction. I’d come to terms with the fact that Mareina would always love this male, and if I wanted to have any hope of having her in my life, I would need to learn to accept that. Even more so, if I were to have anyjoyin my life, I recognized I needed to form a friendship with this male.

Drawing in a deep breath to cool the anger and jealousy that flared at the mere sight of him, I nodded and even managed to offer him a strained smile.

Chapter

Twenty-One

MALEKAI

Fuck me,I hadn’t been this nervous since the first time I’d had to kill someone.

I could only assume Nakoa knew what had happened between Mareina and I if by no other tell than her scent alone. My guilt had weighed upon me like an anvil on my chest. For himandfor her.

He was hersoulbound.Her happiness came above all else. And I had selfishly claimed her as my own without even trying to bring harmony between the three of us.

For the first time since I’d met him, respect for this male blossomed as something resembling a smile tipped up the corners of his mouth as he nodded in ascent, accepting my gift. I imagined it took no small amount of forgiveness not totear my head from my neck.

Nakoa’s brows leapt as he took it in hand, no doubt feeling the power radiating from it.

“I got you a coronation gift,” I added, awkwardly speaking the obvious.

“Thank you. That’s incredibly generous of you.”

You’re a better male than me,a small voice inside me whispered silently to him.

He twisted, tossing a glance around the room. “The only private place nearby is the bathroom…”

I nodded, already knowing where it was. The last time I’d been here had been when Mareina had ascended to Zurie’s Irae. My gut clenched at the memory as Nakoa led us into the bathroom, drawing everyone’s eyes to us.

I quietly shut the door behind us, sealing us off in the small space. Silence wound tight between us, making the room feel more even more cramped than it already was with our large bodies.

We both spoke at the same time, heightening the awkwardness.

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