Page 52 of Shadows Rising

Her voice is smooth, edged with something familiar. Something almost reminiscent.

I lift a brow. “And you always did like watching from a safe distance.”

Her smirk deepens. “I prefer to assess the battlefield before I step onto it.”

I know what she’s doing. Mira has always been drawn to power—not to people, not to love, not to loyalty. Power. And now, she’s trying to see how much of it I still have.

She pushes off the railing, taking a step closer. “You’re restless.”

I don’t respond.

Her gaze flicks over me, sharp and searching. Not in attraction, in evaluation.

“Was it hard for you, Malrik?”

I let out a slow breath, my patience thinning. “Be more specific.”

Her smirk lingers, but there’s something speculative in her eyes. “The bond.”

I don’t react, but I know she sees the tension in my shoulders.

She takes another step, close enough that I can feel the warmth of her magic, smooth and contained. “You felt it too.”

It’s not a question.

I meet her gaze, cold and unmoving. “Everyone in the bond did.”

She hums, dragging a hand through her dark hair. “And yet, you’re the only one who walked away with your dignity intact.”

A slow, amused chuckle builds in my chest. “Are you asking if I got hard over Kaia kissing Finn?”

She shrugs, but her silver eyes don’t leave mine. “I wouldn’t judge.”

I shake my head, leaning against the nearest pillar. “No. But I did feel it.”

She watches me for a beat, her expression assessing, calculating. “And?”

I tilt my head, studying her in return. “And what?”

Her lips curve, but it’s not playful. It’s testing. “And how did it make you feel?”

I let the silence stretch before I answer.

“Like I already knew.”

She blinks, but I don’t elaborate.

Because I did know. Kaia isn’t some prize to be won. She’s not some fragile thing waiting to be claimed. She’s choosing. And I? I’m waiting for her to choose me too.

Mira steps closer, close enough that I know this isn’t just conversation anymore. Her gaze lingers on mine, her pupils dilating slightly.

She lifts a hand, trailing one finger along the sleeve of my shirt, a test. One to sate her curiosity.

“What are you doing, Mira?” My voice stays steady, but I don’t move away.

She tilts her head, considering me. “Testing a theory.”

“About?”

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