Chapter 417 Reaching Malachai

Chapter 417: Chapter 417 Reaching Malachai

Talia’s POV

Malachai looked at me, and his black eyes were empty, and his smile was cruel.

I wanted to scream, and I wanted to tear him apart with my bare hands. But I could not. Not yet.

The world stopped, and the sounds of battle faded into a distant hum. The only thing I could hear was my own heartbeat, and the only thing I could see was him.

I ran to him, and I dropped to my knees beside him. The dead earth scraped against my palms, and I did not care.

I touched his face, and felt the burn. His skin was hot. Too hot.

The heat burned my fingers, and I pulled my hand back. Then I touched him again.

The heat radiated from his skin like a fever. It was hot and dry, and it was wrong. It was all wrong.

"Kaelen," I whispered.

He looked at me. His eyes were red and swollen from the silver, and it was as though he could barely see me.

He tried to speak, and his voice was a rasp.

"Run," he said.

I shook my head. "I am not leaving you."

I looked at his skin. The blisters were spreading, and the silver was still burning him. I could see the tiny particles of silver dust embedded in his skin, and I could see the way his flesh was reacting to it.

I needed to get it off.

"Think," I told myself. "Think. There has to be a way."

He was dying. I could feel it through the bond, and I could feel his life slipping away like sand through my fingers.

"No," I whispered. "No, you cannot leave me. You promised."

I looked around for water, but there was none.

I had nothing. I had no water, and no cloth, and no way to help him.

"Think," I told myself. "Think."

Malachai watched us. He did not move, and he did not attack.

He tilted his head, and he smiled. "Come closer, little Luna," he said.

I looked up at him, and my eyes were burning with rage, but I did not move. I stayed beside Kaelen.

Malachai tilted his head, and his smile widened.

"He is dying," Malachai said, and his voice was soft, almost gentle. "You can see it. I can see it. The silver is in his blood now. It is eating him from the inside out."

I did not look at him. I kept my eyes on Kaelen.

"You cannot save him," Malachai continued his mockery. "You can sit there and hold his hand and whisper pretty words, but it will not matter. He will die. And you will watch."

My hands clenched into fists.

"You will watch him take his last breath," Malachai continued. "You will watch the light leave his eyes. And then you will die too."

I heard him take a step closer.

"Unless you come closer," he said. "Unless you accept my invitation. Perhaps I can spare him. Perhaps I can save his life. All you have to do is come to me."

I did not move, and I did not look at him. I kept my eyes on Kaelen, on his face, on the blisters, and on the silver embedded in his skin.

"He is not worth your silence," Malachai said, and his voice was sharper now. "He is weak, he is mortal, and he is nothing. And you are the last Silvertongue. You are worth more than he will ever be."

I looked up at him, and my eyes were burning with rage.

Malachai laughed. "You are brave," he said. "But bravery will not save your mate."

I did not respond. I turned back to Kaelen.

I could not waste words on Malachai, because Kaelen needed me. And I had to think of a fast way to save him.

I reached for the bond, and I tried to send him my strength.

I felt him through the bond. He was fading, and the silver was killing him.

"Hold on," I whispered. "I need you."

Kaelen’s hand found mine, and he squeezed it. His grip was weak.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too," I replied.

He tried to smile, but the pain was too much.

I did not want to let go. I wanted to hold him forever. But I had to stand, and I had to fight.

I held his hand for one more moment, and then I let go.

I stood, and I stepped in front of Kaelen.

I faced Malachai. "You will not touch him again," I said.

Malachai tilted his head. "You cannot stop me. You are weak."

"I am not weak," I said. "I am a Silvertongue. I am a Luna."

Malachai laughed. "You are nothing."

His words were meant to break me. I could see it in his eyes that he wanted me to crumble.

I knew what it felt like to be nothing. I knew what it felt like to be so small and so invisible that no one would notice if I disappeared.

But I was not that girl anymore. I was not invisible, and I was not small. And I would not let him make me feel that way again.

But I had been broken before. I had been beaten and starved and told I was worthless, and I had survived.

I did not respond. I raised my hands to show Malachai that I was ready.

The rage was still there. It burned inside me like a fire, but I did not let it control me.

I took a breath, and I let the rage settle. Then I looked at him.

Malachai did not move, he just watched me.

I did not move, I just watched him, and observed his steps.

The air between us was thick. It was heavy with the smell of blood and silver and death. It pressed against my skin like a physical weight.

Jax, Silas, and Cain were still fighting the corrupted wolves behind me, and Kaelen was on the ground behind me, fighting to breathe.

The battle raged around us, but in that moment, it was just the two of us.

I could hear Jax shouting, and I could hear Silas calling my name, but I did not look away from Malachai.

Malachai took a step forward, but I did not flinch.

He took another step, and I raised my dagger.

Malachai smiled. "It is time," he said.

"I am ready," I replied with fury in my eyes.

Malachai laughed, and he raised his hand.