Page 76 of Malcolm

Tossing the cup away, Malcolm laughed. “Then I guess I should go and win those barrels.”

“Of course,” his guards yelled as he approached a sandy arena. He crouched, facing the larger man across from him.

“Well, ain’t you a small thing,” his challenger taunted, crouching as well. He sneered at Malcolm, “Don’t forget it was Thomas O’Malley who beat your ass.”

“Oh, well, I can say I won’t forget your face, at least,” Malcolm jeered back right before the big ass slammed into him. Choking a bit, Malcolm felt himself get lifted off the ground. Gathering his hands together above Thomas’ head, he brought them down, forcing him to loosen his hold. Once his feet touched solid ground, he braced himself. Leaning forward, he wrapped his arms around Thomas’ waist. And with a grunt, he pulled.

As his tendons popped out from effort, he moved in a circle as the giant tried but failed to break his hold.

“Don’t bother; you can’t break it,” he yelled as he staggered back, using his weight to raise the man with all his strength, and fell backward.

The crowd of men went wild as he groaned, rolling away from the dazed Thomas. Lifting his head, he met a pair of wide brown eyes that looked from him to the male behind him. A sappy smile decorated his lips before his vision was blocked by the stupid fuckers he called his guard.

They grabbed him, threw him over their shoulders, and bounced him up and down. Cheering their win at the top of their lungs. He attempted to look behind him, but the idiots completely ignored his shouts for them to put him down.

“Put me down, you sonsofbitches!”

But they ignored him, and before he cursed again, they arrived at the river's edge and tossed him in head first. He broke the surface with a gasp. “You idiots.” He shouted, but it lacked heat as he couldn’t help feeling just as happy he’d won.

He shoved a few who refused to move out of his way as he walked towards the shore. Crawling on it, he released a tired sigh as he turned and laid on his back. With his eyes closed andbreathing heavily, he almost missed the sensation of someone touching his shoulder.

He opened his eyes to find brown eyes staring down at him and soft lips stretched into a smile.

“Looks like you won,” Eliza teased.

He swallowed his tongue; she was a pretty sight for sore eyes. Her hair had been braided back, and her face was like an angel's. She smiled down at him, only to blink when he didn’t answer.

“Are you okay, Malcolm?”

God, he loved how she said his name. He pushed up, half-turning, and reached for the towel someone had left on the lake edge. “You’re feeling better?”

She nodded, looking away from him to the lake. “I didn’t want to miss out on everything, so I came outside.”

Turning, he sat down and wiped the water from his face. “It’s lively, but that’s because it’s the blue night. Tomorrow, everyone will sleep in,” he said as he quickly came to his feet.

“Blue night,” she repeated. “Is the name because of the moon?”

“No, the sky,” he answered, coming to her side. She hesitated for a second before he reached out and took her hand. “Come with me; I want to show you something.”

Eliza didn’t immediately follow him; he could see her complex emotions flit across her face.

“Don’t think so hard, just come with me.”

After a minute, she agreed, “Okay.”

Smiling, he led her away from the lake through the campsite. Many people yelled greetings, and some even tried to pull him away for another game, but Malcolm declined them all. Soon, they left the circle of cabins and were climbing the side of a hill.

They eventually left the campsite, and he led her up a hiking path and stopped. “This is what I wanted to show you,” he said.

She walked around him, and he watched as her eyes widened and her lips parted. “Wow.”

It was like she’d stepped into a save screen on her computer. In the distance, the moon looked as big as a planet; it appeared to be resting against the bright green land below. The lake's surface sparkled from the stars that dotted the sky; it was otherworldly.

And right where the Veil rose above the land, she could see something flying. A moon-like paradise lay at her feet; she didn’t think her words could do it justice.

“I wanted to show this to you,” he said, watching her reaction. “I hope it is enough.”

“Enough for what?” she said, absently still taking in the beauty.

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