Page 87 of Wrath

We sat in the largest tent that served as the base of operations. It was empty, currently, save for the two of us.

Mali wiped at her face with the back of her hand and offered me a wobbly smile. “Thank you for letting me know. I mean it.”

“Of course?—”

“Seriously, Z.” Mali finally breached the distance between us, reaching across the table to grab my hands in hers. She gave them a squeeze. “You have no reason to be nice to me. I know what I’ve done.” She barked out a laugh, the noise dry andhumorless. “God only knows that I’ll regret my decisions for the rest of my life.”

“Have you talked to HH yet?” I asked tentatively, thinking of the quiet man in glasses.

Diego’s mate. He often ping-ponged between camps, depending on where he was needed. I had no idea if he was still here or if he’d been sent elsewhere. With everything going on, it was hard for me to keep track of my friends. I needed to do better.Bebetter. I wasn’t fit to rule if I lost myself in the quest for the crown.

Mali licked her lips and glanced away. “He won’t even look at me, let alone have a conversation. He hates my guts.”

“He’s grieving.” I swallowed. “He’s not the only one who lost a mate…”

I allowed my words to taper off, to settle in the air between us.

Mali’s head snapped up, and her eyes widened. Then she expelled a harsh breath and focused back on our interlocked hands. “You’re the only one who has ever mentioned Zack.”

“He was your mate,” I pointed out, thinking of the assassin who killed Diego.

“He was a murderer,” Mali retorted. Her fingers flexed around my own.

“He was still your mate.” I gave her hands one last squeeze before releasing her. “You’re allowed to grieve him.”

“Am I, though?” She arched an eyebrow.

I could tell she genuinely wanted my opinion on the matter.

Was she allowed to be upset over the death of a murderer? Someone who’d killed her best friend and tried to kill me? I didn’t have an answer for her.

“I honestly don’t know,” I said simply. “But Idoknow you’re allowed to feel whatever you’re feeling.”

“Z! What just happened? Did you— Oh. Sorry, Mali. Didn’t know you were here.” Bash paused in the doorway of the tent, seeming unsure.

Mali waved his words away and stood gracefully. “It’s fine. I was just leaving.” She turned back towards me. “Thank you for listening, Z. I mean it.”

She didn’t wait for a response as she hurried out of the tent, awkwardly nodding a greeting at Bash as she passed.

Bash watched her go with a furrow between his brows before turning towards me. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I stood as well, attempting to stretch out a kink in my neck. “What’s up?”

I really, really hoped Bash didn’t want to discuss what we’d learned from Atta and Axel. I wasn’t ready to deal with that. I much preferred to lock it in a steel box and throw away the key. Maybe later I would have the strength to dig it back up. But not now. Not just yet.

“You just completed the greed trial, didn’t you?” Bash’s eyes raked over me, as if searching for injuries.

I frowned. “No, I didn’t. I’ve been with Mali.”

“This entire time?”

“I definitely think I would notice if I’ve been in a trial.” Fear jolted through me, cold as ice water, and I peered over his shoulder. “Where’s Devlin?”

“He just…appeared at the edge of the forest, muttered that the genies will join us, and then ran away.” Bash scrubbed at his ash-blond hair. “I have no idea what the fuck’s going on.”

“I’m going to find him.” I determinedly moved towards the tent flap, but Bash stopped me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

His touch wasn’t restricting or punishing by any means, but I still stopped, arching an eyebrow at him expectantly.

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