Page 73 of Night Fae
"The Fields make memories real," Malik insisted. "You could be drawn into a memory you don't want to come out of."
"No." Zev's shoulders lost a bit of that tension. "Nothing there is real. I know that."
Malik pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the weakness in his legs. He approached Zev slowly, drawn toward him by an impulse that was stronger than self-preservation. "I'm worried about you."
Something flickered across Zev's face—as if he was surprised at Malik's directness. His eyes darkened as he studied Malik's expression.
"Worry about yourself." His words came out harsh but lacked their usual bite.
"I'm not the one walking into a place designed to weaponize memories." Malik took another step closer, close enough now that he could see the slight pulse at Zev's throat. "You've been through hell already."
Zev's jaw tightened. "We've all been through hell."
"But not all of us have to face it again tomorrow."
The air between them seemed charged, making it impossible for Malik to move any more. His pulse sped up impossibly, but he refused to back down, to look away. For once, Zev was the first to break eye contact.
"I need to do this." His voice dropped lower. "The Night Court has to pay for what they did."
"To you? Or to Rhys?"
Zev's head snapped up, eyes flashing with sudden anger. "Don't."
"Do you plan to avoid the topic forever?"
"That doesn't concern you." Zev stepped away, trying to create distance between them again.
This time, though, Malik didn't let him. He followed. "It concerns me that you're willing to walk into a place that might break you."
"I won't break."
"Everyone breaks, Zev." Malik reached for him, fingers brushing against the fae's arm before Zev pulled away. "Even you."
Zev moved to face the window, hands braced against the stone sill. "What would you have me do? Stay here? Let the others face this without me?"
"I just want you to think about why you're doing this. And if your revenge is worth dying for."
The silence that followed felt heavier than any they'd shared before. Malik watched the set of Zev's shoulders, the rigid line of his spine. When Zev finally turned, his expression was unreadable.
"Some things are."
Their gazes locked. Malik couldn't breathe, couldn't look away. "Not to me." His words were a whisper. "I don't want to lose you. I want something better for you."
Something changed in Zev's eyes then. His features softened. He lifted a hand, hesitated, then let his fingers brush against Malik's cheek with unexpected gentleness. "I don't know why you care so much," he said. Lower, he added, "I never understood whyhecared either."
Malik leaned into the touch before he could stop himself. "You're worth caring about."
Zev's hand fell away, but he remained close. "Why?"
"Because you're strong and brave, and I know you're hiding a kind heart underneath all your bullshit." Malik licked his lips. "Because I might not see you again."
The truth of those words hung in the air between them.
The fae's gaze dropped to his lips, lingering there with an intensity that made Malik's breath catch. "Why me?"
"Because when I'm with you, I feel like I might have survived for a reason." The truth tumbled from Malik's lips before he could second-guess himself. "Like maybe all that pain meant something after all."
Zev stared at him, stunned into silence. Then he brushed his thumb across Malik's lower lip. "What if I'm not worth that meaning?"
