Page 16 of Hair, She Bears
“Would that make your life worse?” He descended the staircase, pausing on the last step.
“You’re not any nicer, remember?” Sinking onto the windowsill, she sighed. “What does it matter who I work for?”
He crossed the room and knelt at her feet, his head level with the bottom of the window. Peering over the edge, his gaze sought his father’s crumpled form. Shouts echoed across the compound, followed by the thunderous echo of boots running toward Mother.
“I don’t want you to work for me.” Malik dropped back to the floor and pressed his back against the wall. Reaching up, he grabbed her arm and yanked her off the windowsill. She landed on top of him and shifted, straddling his legs. Slipping his arms around her waist, he pinned her to his lap. “I want you to date me.”
“I’m certain you’re not lacking for female companions.”
“I’m not,” he snorted. “But I’ve never met someone who didn’t want anything from me. I find you intriguing.”
“What happened?” A gruff voice laced with worry drifted into the tower.
“I jumped from the tower,” Mother replied, pride saturated his statement.
“Why would you risk your life?”
“I was testing the potency of this latest batch of Votras Alute,” Mother said.
“And?”
“We will be invincible, Jax.” Mother’s cackle of delight sent ice rippling through Zenna’s veins. She shivered and pressed her face against Malik’s chest.
“He’s never going to let me go,” Zenna said, her words muffled by Malik’s shirt. “I’m going to die in this tower.”
“Why didn’t you tell Mother I was hiding upstairs?” Malik tipped her head, lifting her face until she stared into his eyes.
She bit her lip. “He would have killed you.”
“He almost killed you.”
“But he won’t.” She forced a smile, echoing Malik’s earlier sentiment. “He needs me.”
“Leave with me tonight. I can hide you in my city, my father will never find you. We’ll cut your hair and escape. You won’t have to make that horrible drug again.”
“I can’t.” Zenna glanced down, the familiar feel of wetness building along her eyelashes.
I will not cry.
“You don’t want to go with me?” The pad of his thumb brushed away one of the tears rolling down her cheek.
“Mother will kill my parents.” She sniffed.
“I won’t let him.” Malik’s arms circled her waist again.
“What can you do against a man as powerful as your father?” she whispered, fearing her voice would crack.
Malik’s face darkened, fury poured from his body. She trembled, afraid of his anger, and shoved her hands between their bodies, wiggling in his iron embrace. The motion drew a groan from Malik. His arms constricted, pinning her to his chest.
“Stop struggling, or I will kiss you.” His eyes blazed with blue fire.
“What did you say?” She froze, her fingers splayed across his chest.
“Hold still. I’m having a difficult time protecting your virtue at this moment.” His lips brushed over her ear, sending tingles zipping through her veins. “And you’re not helping.”
“You said you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Thus, your warning.”
