MALACHAI
Lucius' voice was like a blade slicing through my already fragile state of mind.
"Malachai. My office. Now." he said again smirking.
The weight of his command settled on my chest like an iron vice. I knew what was coming. Orders. Blood. Pain. Perhaps another test of my loyalty. Another way to remind me that I was nothing but a tool at his disposal.
I forced my legs to move, one step after another, down the long, dimly lit hallways of the mansion. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and expensive cologne, mingling with something more sinister…the faint, lingering metallic tang of blood. I had learned long ago that in Lucius' world, suffering was a constant, an ever-present companion that lurked in the corners of every room, waiting to consume whoever was too weak to fight it.
And I was getting weaker.
By the time I reached his office, my hands were clenched into tight fists at my sides. I knocked once before stepping inside, keeping my face blank, unreadable. Lucius sat behind his massive mahogany desk, the dim overhead light casting shadows across his sharp, calculating features. He was smiling.
That was never a good sign.
"Sit."
I obeyed without a word, lowering myself into the chair across from him. My back was straight, my muscles tense. I couldn't afford to relax around him…not now, not ever.
"You've been distracted, Malachai. That's not like you."
His voice was deceptively smooth, almost amused. But I knew better. I knew the danger that lurked beneath his words, coiled tight like a venomous snake ready to strike.
"I don't know what you mean," I said, keeping my tone as even as possible.
His smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. Just sharp edges and hidden threats.
"No?" He leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk, fingers interlocked. "Shall I remind you?"
My stomach twisted, but I didn't let it show. I simply held his gaze, waiting.
Lucius reached into a drawer, pulling out a sleek black tablet. He turned it toward me, and the screen flickered to life.
My blood turned to ice.
It was footage from Ezra's room.
My jaw clenched as I watched myself standing there, too close, my hands gripping his waist. My fingers pressing into the soft fabric of his thin nightshirt. The moment I lost control. The moment I kissed him.
The moment I made my worst mistake.
Lucius let the video play for a few agonizing seconds before he tapped the screen, freezing the image of my lips against Ezra's. The air in the room thickened with tension.
"Care to explain this, Malachai?" His voice was still calm, still patient, but I wasn't fooled. Not for a second.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe evenly. There was no excuse I could give him. No lie that would save me from whatever punishment he had already decided on.
"I made a mistake," I said finally, my voice flat.
Lucius chuckled, shaking his head. "A mistake? No, Malachai. A mistake is misplacing a weapon or failing to complete a mission efficiently. This?" He gestured to the screen. "This is something far worse." he said pointing at the tablet "did you think I would be stupid enough to install one cctv camera for my baby?".
His expression darkened, and the amusement in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something cruel.
"I think you've forgotten your place," he mused, almost thoughtfully. "Perhaps you need a reminder."
I knew what was coming before he even stood up.
Pain.
I braced myself as he circled the desk, his movements slow and deliberate. Then, without warning, his fist connected with my ribs.
I gritted my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing me groan in pain. Another hit followed, this time to my stomach. My body jerked forward slightly from the force, but I stayed upright, my breathing ragged.
Lucius stepped back, tilting his head. "You disappoint me, Malachai. I expected more from you."
I kept my gaze on the floor, knowing that if I looked up, if I met his eyes, he'd see the fury simmering beneath my carefully constructed mask.
He sighed, almost as if he was truly disappointed. "You know what to do next. I don't have to spell it out for you, do I?"
I shook my head, my jaw locked tight. "No."
"Good." He turned back toward his desk, as if I were nothing more than an afterthought. "Now get out. And Malachai?"
I paused, my hand already on the door handle.
"If I ever catch you touching Ezra again, I'll make sure he suffers for it more than you ever could. Do you understand?"
He's letting me off just like that ?.
This is far more dangerous
My grip tightened, the sharp edge of his threat slicing into me like a blade.
"Yes, sir."
I walked out without another word, the taste of blood and regret thick on my tongue. My ribs ached, my mind was a storm of emotions I couldn't afford to feel, and yet…..
"Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!"
"Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!"
The house alarm?
It should be only for emergency missions.