Layla’s POV“So,” Malcolm finished, “What do you say?”Hector hadn’t moved once, but he seemed to know the exact moment I came to my decision because his grip around my waist tightened once more, not enough to be painful, but enough that I felt him beside me.Then his presence flooded my consciousne
“Layla.”The sound of my name spoken in that low, clear tone stopped me dead short, and I felt Hector tense beside me. For the first time, my mate’s arms fell from my waist, and I got the sensation that he was preparing for something.Malcolm—smile slowly fading now—only spared him a glance before t
Layla’s POVAs soon as my grandfather’s voice registered in my consciousness and I became aware of his presence, I jumped (quite literally) several feet in the air, almost losing my balance and falling out of the couch I had been sleeping on as a result.Only the fact that I managed to grab the back
“The only reason you are separated from them is because I needed you alone, to talk. When this conversation is over and done with, you will be reunited with your mate and your friend. Is that fair?”I blinked and then (after a brief moment’s consideration) nodded.“Good.” Malcolm smiled, “Good, I’m
Layla’s POV“Before I get into any of that, I must first tell you why I say I have been actively dying for the past two decades now,” Malcolm began, tone brisk as he readjusted in his chair using his walking stick while I struggled to keep up with the abrupt shift in conversation.“In your time here
In it, the man was said to be a great healer of himself and others, and after many years of this, figuring that what could give life would also be able to take it, he made a deal with ‘the devil.’”At this, my mouth twisted with scepticism, and my grandfather noticing this gave a dismissive wave.“O
I listened to all of this like I was in a trance, with a looming sense of growing horror that made me want to throw the windows at the far corner of the room and scream into the trees just so I would see the birds scatter.Anything in that moment would’ve been better, I thought to myself, as Malcolm
Layla’s POVThe skin on my forehead creased as I drew back to give Malcolm a long hard look, and I was sure that the expression on my face accurately summed up the emotions running through me as I seized him up.To the old man’s credit, he didn’t look away. In fact, he maintained steady eye contact