“Malachi,” the priest stopped playing his instrument and came inside.

Malachi didn’t turn to look at him. His gaze was fixed on the peacefully sleeping human. Her face looked so different when relaxed. Almost angelic, with her pale skin and fair hair. She looked innocent and harmless. She looked beautiful.

The priest came to stand beside her and looked at her as well. “I exhausted the child.” He smiled.

“Did she go up all the stairs?”

“Yes, and she washed the whole floor.” He said pointing around. Malachi looked down and ahead at the shining floor. “She is a hard worker. Very diligent. She didn’t leave one spot unclean.”

What was this woman trying to do? Now win favors with the priest? How impressive.

“She probably hasn’t had a good sleep for years.” Chanan crouched to study her. “What a heavy soul to carry in such a small body.” He then looked up at him. “She needs a lot of care.”

“She is not here to be taken care of,” Malachi said.

The priest stood up and turned to him. “She is your breedmate.”

Why did people keep reminding him as if he didn’t know?

“I am aware. I guess this is the punishment you spoke about.”

Chanan chuckled. “Oh dear child,” he walked around her body to stand on the other side. “I don’t know about punishment. I believe in consequences. You reap what you sow, king Malachi. You have planted many bad seeds and you have been harvesting them. You, your brother, and your whole family. Now it is time to plant the good seeds.”

“There is nothing to harvest Chanan. The weather is bad.”

The priest tilted his head but remained silent.

“I am taking her,” Malachi said slowly gathering her in his arms. She stirred a little but didn’t wake up.

“Take this,” he held out the flute for him. “It helps her sleep.”

Malachi looked at the instrument in his hand and then took it before heading outside. The sun was setting as he carefully descended the stairs. The sight was beautiful from up the mountain but all Malachi could do was watch the woman in his arms. She snuggled against him looking for warmth while sleeping like a child.

In the back, Chanan had gotten hold of another flute and began to play, keeping Ravina from waking up. Malachi took her back to his home and lay her in his bed gently. She stirred again but didn’t wake up. He watched her, her feminine scent intoxicating him, her hair spread around her head like a halo. She looked even much younger when relaxed.

Malachi retreated, sitting in the armchair near the bed. He leaned back and continued to watch her sleep. Last night she had cried half the night and then she had been turning back and forth disturbed by yet another nightmare. Now she breathed calmly, her chest rising and falling and her lips slightly parted. She was so inviting, especially with these clothes.

He averted his gaze, feeling the fire of hunger burn in him. His grandma used to say that “most men are slaves to their desires.”

Indeed, because he couldn’t keep looking away for too long. He began to watch her again. The fire in him slowly cooled and he was overcome by a feeling of peace. A strange calmness as if the world around him had stopped moving. He hadn’t felt like this for so long.

Leaning his head back, he decided to rest while this calmness lasted. He managed to get some sleep before he woke up at the same time she was waking up. She turned on her back, stretching her arms and yawning. Then she rubbed her eyes before opening them. She stared at the ceiling for a moment before looking around confused until her blue gaze fell on him. She stared still confused.

“How… did I get here?” She asked.

“I brought you here.”

She tried to push herself up on her elbows but gave up with a grimace. She grabbed her upper arm and tried to massage it. “And I didn’t wake up?” She couldn’t believe it.

“No.”

Her lips parted and her eyes were a bit wide both in surprise and confusion. She made another try to sit up and made a small pained sound. And then she shout out surprising him when she tried to fold her legs.

“Ah!”

She had sore muscles from all the work.

“Is this how far you are willing to go to impress people?” He asked standing up from his seat. He came to sit in front of her in the bed.

“Impress?”

“What are you trying to achieve? Now you are even involving my brother.”

“Involving him in what?”

“Your scheme.”

“And what is my scheme? To make you protectors of humankind? Doesn’t sound bad to me. I am at least not making you kill people.”

“Protecting your kind will start a war between our kind.”

“Then is it two birds with one stone?” She chuckled. “I am joking.”

She certainly had a dark humor. Her amused eyes stared into his. “You might have a hard time believing this King Malachi, but I actually like your brother.”

Malachi scoffed. “Really?”

“Really.”

“And what do you like about him?”

“He listens,” she said. It was not the answer he expected. “He actually listens and I don’t mean hearing.”

Yes, he surely listens.

“And people who listen and observe, learn. Maybe try listening to him.”

“I see,” he said nodding.

Make Aaron her puppet and then make him listen to the boy.

“I wish… you could see.” She breathed.

He didn’t know what exactly she meant but he gazed into her eyes as if they begged him to look into them. She stared back at him, her gaze unwavering, curious, mysterious in a way that drew him in. He felt trapped until he looked down when her stomach growled.

“Oh,” she said surprised by the loud sound. Then she looked up at him. “You said you could cook, King Malachi.”

He chuckled. The amount of manipulation from this woman, even done in such a shameless way.

“You are the slave. You should cook.”

“I don’t know how to cook.” She said instead of being offended.