The bond aches at the thought of him, so I stop. I’m already so conflicted about my feelings toward Malice, I don't need to worry over my growing attachment to Abaddon’s core piece. Forcing my gaze from the red-eyed demon, I look at Fenryr, taking in protruding bones and oozing wounds peppering his torso and limbs. Even if he didn’t betray us all, there are still all the horrible things he’s done to Fenryr to take into account.

He truly is malice in every way, shape, and form.

Malice sighs, and his voice is laced with something akin to sorrow as it enters my mind. I cannot be anything more than I am, little one.

I roll my eyes. “Fenryr said as much.”

Shaking his head, he reaches toward my face once more, only to freeze midway when he sees me flinch away from his touch.

His eyes squint as he projects his voice into my head again, and this time, I’m positive it’s sadness in his tone. I need to talk to you, Dagny.

“We are talking.”

Not about this. He looks over his shoulder, apprehension rolling off his shoulders in waves. Something important—what I needed to talk to you about yesterday.

“Oh.” I tilt my head, a sneer curling my lip. “In that case, I still have no desire to hear you out.” My power crests, fixing to deliver a blow to Malice just like the first time he showed up.

But before that happens, Malice lets out a deep sigh, sending a wave of his own magic toward me before mine has the chance to explode. Instantly, the power is frozen in my veins, pulsing violently and threatening to burst my vessels and break my mind.

My body is lifted from the ground, and I kick at the frozen air as an invisible hand wraps around my throat, pinning me to the wall as it slowly cuts off my oxygen.

Malice steps toward me, pressing his nose deep into my pulse point and inhaling deeply. The feline slit of his pupil expands, swallowing the shimmering red of his iris in the next blink, consuming the last of his humanity.

“I love seeing those claws of yours, kitten. That darling little fire in your eyes when you lose control and allow your hatred to consume you…” The intangible force squeezing my throat tightens further, cutting off my airflow as Malice grabs my chin, his clawed fingers scraping my jaw lightly. “But make no mistake—they only harm me because I let them.”

That thing holding me to the wall evaporates in the next moment, and my body slumps to the floor in a broken heap, muscles quivering and chest quaking with every jagged breath.

Malice's voice enters my mind once more, filled with the cool composure I’ve become used to. As I said, there is something we must discuss. Your freedom.