“Because I know the most about halflings of all of us—even Fenryr. With me, you’ll have the best chance of controlling your magic. Of course, the others can oversee and offer alternative strategies when we get further down the line in your training, but for this first step, you’ll have to trust me.”

I turn my gaze to the rippling water, focusing on the swirling clouds of vapor hanging just above the surface of the pool. Trust Malice… can I really do that?

“Okay,” I whisper. “Okay, I'll do it. I’ll train with you.”

I bring my head up, surprised to find a genuine smile spreading across Malice’s face. “Perfect. Let’s go.”

I jerk, taken aback by the eagerness in his tone. “You want to start now?”

“I’m not a patient creature, Dagny,” he whispers, his eye glowing with a deadly promise. “And I’ve waited far too long already.”

The air is sucked from my lungs as my eyes find his across the distance, that invisible cord wrapping around my heart and pulling tight as a wave of lust shudders through the bond. My mouth dries as Malice rises out of the pool, his sculpted body glistening in the flickering orange light as a thousand shimmering dewdrops bead across his skin.

“Meet me upstairs in five minutes,” he says, turning on his heel abruptly and stalking toward the stairs. He stops at the threshold, turning his head over his shoulder with a smirk pulling at his mouth, his words leaving me no choice but to obey. “I have something important to show you.”

* * *

A few minutes later, the other demons and I are dried off and dressed in fresh clothing. An air of anxiety hangs heavy in the air as we all try to guess what Malice has in store for us. Kaebl stays in the bathing chamber as I lead the way up the stairs and into the main chamber where the exit tunnel lies, the lingering smell of Malice’s scent telling me exactly where he’s waiting.

We pour out of the stairwell, and sure enough, Malice stands in the center of the room, a secretive grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, highlighting the dimples carved into the hollows of his cheeks.

“Just in time. Follow me.”

Instead of heading for the exit like I expected, Malice walks to the opposite wall and places his hand on the shimmering ice, a rush of energy bursting from his skin in a glowing red light. A secret doorway opens like a gaping mouth. The shadows just beyond the threshold swirl ominously, warning me away from the space. Without waiting, Malice ducks into the tunnel, his outline disappearing as he descends into the earth, leaving me no choice but to follow.