And I did. As the agony continued, as my body knitted itself back together, leaving only silver scars and bad memories, I coiled my newly unbroken bones around his body and used it as my anchor, let him hold me down as I shuddered and seized, let him bind me to the present with his words in my ear and his hands on my skin. I might have hurt him; I was holding on tight enough to turn bones to pulp. But he was so strong; he took it all and then offered more of himself. I clung to it, eagerly, and as the pain began to subside and my vision cleared, I stared at his face and knew he’d felt it all along with me.

“You’re hurting,” I whispered between hot jolts from Raphael’s hands as he put the finishing touches on my healing, making my body strong and ready for what was coming.

Malachi looked into my eyes. “I’m hurting because I love you. But not being with you is infinitely more painful.”

“All done,” Raphael announced.

Malachi loosened his grip on me immediately. He got to his feet, taking a few uncoordinated steps back before steadying himself with a deep breath. I lay very still for a few moments as the pain evaporated, becoming an unreachable, distant memory, like my mind was wrapping it up tight, walling it off. I sat up, my eyes on Malachi, desperate to tell him everything, to give him my love in return for taking his. But we had to get through this first. I couldn’t let Tegan down by having a heart-to-heart with Malachi while the Mazikin strapped her to a table and ripped her soul out of her body. She’d become my friend, and I don’t walk away from my friends.

“Call Jim and Henry,” I said to him, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “Tell them we’re coming.”

“What’s your plan?” asked Malachi, already reaching for his phone.

“I’m going to give myself up to the Mazikin.”

THIRTY-THREE

THIRTY-THREE

MALACHI DIDN’T ARGUE WITH me. He called Jim and Henry, told them we were on our way, quietly asked Raphael to procure us a car and some clothes for me, and then shut his bedroom door. “You are the Captain. But I need a few more details apart from ‘I’m giving myself up.’”

He crossed to his closet and pulled out a long-sleeved shirt and pants, which he tossed onto his bed, along with a pair of combat boots. He kicked off his patent leather shoes and yanked at the tie around his neck. And then he unbuttoned his shirt and stripped it off.