After Renlo left, Malakai made his way back to his manor. His way back was uneventful. Although the forest was eerie dark and looked dangerous, Malakai had a weapon of mass destruction watching over him.
His movements were swift and during the brief walk, he used the time to go over everything that had been happening recently.
Specifically, the attention he was pulling in the training camp.
‘I wonder what they’re planning now.’
Malakai was very sure that his uncles and aunts weren’t going to give up on killing him. After they noticed that blatant assassination was a fool’s dream, they would switch up.
This was Malakai’s major problem.
The only thing that came to mind was: a spy.
They needed eyes on him now more than ever. Which meant, they would try their very best to attach someone to him.
‘Renlo.’
For now, that was Malakai’s biggest suspect.
Despite his denials to Valentine, Malakai knew deep down that he was getting fond of the boy.
They had only met for two days, but as long as one wasn’t inherently bad, Renlo was the kind of person that grew on you. He was so foolish and clueless it was hard not to get attached.
‘He had approached me.’
Renlo had been the first to speak to him, and in all honesty, Malakai wasn’t buying the whole “I didn’t know he was a vein” crap.
He wasn’t trying to brag, it was just how things were. The veins had been like superstars in the Sanguine Clan since their childhood, even before Malakai’s parents’ death and his eventual fall.
“Can I say something?”
Valentine’s voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.
Malakai paused slightly. ‘I’m listening.’
“I’m not going to say you should trust him. Who knows, he might be tricking us both. But… I would say don’t push him away. You don’t have to share everything about yourself with someone before you become friends. Just leave him there… at least until you can confirm if he’s friend or foe.”
Malakai’s steps slowed down in the forest, pondering.
After a second, he reached a conclusion and decided what to do.
Just as he was about to continue moving, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
“Ninth Vein.”
In the next instant, Nyx appeared in front of him, bowing.
“What happened?” Malakai instantly became alert. Nyx always followed him back silently. If she was stepping out now, then something had happened.
“You have a visitor at the manor, Ninth Vein.”
“Who?”
Nyx hesitated for a moment. “Darke.”
Malakai’s gaze narrowed. ‘Darke?’
He knew that name.
‘The head butler?’
That was the closest aide to the Sovereign. The one who oversaw the entire Crimson Hold.
‘What does he want?’
Just as Malakai wondered, Nyx continued. “He’s not alone, Ninth Vein. He came with a group of men and women dressed in maid uniforms.”
Malakai furrowed his brows.
‘So that’s how it is.’
Now he was getting a clearer picture of what was going on.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Nyx instantly moved to stand behind him, silent.
‘She wants to act like a guard.’
Malakai noted it. Nyx was planning to make herself visible to wade off any attempts at bullying.
There was nothing that screamed power more than a Bloom trailing behind you like a shadow.
Malakai picked up his pace, and soon enough, he came out of the foliage of trees, right into view of a group of people standing in front of the iron gates of the manor, the bright lights radiating off the building casting a soft glow on them.
The people instantly turned as they heard footsteps approaching from behind.
And the moment they sighted Malakai, they all bowed low before echoing in unison, “We greet the Ninth Vein!”
Malakai didn’t so much as glance at them. He maintained an icy stare as he walked forward with a measured pace. His eyes were only on one person, the man standing calmly in front of the group.
Darke Sanguine.
The head butler of the Sanguine Clan. Closest aide to the Sovereign. And a Bloom.
As far as Malakai knew, nothing went on in the Crimson Hold without Darke knowing.
‘He hasn’t changed much.’
Malakai remembered meeting him a few times when his parents were still alive. They hadn’t been close, but they weren’t on bad terms either.
‘But I’m not so sure now.’
If his worst assumption was correct, then Darke would be one of the worst enemies to have.
Malakai stopped a few meters from the man, eyes cold and unreadable.
Darke, on the other hand, simply smiled.
‘He has changed.’
These weren’t the eyes he remembered seeing in the past. Those had been filled with hope… with dreams. But now…
These weren’t the eyes of a child.
Darke could feel it, the coldness. The hate. The pain.
His smile faded.
‘It’s a shame.’
Malakai finally evolving was a good thing. But Darke knew things that others didn’t. Now that the boy had a chance to gain power, he would likely spend the rest of his life chasing revenge.
‘It’s a shame,’ Darke repeated inwardly before raising a fist to his chest and bowing slightly.
His voice came next, heavy and formal.
“Blood flows where you walk. May your blood burn brighter than the sun.”
The others behind him didn’t echo the greeting. They could, but only those of significant standing used it.
“As it should.”
Malakai responded calmly.
Darke rose, his eyes shifting to Nyx. He bowed slightly. “Red Eclipse.”
Nyx gave a curt nod.
Then Darke turned back to Malakai with a small smile.
“Ninth Vein, I hope the training today was productive.”
A second passed before Malakai answered,
“It was.”
Normally, he wouldn’t have bothered responding. He would’ve just gotten straight to the point and ended the conversation quickly. But there was no reason to be rude to Darke, at least not yet.
Darke’s smile widened. And seeing Malakai’s increasingly impatient stare, he gave a slight nod and got to the point.
“I’m afraid you’re not going to like the news.”
Malakai remained silent.
Darke gestured behind him. “These are the finest maids and butlers of the Crimson Hold. I brought them here to serve you.”
“I don’t want them.”