Molly muttered. “Drop it.”

  “Why are you so afraid to have sex with him?” Molly tensed, and almost instantly, Faye regretted asking the question. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, no, it’s a valid question.” Sighing, Molly shifted onto her back and flung an arm over her head. “We were matched at one point, Faye. That means something to the fold, and to me, as much as I don’t want it to. I worry if I give in to that again, I’ll never find my way back to you.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I’m good for a fuck, but that’s about it.”

  Molly’s lips parted in surprise. Faye tried to get out of the bed, but Molly pulled her back. “Wait.”

  “No. If you’re matched to him, go be with him if you want. If not, be with him and have some fun while you’re at it. Sex doesn’t mean you have a lifetime commitment.”

  “It will to him.”

  Faye sighed and relaxed. “And you don’t want it to? You can’t control what he thinks or feels.”

  “No, but I can avoid encouraging him.”

  “True.”

  They lapsed into silence. Molly moved into Faye, wrapping around her side and brushing her fingers over the injury Faye had sustained the night before. It was completely healed. Only Molly would know that something had been there to begin with.

  Molly kissed a line along Faye’s neck to her collarbone, tweaking her nipple as she moved her hand across Faye’s body. “Besides, I’d much rather have you.”

  “Why don’t you release him?”

  “Malek?”

  “No, Lamek, but yes, also Malek. Can you release him?”

  “I could, but it’s more complicated than that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Molly twirled her tongue against the column of Faye’s neck. “I would lose the protection of the fold.”

  “I’m sorry, how is that any different than how you already live?”

  “It means when I get cursed again, they won’t help.”

  “They barely helped this last time.” Faye pouted. “So really, why wouldn’t you release him?”

  “I don’t think he’d accept.”

  “That’s his problem.”

  “He has to accept for it to be final.”

  “Who makes up these dumb rules?”

  Molly laughed as she pressed her hand between Faye’s legs, causing Faye to gasp. “The rules have been in place for eons.”

  “Well, they’re stupid,” Faye whispered on a groan.

  “I agree. That’s why I left.”

  Faye moaned as Molly’s fingers pressed into her. Her back arched as Molly made the magical bond. Faye much preferred sex with Molly to include the bond, but they’d done that pretty much all night, and she wanted to talk about Lamek.

  “Molly?”

  “Hmmm?” Molly nipped into the skin just at the underside of Faye’s breast.

  Faye squirmed as pleasure coursed through her body. “What about Lamek?”

  “What about him?” Molly’s fingers pumped harder into Faye, just like she liked it.

  Raising her legs up, Faye gripped Molly’s wrist and changed the angle to be exactly what she wanted and needed. She pulled out her nails, digging them into the skin around Molly’s wrist. “Release him.”

  Molly’s rhythm didn’t hesitate, but she did bite down a little harder into the soft flesh at Faye’s stomach. Faye jumped and tossed her head back against the pillow.

  “Release him, Molly. He doesn’t deserve to be stuck there.”

  “All right. Now come.”

  Faye’s body shuddered as her orgasm ripped through her. As soon as she was calm enough, she pulled her hand away from Molly’s wrist and licked up the blood that spilled onto her fingers. Molly laid next to her again, making slow designs into Faye’s chest and abdomen.

  “You really mean that?” Faye asked, scared about what answer she might receive.

  “Yes. I will release him.”

  “Thank you.”

  Molly sighed. “But perhaps we can use this to our advantage.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I want to know why Malek is truly here, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let’s use this to confront him. I’m tired of waiting around for other methods to work.”

  Faye tapped Molly’s temple. “What are you thinking?”

  “Let’s ask him to reverse the spell. We know he can’t. I’ve talked to him about it already, but this time, I’ll press him for information, or you will. You should.”

  “I should? Why?” Faye licked her suddenly dry lips.

  “Because while you are pushing him, I’ll weave a spell. Either way, we’ll get what we want, whether you pull it from him or I do.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Molly flopped onto her back. “I want an answer.”

  “And you always get what you want. Everyone knows that.”

  Molly erupted in laughter. At Faye’s confused look, she answered, “Hardly. It’s amusing you think that.”

  “Experience,” Faye muttered. “Pretty sure everyone else would agree with me.”

  Molly stilled. “It’s not true.”

  “Seems like it to us.”

  “Maybe I should share more often, then.”

  “Whatever. Your choice.” Faye rolled her eyes and pushed out of the bed. “Times up, buttercup. It’s morning, and there’s work to do.”

  Molly narrowed her gaze in Faye’s direction. “Why are you wanting to get work done? Usually you’re the one who wants to stay in bed and I’m the one vying to get back into the game.”

  “Maybe you’re rubbing off on me.”

  “Doubtful.” Molly stayed right where she was, her hair strewn over the pillow, the blankets wrapped half-around her. “Truly, Faye, what is it?”

  Faye shrugged and walked into Molly’s bathroom, shutting the door. If Molly wasn’t going to join her, then she would do whatever she wanted. She didn’t need Molly to tell her where to go or what to do any more than she needed to lay in bed all day. When she walked back out of the bathroom, Molly was still in bed. Faye growled as she grabbed her clothes, dressed, and walked out to begin her round of chores.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Molly sat in her office at her desk, Malek across from her in one of the two chairs on the other side. She had been expecting him at some point, waiting and biding her time for the conversation to begin. He looked as pristine as always, aloof and full of himself.

  Malek had always managed to give off that air even if it wasn’t who he truly was. She’d known that for years when he’d trained her. Molly stared back at him, lost in her thoughts, and he let her be, the silence a welcome change to what her life normally was. She finally smiled at him and shook her head.

  “Do you remember when I first came to train with you?”

  “Like it was yesterday.” Malek folded his hands in his lap. “You were so young.”

  “So very young and obnoxiously annoying.”

  Malek smiled, a blush rising to his cheeks. “Not so full of yourself, but you were particularly stubborn when it came to learning. At least from me. You took to Reina quite well.”

  Humming, Molly leaned back into her chair with a pen between her fingers as she slid it one long end to the other. Staring out into the room, she didn’t see her books or her couch or her office. She saw herself showing up within the fold for the first time ever. She’d gotten news of her match through her father and had gone to begin her training. She’d barely been twelve.

  “I was so young.”

  “Yes, you were. We all were when we started our training.”

  “Father had taught me well enough. I never understood why I couldn’t stay with him to train.”

  “It’s not how the fold works.”

  “I know, but as you well know, Malek, I do often think rules are made to be broken.”

  “Oh, I’m aware.” He grinned at her. “You were always breaking the rules in my house.”

  “Your house had stupid rules.”

  Malek laughed and stared at her. She flushed, looking back at him. Coming around the desk, Molly leaned against the front of it as she stared at him.

  “You know, Faye and I had a discussion the other day about you.”

  “I imagine you’ve had a host of discussions about me.”

  “Well, yes, to be honest. She likes you.”

  “As do you.”

  Molly’s lips thinned. “I like who you used to be, Malek, but you never used to keep secrets from me either.”

  “You used to be part of the fold. That gave you the privilege of information. You chose to leave, and with that comes the loss of certain privileges.”

  “I’m aware.”

  Malek remained seated, staring up at her, his gaze raking up and down her body. “Is this about the other night?”

  “You’ll have to be a little more specific than that.”

  “You were telling me something.”

  Molly sighed. “The first time I gave myself to you I was so young.”

  “Yes, you were, younger than most.”

  Cutting her gaze to him, Molly clenched her jaw. “You were persuasive.”

  “I did you no harm.”

  “You didn’t. Not then at least.”

  “Molly, if I ever hurt you, please tell me.”

  Sighing, Molly pulled her lower lip between her teeth. “I was fifteen.”

  “You were of age.”

  “Hardly. I was old enough to make a decision within the confines of decisions already made for me. I watched Pearl make her own decisions, live life as she wanted it to. I watched her magic grow in leaps and bounds, in ways my own magic was confined. I lived that way for years with you. Years of being held back all for the sake of the fold.”

  Malek stood up, moving close to her. He pressed a hand to her neck, gaining her attention, his thumb under her chin as she stared up at him. “Where are you going with this? I most certainly did not hold you back. I gave you everything I had in spite of what the fold wanted.”

  “You were held back, thus so was I.”

  “Watch your step. You may not be a part of the fold any longer, but I am. I respect our traditions as vehemently as you spurn them.”

  Molly dashed her tongue against her lips, turning to stare directly into his eyes. “You used to. I don’t suppose you do so much anymore.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Why are you here, Malek? If you truly respected tradition, you would leave me alone and ignore me like the rest of them.”

  “You are still one of us. You are still a part of us.” Malek dipped his head, crashing their lips together.

  Molly sucked in a breath, her hands coming up around his neck to hold on as their tongues dueled for control. She scraped her nails against the back of his head, down his spine and up again. Malek covered her breast with his hand as he nipped at her lip and down her neck, stopping as he ran into the cloth covering her chest.

  “I was never a full part of the fold,” Molly whispered.

  “You were, damn it. I made sure of that.” Malek shook his head at her before resting his forehead against hers. “You were.”

  “I wasn’t. I always resisted because of Pearl, because of what my father had taught me.”

  “He taught you to love, and that was greater than anything I could teach you.” Malek once again bent down to touch their lips together, but this time it was far sweeter than before when it had been all heat. Pulling away, he smiled and straightened his back. “I’m here to rekindle what we once had, nothing more.”

  “You want me to join the fold again.”

  “That would be preferable, but not necessary. Molly, I do love you. I have for centuries. What I want is to fulfill our match, whether it is in the fold or not. I want to be with you, to carry on our lines, to learn from each other. I may have trained you for decades, but it is clear to me you have learned far more than I ever taught. You have more magic than I have seen one witch hold. You would rival Reina and Corbin and you are half their age.”

  Molly swallowed. He still hadn’t figured it out, which was good, but she wasn’t about to tell him either why she had so much magic or how Pearl had done it. Her lips parted as she stared at him. “I don’t think I’ll be joining with you.”

  “Molly—”

  “No. I don’t want to be matched. You know that.”

  “But we are forever matched, whether you want to admit that or not.”

  Shaking her head, she crossed her arms. “No. You may choose to believe that, but I do not. Let the fold match you with someone else.”

  “There is no one else!” His voice boomed through her office, causing Molly to tense in immediate response.

  “There has to be.”

  “No. We are a dying race, Molly. Maybe not witches, but our fold is dying. Without you it will be impossible to continue.”

  “I don’t believe that.” Molly stood, her hands at her sides as if she were preparing to battle. “The fold has survived for centuries with these traditions. They will continue if that’s what they want.”

  “A child hasn’t been born into the fold in two hundred years. Not since Tess.”

  Molly froze. “Why not?”

  “There’s no one left.”

  “This isn’t because of the vampires. Two hundred years is not seventy-five. You can’t blame this on their genocide.”

  “We’re not.”

  “Then what happened?”

  Malek shook his head. “I have no idea. But no child has been born to us since Tess was born.”

  “And you want me to return to break this curse?”

  “To try at least. Molly, what would happen if we were to die out?”

  “Maybe the awful traditions the fold has continued would also die.” She stared at him in defiance. “I won’t return with you. I have made my bed.”

  “With Faye?” he scoffed. “She’s a nice kid, but she’s just that, a kid.”

  Molly’s lips pressed together and pulled tight. “She knows more of this world than you would think.”

  “She’s a child.”

  “And how is that any different than you and me?”

  “We are of the same bloodline!”

  “We still need a vampire, and she is the only one left.”

  “Not the only one.” Malek didn’t dare look at her.

  Molly cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

  “There is one more. Faye’s father. Don’t think that when she showed up on my doorstep all those months about that I ignored who—or rather what—she was. How she came into existence. I needed to know.”

  “Did you find him?”

  “Your old school friend?”

  “Yes.”

  “I know you hid him. I know you. You’re a master at hiding, not just Tainted but yourself. I know you hid him through the war, protected him.”

  “Do you know where he is?” Anger surged into Molly’s chest, her eyes widening in panic. If Faye were to know, she would be gone in an instant to find and kill Marcellus.

  “No.” Malek walked closer to her, gripping her hands. “I don’t know where he is, but I can find out, if that is what you’d like.”

  “Hardly. I’d rather him be dead.”

  “Odd, since you saved him for years.”

  Molly stared directly into Malek’s pale blue eyes. “He was my best friend, but even some betrayals cannot be forgiven.”

  “Noted.”

  “Speaking of betrayal, how shall we break the binding on your magic?”

  “If you won’t return to the fold with me, I fear this is how I shall be for the rest of my life.”

  “We shall see. Come with me.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “We’re going to test your abilities and see if we can push the boundaries of the binding.” Molly grabbed his hand and walked toward the door. Malek dutifully followed. As soon as she reached the base of the stairs, Molly called for Faye, meeting her in the garage. The three of them climbed into one of the vans, Faye driving as Molly sat in the passenger side. It was a short ride, but Molly was tired of answers being skirted. She was ready to confront Malek head-on.

  ###

  Faye parked at Lamek’s final resting place. The sun was setting outside, and those in the area were slim. No one walked under bridges that time of night in that neighborhood without taking a great risk. Stepping out of the van, Faye cracked her knuckles as she leaned against it, pressing one foot behind her to hold herself up as she stared at Lamek.

  He didn’t move. He wouldn’t while Molly was there unless Faye coaxed him out. Both she and Molly knew that. He hated Molly, and considering the last few times Molly had been there she’d tortured him, there was no reason for him to trust her. Well, he’d be in for quite the surprise when Molly released him.

  Faye knew what her role was supposed to be. They’d talked it out in enough detail, and she trusted Molly to back her up when she deviated from the plan. Faye let out a sigh and turned to face the two of them, who stared at her with wise curiosity.

  “Molly said you were going to free him.”

  “I…what?” Malek’s eyes widened in surprise as he turned to look at Molly.

  “Free him,” Faye repeated. “She said you’d do it, that she can’t bring herself to do it. So do it already. He’s suffered enough.”

  Turning to face her friend, Faye made her face take on a long and sorrowful look. She probably should have brought him some heroin because she had a feeling freeing him from the prison of torture he’d been confined in for decades was going to be just as painful, if not more painful, than staying in it. At least it would be short term.

  “I…I can’t,” Malek whispered. Then he turned to Molly. “You know I can’t.”

  “What do you mean you can’t? You’re this all-powerful witch, Malek. Release him. You don’t need her permission.”

  “I don’t have the magic, Faye.” He paled.

  She knew she was close to having him. “So what the hell good are you to me? If you don’t have magic you can’t even initiate the bond. You can’t do that, you get nothing from me. So why are you here?”