Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
When Isbeth reveals more of her ultimate plan and sadly states that she no longer has the blood of an intended King—since Cas is now the King of Atlantia—Malik smiles apologetically, but he’s anything but sorry.
Poppy and Isbeth end up in a fight, and Poppy is incapacitated. In order to save her and the others he loves, Casteel surrenders himself to Isbeth, and the Queen orders Malik to retrieve him.
After Isbeth removes Cas’s finger and sends it to Poppy, Millie makes Malik aware that his brother is suffering from an infection. He goes down to see Casteel, and the reception isn’t exactly a family reunion. He tells his younger sibling not to be a brat and then disinfects his finger.
As they talk, Malik reveals that he was furious to learn Isbeth’s truth and that their parents lied to them both. He wonders if either of them would be where they are now if they had been told the truth centuries ago.
Seeing how his brother is suffering, he’s genuinely sorry he can’t feed him and help ease his misery. But he says that if he does, Cas will be punished. Knowing what they did to his brother the last time, he doesn’t want that to happen.
Malik mentions that he’s been thinking of Shea lately and tells Cas that he knows what she did—that she turned them over to the Ascended. He’s sorry to hear that Casteel was the one to kill her and says he remembers how much she loved Cas. He also guesses that Casteel never told anyone about her betrayal.
Casteel mentions Millicent and, once again, Malik can’t control his response. As his brother tells him more, he becomes very interested in what things the Handmaiden told Cas. Come to find out, it’s about the Revenants. Malik agrees that Millie is odd but asks that Cas not take it out on her. He says that, like Poppy, she’s had very few choices in life.
As they talk more, Malik tells Cas everything has to do with Poppy. When Casteel reveals that Poppy was entirely on board with coming to rescue him, not even knowing him, Malik says that she doesn’t know him—or at least doesn’t remember him. When Cas questions that, Malik doesn’t answer except to say that he’ll find out soon enough.
Upon the Queen’s next meeting with Poppy and her two guards—Kieran and one other he doesn’t know—Malik remains stoic when Kieran tries to bait him. Then, when the Queen asks her daughter if she’s been able to resist the men’s ample charms, Malik can’t help but grin.
Poppy insinuates that all the lies will soon be revealed, and Malik asks what she expects: for Solis’s people to turn their backs on all they’ve ever known? He then goes on to say that they will fear Poppy.
Not long after, Poppy breaks through Malik’s mental shields and shocks him, sending him reeling, even giving him a nosebleed. When he’s unable to compose himself completely after, the Queen orders her Handmaidens to remove him. He waves her off.
Isbeth soon tells Malik to take her guests to their rooms—separately. He takes Kieran to one and Reaver to another below as Callum takes Poppy to see Cas.
Later, when Poppy questions why the Queen summoned her to the Great Hall, Malik tells her it’s so she can see how much she’s loved. He goes on to relay that Isbeth has been warning everyone about her, reinforcing their fears that she’s the harbinger. As they discuss the lies that were told about the Atlantian-captured cities, and Poppy tells Malik that his kingdom/father would never do the things that Isbeth claims, he shows no emotion.
Poppy notices his attention on Millie and taunts that she’ll tell the Queen that Millicent is the reason Malik stays. He threatens her, and not long after, the Queen orders him to leave.
Isbeth goads Poppy and tells her to unleash her power but not to forget that she’s not sitting in front of an Ascended. She crushes a Solis couple with her power to prove her point.
Poppy, Kieran, and Reaver leave Wayfair—and a huge mess in their wake. Malik follows and offers to take them to Cas if they get out immediately. When Kieran tells him it’s suspect, he tells him it’s a significant risk and reminds them that he helped Cas when he had the infection. He simply says he doesn’t want his brother anywhere near the Queen.
They still don’t believe him, so he answers a question that Poppy asked him some time back, confirming that he stays for Millie. He then explains that they’re heartmates. When Kieran calls her crazy, Malik warns him and then tells him that while he still loves the wolven like a brother, he won’t hesitate to rip out his throat if he doesn’t lay off the Handmaiden. He reveals that he’s done many unimaginable things for Millie—stuff she will never learn about.