For many cycles he’d imagined what being with her would be like. The touch of her skin…the way she smelled…the way she felt. None of it came even remotely close to the reality. He could still smell her on his fingers.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMTnUyZ76l
“Have you gone mad?” Mekhi storms into Malich’s office.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡPllw5UdYkp
“Not since I last checked.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPsF3eTKtg
“I asked you to do one thing Malich, one thing!”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE3a2XJ25P
“Am I missing something? Has she fled?”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUbJqgDEeX
“No.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dNwTQKNBe
“Complained?”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TS64V4NX9
“No.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk3O4u4H8j
“Then I’m not understanding what the problem is.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcxsIqjtdV
“You cannot be her employer andher lover,” Mekhi argued.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgPAnTvrGs
“I don’t plan on it, but it has to be her choice and I cannot push her or she’ll run.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjNE7R9cyh
Mouth agape, Mekhi eyes him incredulously. “And if she doesn’t choose you?”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡveu2Hcs1GG
Malich levels Mekhi with a glare. He never sets out to acquire something he isn’t sure he can have. “Have faith brother.” copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnWMYkFtMm
Sighing, Mekhi continues his tirade, “Is she worth everythingwe’ve built?” copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnGJ2OBb0a
Malich nods, “And more.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwoXz5a16Q
“Does she know what you’ve done?” Mekhi asks.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3eFPcZvGL
“She will when the time is right,” Malich waves him off.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC9ylbmWnn
“Cadmi informs me you asked her to graduate our young assassin. Are you sure that’s what you want? Once she finds out…”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QTvOsAYuH
“She’ll want blood, yes, but she won’t harm me.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcL3RAgR5X
“I hope you know what you’re doing. You’re playing with fire brother and if I must be the voice of reason than so be it...this is unwise.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXzMvVYSSl
“Your concern is noted.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZc8u0B5Y5
Inclining his head to Malich, who returns the gesture, Mekhi excuses himself from the room. Dax enters a moment later and he too has a grave look in his eyes. He’d been eavesdropping on Malich’s conversation with Mekhi. “Let me guess, you disapprove,” Malich sighs.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNiyRa881e
“Forgive me Majii, but…Arya is a weapon. She’d serve better as a weapon than she would your mistress. Also, dismissing your protective detail and allowing yourself to be vulnerable with her isn’t a very wise thing to do,” he sighs.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EcFrHApAs
“Perhaps.” copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPrXYWXz2V
“Arokin has arrived, shall I show him in?”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPJXnB8wKa
Malich nods and Dax disappears out into the hall. Lifting his fingers to his lips Malich takes in her scent one last time before Arokin sits across from him. They both dismiss their protective detail, opting to speak alone.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQPXvgF5Gf
“Brother,” Arokin nods. copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr40o2WlBZ
“Brother,” Malich nods back.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhO1ebDnHn
Arokin is an inch shorter with a smaller frame, but still just as powerful as Malich. He has the same dark hair set in short waves atop his head and his eyes are also an icy blue. He’s wearing a fortune in jewels adorning his fingers, a hand stitched sleeveless navy waistcoat with gold embroidery that included the Jarrah house royal crest in front. He wore black breeches, a white tunic, and an overcoat also embroidered with rich golden thread. copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsdmpJD4Oj
Arokin is the only brother out of seven that keeps in touch with him. He must’ve drawn the short end of that stick. Usually when he stops by or graces Malich with his presence its to have someone killed. This time isn’t any different, but the target he wants dead is very high profile. “A target of this magnitude would start a war.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnKon8qku2
“Indeed, but a necessary one.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLj8NyjqV1
“I’m not in the business of starting wars Arokin, I end them.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtu2PTLtYA
“You’re a criminal running a criminal organization that we allow to exist because of your particular expertise,” Arokin glares at him, “you do as we permit.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiXxGlF7Ga
“That may have been true once upon a time, but I’m my own man these days. Threaten me again and you’ll leave here with fewer limbs than you came with. The family holds no sway here.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZVt8I2r9Y
Arokin clapped his hands, amusement in his eyes that quickly vanishes in the blink of an eye. “Do not fuck with me Malich, you won’t like the outcome,” he continues with his threats. “Take the payment before I reconsider.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXrX0hRLKP
Malich slid his eyes to the coin purse before him. It’s just like his family to expect him to compromise his beliefs and fall in line with what they wanted simply because they wish it. Taking their money would go against everything he stood for. Not taking it would certainly mean trouble.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡmw8k3PFJWm
Framed by his older brother Kahlem for the unlawful slaughter of a sacred village, Malich was banished from his kingdom by his father along with Mekhi, his trainer. He was all of fifteen cycles. It was no secret that Malich was his father’s favorite, rumored to inherit the throne once he became of age, but Kahlem had other plans. He plotted to remove Malich from his fathers favor and once it was accomplished, he turned Malich’s family against him. Kahlem was named heir to the Jarrah throne and Malich was forgotten. He and Mekhi became thieves in order to survive and were apprehended trying to steal horses. They were sentenced to work in the Jarrah mines until their bodies gave out and they dropped dead, but after a cycle they escaped. copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6mPAuyCWH
Rather than theft, they turned to being soldiers of fortune and fled to the Redlands. The Redlands was unruly with no government and no order. It was the perfect place for criminals to hideout; only Malich saw a bigger opportunity. He’d always been ambitious. It was one of the qualities his father admired most about him. He knew if he could bring order to a world that had none, he could control it. copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpF2nGjes3
He laid out his plan for Mekhi and together they created the Red Legion. It started out with just the two of them, but quickly grew in numbers. The more the Red Legion grew, the more notoriety they acquired. Soon, every one from the old and new Gods to the Fae knew of the threat the Red Legion posed. Some sought to ally themselves with the Red Legion, but when his family realized exactly who ran this rising threat they saw an opportunity to control it.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OAc9E1PoY
At the time, the Jarrah army outnumbered the Red Legion by tens of thousands. Malich and Mekhi had no choice but to submit or watch his family annihilate everything they’ve built. That is no longer the case, but Kahlem, who took over once their father had fallen ill, still hopes to maintain that control. copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh5x7F1FiX
“Tell Kahlem his charge is rejected. Here we have a code and we honor that code. We do not kill children, depending on the offense we do not kill women, and we do notstart wars,” Malich denied his request.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTn3WKJfZb
“You just did,” Arokin tosses the charge on the desk in front of him, “If I were you I’d change my mind. You’re outnumbered, outwitted, and several steps behind should you choose to go this path.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡj30Ug9zhYX
“I control one of the most dangerous assassin houses within the planes. If my family should be foolish enough to make an attempt on my life, I have two words for you…don’t miss.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9fkGm0I1j
Arokin’s temples flare and he storms out of Malich’s office. Dax enters with questions in his eyes. “Increase security and if there’s an attempt on my life, the next time Arokin shows up, if he’s stupid enough to show his face around here, I want him shackled and thrown in a cell,” Malich ordered.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpd3s9NbpM
“Majii?” Dax asks, hoping for answers.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJQnD6xdnv
“Just do as you’re told, and when I’m done, I want this sent to Mekhi.”copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDFpYmMZ4O
Malich reached into his desk, grabbed an ink pen and paper, and wrote a message to Mekhi to be delivered immediately. He wanted everyone on alert in case his family attempted to retaliate.copyright protection128ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKdvNGFBS4
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