CHAPTER 14

MALAKAI

This was my twentieth visit to this bar. I counted every time I stepped foot into it. And every time, it was for one reason—Stefan’s girl, Elena.

When I heard the news about hooking up, I was amazed. Still didn’t understand how Stefan ended up with her. She was a devil in human skin. I could smell it on her.

Anyone could see it on her face that she was trouble. She carried it boldly in her steps. Elena was soft like Amara.

She couldn't be light in someone's life. She was fire and poison. Not only that, but she was something deadly and dangerous. Something to stay a thousand miles away from.

I thought Stefan was a fool for choosing her over Amara. After the terrible ruckus, I expected him to forgive her and let go of what she did, but he'd been adamant and not only cut me out of his life but also her, which was—to me the most stupid thing he'd done.

But it wasn’t my concern. His mistake was my gain. In fact, I loved it; he had selected Eleanor because I needed her. I required her to make my plan against him work.

So I kept coming every night sitting in the shadows watching her, studying her. I learned her patterns—when she walked in, how she ordered, how she held her glass, when her eyes wandered, whom she met, and the conversations she engaged in.

It was the most torturous and boring job anyone could give up their spare time to. But it was important to me.

Tonight was different. She walked in like the whole world had dropped on her shoulders. Her head was bowed low, steps were slow, and her shoulders were hung. Even from where I sat, I could feel the weight pressing down on her.

She reached the bar and ordered her usual shot without sparing the bartender a glance, even though he tried talking to her. She just took the drink and swallowed it.

I watched her face. She looked bitter. Sad and hurt even. I didn’t know what caused it. But my gut told me it was Stefan. And if it was Stefan… then tonight was my night to move.

I stood. I picked up my glass, put on my best charming smile, and walked toward her. Likewise, I stopped just close enough for her to hear my voice.

“And what’s a pretty girl like you doing out here, drinking all by herself?” I broke the heavy silence and wadded my way into her personal space.

Without even looking at me, she answered. “Fuck off. I’m not desiring a fuck.”

I almost choked on my breath. Not because of her words—no, I liked that fire—but because of the thought that hit me at her words. She was with Stefan, yeah? And does it mean she's entertaining other guys in her bed?

I leaned closer. “Wait. Don’t tell me you’ve been cheating on Stefan all this while… and now you feel bad because you caught him with another girl."

That made her turn her head. Slowly. Her eyes locked on mine. Anger flashed in them. She opened her mouth to yell, but then her gaze shifted, taking in my face. She froze as her eyes widened in shock for a few seconds, and then she narrowed her gaze and returned to her drink.

Her lips curled into a hiss. “Of all days… today, when I’m not in the mood, you show up.”

I chuckled, taking back by her words. “And yet here we are.”

I slid into the seat beside her. I leaned my elbow on the counter. “Why the long face, Elena?”

She looked at her drink and then back at my face and then back to her drink, contemplating what to do. Eventually she sighed. “Amara.”

My ears perked. “Go on.”

“She got back into Stefan’s life in the most twisted way you can imagine,” Elena said. “They… made out. And the stupid girl thought he had forgiven her. She started chasing him again. Like a little lamb chasing its butcher. Until he rejected her publicly.”

I tilted my head, taking in her explanation. Stefan was always foolish when he came to a decision. How could he reject her for the second time? “That doesn’t sound bad to you.”

She gave a bitter laugh. “You’d think so, right? But no. He still thinks about her even though she’s left town. But that’s not even the main thing. He doesn’t want me anymore. He’s been… different. Yeah, cold on different occasions. And he’s hurting me on purpose.”

I let her words sink in. I smiled slowly. “Sounds to me like you need payback.”

Her head turned toward me. Her eyes studied my face. “And why would you care?”

I sipped from my glass. “Because Stefan and I… we’re not friends, and that you know already. Let’s leave it at that. You want to hurt him. I want to hurt him. I think we can help each other.”

She leaned back slightly. “Help each other how?”

I kept my voice low. “I can take things from him. Important things. I can make him bleed where it matters most. But I need someone close to him. Someone inside his world, who can twist the knife deeper and can give me the necessary information I need to stab him in the wounds; it'd hurt him the most.”

She tapped her finger on the counter, looking at me. “And that someone would be me.”

I didn’t answer. I just smiled knowingly.

She smirked faintly. “And what do I get out of it?”

I leaned closer. “Satisfaction. And maybe more than that. You’ll get to watch him fall. You’ll get to watch him lose everything. Slowly.”

Her lips pressed together. She looked at me while drinking for a long time. Then she took a slow sip. I waited.

Finally, she spoke. “You really want to hurt him that badly with my help? Couldn't you do this on your own without involving me in your rival bullshit?”

“Yes,” I said simply. “And I think you do too.”

Her smirk deepened. “How about you start by challenging him for dominance?”