[JER]
"You can't do that. You can't tell her that. You cannot, I forbid you," Jer whimpered as he tried to get a footing. He was weak and frankly, if he were anyone else, he could have long given up, but he couldn't afford to give up, not when he had a woman to live for.
He had to fight for his Malika and make sure that she was okay. He didn't give two shits about himself as long as she was okay. And if that meant pleading with Mbali not to hurt his women then he would do it without a doubt.
He would crawl and beg like anyone in his state would.
"How pathetic. You warriors can clearly hear you being beaten and none of them cares—" Mbali said only to be interrupted by a meek voice in the distance.
It was a familiar voice that got her smiling at Jer who was still pleading with Mbali to not tell her. Then again what was the point of that at the moment when it seemed like Malika had been her all along?
"Husband, what shouldn't she tell me?" Malika asked and Jer wished the earth could swallow him at that moment.
He wanted to disappear and never reappear before her. He wants to make a run for it but where would he go when it was getting clearer that his Malika was also a target for his enemies?
Would it make his life any better knowing his love was to back suffering because of him again? This was what pain and defeat looked like and Jeremiah was the perfect example of just that.
"Baby... I... I thought you were sleeping?" Jer asked sheepishly as he finally got up even though his body hurt like a bitch. He couldn't take this anymore. However, he didn't have any options lying around for him to consider.
"What is she doing here?" Malika asked again as she looked at Mbali, the woman who had ripped out a part of her that she would never be able to get back. Oh, how she wanted to lunge at Mbali right now.
"I just found her and she began throwing me around," Jer said weakly and Malika held back the urge to snort. She would have never thought that Jeremiah would be accepting defeat like this.
"Malika Warner... Nice to finally meet you," the warlock greeted and Malika stood there dumbfounded. If she wasn't acting as meek Malika and hiding everything about her, she could have struck this woman down.
This was betrayal worse than what anyone could think of.
The fact that this woman was demanding for the death of Rukiya Gregson was absurd in all ways. Unless she wanted Jer to go after Rukiya so Hawi would defend her, then she could do something to Hawi?
What was with everyone trying to kill Hawi? Was she too powerful to trigger this many enemies by just being born? Jer's existence itself seemed to be a problem to many in the realm and Malika couldn't understand just why people were so pressed.
"You—" Malika began and Russel looked at her as if to ask if they knew each other. It was almost like she was dating Malika to say something, anything that could let the woman know that she knew her.
It was now what they are used to and honestly, it was upsetting on so many levels. Malika could feel protector rage showing up and she had to fight everything in her not to lash out at this woman.
It wasn't going to be fright, not to mention if she lashed out at the woman, then she would have failed her mission, which was something that Hawi wouldn't accept and would be a long session for her in the protector council.
Even then, she wanted to wring this woman's neck and fold her up like a ck of clothes only to burn her up. Oh, how Malika was disappointed and angry. Was betrayal really something that people took pride in this much?
"I see your wife is in shock Jer. What happened to her this time and why did you call for me? I was in a council meeting," Russel said and Jer sighed before he looked at his tired wife.
He just wanted her to get some rest and he enjoyed sleeping it off. The news about her family was too much for her and him and honestly, he couldn't imagine what she was falling through. He couldn't even begin to imagine, seeing as they were at war.
"Do it. Let her sleep until the war ends. I can explain everything to her later. I just can't handle seeing her hurt again. Please, Russel," Jer said and Malika looked at the two of them incredulously.
Of course, that was an advantage for Malika seeing as she would be out of her body and rip through the Sicario warriors feely, but she wanted to know more.
"Wh— Luna Razia," Malika pleaded and Russel, or rather, Luna Razia cast a sleeping spell on her.