He hadn't expected to come across them so soon.
'He's not one of them… yet.'
From what he'd gathered from Legan, Malakai had pieced the story together.
Legan had lost his mother years ago. In his quest to find the truth, he created the Red Maw, an information den built to gain the Maugrim's attention.
While they were known for espionage and assassination, information was also one of the Maugrim's core pillars.
'Would they know about mine too?'
Malakai had asked himself that the instant Legan mentioned them. If their network was that vast, then was there a chance they knew who orchestrated the murder of his parents?
'Can I keep waiting on the Sovereign?'
Malakai remembered that night. The night he lost everything. And the words the Sovereign had told him afterward.
"Grow strong enough, and I'll tell you who took everything from you."
That promise had been the reason Malakai trained. The reason he pushed himself so far. To find out who was behind the destruction of his life.
'Does he really know?'
He couldn't help but question it now. If the Sovereign truly knew, then why hadn't he acted?
Malakai's father had been the most talented in the clan. And yet, after his death, there hadn't even been an investigation. That had always felt off.
'I have to take matters into my own hands.'
He'd thought about it for a while now, but waiting on the Sovereign was starting to feel foolish.
For all he knew, the man only said that to stop a grieving seven-year-old from killing himself. Or maybe it was because letting a direct descendant die by suicide would've brought shame to the clan.
'I need to find a way to make contact with them,' Malakai thought. 'But I won't stop here in case it's a dead end.'
He would keep pursuing both paths, one with the Sovereign, and the other with the Maugrim.
As he reached that conclusion, his thoughts drifted back to Legan.
He had targeted him because of the Red Maw. In this new place, he needed information more than anything.
His goal had been to put Legan under him, to gain lifetime access to all the information he had and would gather. But now, he had shifted his attention elsewhere. He had to.
'I'll use him to contact the Maugrim.'
It went without saying that his relationship with the Maugrim was terrible. But right now, Malakai felt like it was something that had to be done.
He had fed Legan the parasite, and without his blood, the man was sure to die. Only a Sanguine Bloom could hope to remove the parasite, and they would need a lot of Malakai's blood to even try.
'He won't tell anyone.'
He had already instructed Legan to carry on his business like everything was normal. But he was to inform him immediately anytime something important happened.
Malakai wasn't worried about Legan exposing him. From all their interactions, he had gleaned something else, Legan was far too weak for his age, and in a powerful clan like the Sutrex, that would undoubtedly be frowned upon.
He was hated by his family, and the feeling was mutual. The Red Maw was kept secret from them, and the last thing Legan wanted was for anyone in his clan to find out about it.
And without their help, removing the parasite was next to impossible, unless Malakai allowed it.
But there was no way he was going to do that. Not when Legan was still very much useful.
Malakai slowed his pace as he stepped out of a thick foliage of trees. His gaze instantly landed on the large house ahead, worn and battered like it had survived multiple wars.
'Of course he's waiting.'
Malakai's lips almost curled into a smile when he saw the chubby cheeked boy sitting on the stairs of the base, Renlo.
"Do you even realize what time it is?" Malakai asked as he approached.
"Huh?" Renlo's eyes darted toward him, and the moment he saw him, his face lit up. He quickly stood and rushed over, clearly relieved.
"Finally! You're back. Are you okay?"
Malakai gave a small nod. "I am."
"Phew." Renlo exhaled, genuinely relieved.
"What took you so long? It's already past midnight…"
'I lost track of time,' Malakai realized. They had left the base a little past eight, and more than five hours had already passed.
"Oh, alright. What about the Captain?" Renlo glanced behind Malakai but saw no one.
"He…" Malakai paused, thinking. "He stayed behind. Had something to take care of."
Renlo nodded, and the two of them began walking toward the manor.
"You must be exhausted, and hungry. Oh, that's right!" Renlo suddenly remembered something, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"I checked out their kitchen… it's worse than my tree house! I can't make food there."
Malakai paused, and his eyes widened. That was bad. Really bad. He wouldn't be able to eat Renlo's food anymore?
He shook his head quickly and turned to him.
"Don't worry. The plan went well. I'll make sure construction starts tomorrow, especially the kitchen."
Renlo beamed, his smile stretching wide as his stomach gave a loud growl. He loved everything he just heard and couldn't wait.
As they entered the building, Renlo informed Malakai that the others had already gone to bed, and he led him toward his room.
The building was three stories tall, and Malakai's room was on the top floor, same as Rhett's. Only the two of them occupied the entire floor.
Climbing the stairs, they veered right and came to a stop in front of a wooden door.
But their eyes weren't on the door, they were on the figure standing in front of it.
"What are you doing here?" Malakai asked.
Kiana flinched, bowing her head deeper to steady her trembling body.
"I-I w-was waiting for the N-ninth Vein. T-to see if you had anything you needed me to do…"
Malakai stared at her for a few seconds before replying. "Not tonight. You can go to sleep."
She bowed even lower before walking away.
Renlo watched her retreating figure with a small frown.
"Poor girl," he muttered.
Malakai gave him a look.
"Looks like you have a crush on her."