The new mates sat awkwardly in the Witch Doctors office. The orange haired man left to quickly grab files for Malakai.

Kai glanced over when he heard Valencia inhale as if she wanted to say something. His woman was sat as far away from him as possible and now hesitating to talk to him.

"You're scared of me."

Malakai stated more than asked as his ruby reds met her dark burgundies. Valencia shut her mouth tightly and looked down immediately.

"I'm not scared of you hurting me physically," Val set her chin on her hand as she looked anywhere other than him.

"I would never hurt you in any way," he spoke defensively.

Valencia scoffed, "Malakai you don't want me. Look me in my eyes and tell me you want to be with me."

Kai once again met her gaze and opened his mouth. He fully planned on saying he wanted to be with her, just not right now. And with that thought he froze.

His demon was clawing his insides apart, wanting to claim her now so she got the message.

Kai glanced away before he could see the tears well up in Val's eyes. She pressed her hands to her cheeks tightly to compose herself quietly.

"Why is this Victor guy so important?" she whispered hoarsely.

He grunted, "He tried to kill me and my family, still is. His father killed my brother-in-laws parents, he's still out there and someone needs to get this bastard."

Valencia blinked as he explained himself casually.

"I'll uhm- I'll help you with whatever you need," Valencia fiddled with her fingers as her mate looked over surprised.

"Even if you're willing to let me go, I'm going to try for the both of us to make it work."

Malakai was about to respond before Doc strolled through.

"Victor has a partner in crime," the odd man smiled sinisterly.

"Who is he?"

"Well the partner is not confirmed, all I have is a hooded figure leading Mister Victor around like a lost puppy."

"Sounds like him," Kai huffed.

Val leaned forward, "Pictures?"

Doc handed her a file and the men watched as she flipped through blurry, hard to read photos.

"These are very telling," the nymph sighed sarcastically.

Her mate sighed loudly, rubbing his hands over his stubbly face. "I'm going to get a fucking drink, keep your god damn hands to yourself." Kai pointed at Doc who grunted at him.

"When I get back I'm going over every inch of those files myself."

Once Malakai had left Valencia's tense body sagged with relief.

"Phew, he is a hot tamale huh? I can practically feel the tension crackling between you two," Doc smiled and clapped like a school girl.

"Shut the hell up Doc."
•
Malakai walked through the dingy halls. His nose following the scent of alcohol to find his one comfort at the moment.

He sneered at the strangers muddling his senses. He'd managed to snag a can of beer off someone and swiftly chugged the bitter contents.

One beer turned into three and three turned into nine as he began to faintly feel the buzz.

Through his binge drinking, he caught the eyes of a group of men. In the small lounge room, if you could call it that, three guys huddled and spoke quietly while staring at Malakai.

Kai's red eyes looked at the men, at the wall, and back at the men, as if to make sure they were staring at him.

"Problem boys?" The Hound stated loudly.

"You look awful familiar man," A scruffy looking blonde stepped forward. He leaned closer as if to examine Kai's features more.

"What? Are you hitting on me or something?" Malakai murmured with a smirk.

The group of three pale guy approached him angrily.

"Nah you're just the filthy Hound on everybody with eyes' hitlist. You got a big ass bounty over the big ass head of yours." The taller one held up a pair of cuffs.

"Morons," Kai sighed to himself before they grabbed and threw him across the room.

Malakai coughed loudly as they brought out enchanted weapons that may actually be a problem for him.

Kai was slow to get up from the pile of drywall around his body. He curled his fist loosely and brought it to his mouth as he continued to cough.

Thinking Kai was down the boys approached hesitantly.

Malakai grinned and with his hand curled into a tight circle he inhaled deeply. With a boisterous roar, fire spouted from his mouth.

The untamable flames spewed endlessly from the Hounds mouth, burning everything in the room to ashes.

Malakai laughed abruptly once he was done. He loved that trick.

At the creaking of wood he glanced up in annoyance- okay maybe the trick was better outside.

He sprung up and dodged pieces of the burning building. An elf screamed and lurched to attack him, in too much of a hurry Kai didn't waste time.

Using his current speed and a molten fist he let out of breath as his hand went straight through the mans chest.

The elf let out a choked sound, gripping his killers bicep. Kai shook his body off and shook off the blood in disgust.

He continued the sprint and found Valencia and Doc just exiting his office.

"Where's my files?!" Malakai barked as he didn't slow down. Without stopping he ducked and tossed Valencia over his shoulder, Doc following his ass out of the building.

"I've got them with me. I'm assuming this mess has you're signature all over it?" Doc watched his building burn down around him.

As the two spoke Valencia was screaming at her mate and trying to pat out the smoke coming from her hair.

"You should be more aware of whos in your building." Kai huffed as he kicked an exit door open, the three made it out just in time for the building to completely collapse. Screaming from inside rang out through the streets.

"Hey if they pay I don't ask questions."

Valencia went silent as she blinked slowly. Malakai's hand was tightly wrapped around her hips that rested on his broad shoulder.

A phone call startled all of them.

Malakai dug through his pocket with his free hand and gripped his burner cell.

"What?"

"Am I staring at a burning building in the middle of Endorphin through security cameras right now?" Elio's voice asked calmly.

"Buildings burn down all the time."

"Am I zooming in on you standing on the corner of Alexander and Winfrey with a chick over your shoulder and an orange haired man right now?"

"Could be anybody."

"Hm, white haired black man sound common to you?"

"Elio-"

"If you're in trouble you need to tell me. Now. If you have this lead taking you into trouble I need to send you backup."

Elio's tone was stern and Malakai growled in annoyance. He hadn't noticed his hands begin to heat up with his anger.

"I'll tell you when I'm ready for fucking back up-" Malakai cut himself off. "Was that Nadia I heard?"

Kai knew damn well it was too late to have anyone near you and it be completely innocent.

"No," Elio grunted and Kai rolled his eyes at his guilty tone.

"It's a long story I'll explain later. Shits been going down, are you sure you're safe? Everyone at home is worried."

"Would you stop fucking worrying?!" Malakai shouted. "I've got it covered."

"And the chick currently beating on your back? You got that covered?"

Malakai was brought back to real world and reminded of Valencia pounding on his back until she reached and gripped his white hair, tugging sharply and craning his neck back.

Malakai groaned out, sending a glare to the security camera before ending the call.

Just now did he realize the scorch marks on his cell phone and quickly glanced at his mates skin.

He frantically searched for any marks or burns on her but only found that he'd singed through her clothes. Her skin was unaffected by his heat.

"Mal- Malakai cops!" Valencia cried out, her voice hoarse from her yelling at Doc and Malakai. Both failing to take action.

Doc sent his friend a smile, before waving, "toodles! Call me when you find a lead Vally!"

Malakai watched the man teleport and snarled. He took off, using his supernatural speed to reach Valencia's car.

The woman came off of his body in stride and roared her engine to life.

"We have a lot to talk about you ass," she snarled as they peeled out of the parking lot.