“Maybe we can teach each other a few things, then.”

Their shadows twined together, a dark, shifting mass, and Malekith’s smile was a promise.

Malekith guided Aric through the more advanced techniques of shadow-weaving, showing him how to create illusions, manipulate the shadows of others, and even transport himself short distances through the umbral pathways he crafted. The power was heady and intoxicating, but Malekith was always there, a steady hand at Aric’s back, guiding him, grounding him. And when Aric grew frustrated, when the power slipped out of his control, Malekith would draw him into his embrace, his warmth a balm against Aric’s cold, and whisper words of reassurance and praise until Aric’s heartbeat slowed, and the shadows around them dissipated.

But there were darker spells, too, that Malekith showed him, ones that made Aric’s skin prickle and his instincts scream at him to run. Spells that harnessed the void, spells from the demonic realm, and twisted it to Malekith’s will. Aric watched, both horrified and fascinated, as Malekith summoned shadowy claws that tore through stone, and a miasma that ate away at the very air. Malekith’s eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he demonstrated the spells, but there was a weariness in his movements, a strain that Aric couldn’t ignore.

“You must always be in control of the power,” Malekith said. “Never let it control you. It is a treacherous tune we follow, dancing on the edge of the void. But with the right guidance, the right discipline, you can harness that power, shape it to your will.”

And Aric tried, he really did. He wanted to make Malekith proud, to show him that he was worthy of the trust and the secrets that Malekith had shared with him. But the darkness was a slippery thing, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t quite get a grip on it. It eluded him, taunting him with its potential, and Aric felt a surge of frustration that he couldn’t name.

“Aric,” Malekith said, and his hand was on Aric’s arm, a grounding weight. “You’re letting your emotions get the better of you. You must be calm, centered. The void will reflect whatever you bring to it. If you let it consume you, then that is what it will do.”

Aric was finding it hard to breathe, the weight of his own doubts pressing down on him. “I’m trying,” he said, and he hated the way his voice wavered, the way he sounded like a frightened boy.

“You don’t have to be perfect,” Malekith said, and there was a tenderness in his voice that made Aric’s throat ache. “I know this is all new to you, but you’re doing so well. You have a natural talent for it, a way of weaving magic that I’ve never seen before. But you must trust in yourself. In the power that lies within you.”

Aric closed his eyes, and let out a slow, shuddering breath. Malekith was right. He had to believe that he could do this, that he could control the darkness. For Malekith. For the both of them.

“Then show me,” Malekith said, a challenge in his voice. “Show me that you can control the darkness, that you can bend it to your will.”

Aric nodded, his jaw set, and closed his eyes. He drew on his magic, the golden fire that burned within him, and let it flow out, a river of light in the darkness. With a soft murmur of power, he shaped the shadows, coaxing them to his side. The darkness resonated with the power of his fire, a strange harmony that sent a shiver down his spine.

“Yes,” Malekith said. “Let them dance together, the flames and the shadows. Let them weave a new kind of magic.”

Aric’s breath stuttered, the power of it all threatening to overwhelm him. But he focused on the spell, on the way the shadows obeyed his command, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent them lashing out toward a row of stone pillars. The stone crumbled under the force of the blow, and Aric jolted with a triumphant cry.

“Excellent,” Malekith said, and when Aric opened his eyes, there was a fierce pride in the demon’s gaze. “You are a natural, my love.”

As night fell, they retired to the great bedroom of the villa, the opulent surroundings a stark contrast to the tension that still lingered between them. Malekith had offered to let Aric take the grand bed, but Aric had refused, and so they both lay on a thick carpet of furs and brocaded pillows, the scent of incense and Malekith’s dark, smoky perfume hanging in the air.

“I’m sorry,” Aric said, after a long silence, his voice barely more than a whisper in the dimness. “I know I disappointed you, with my lack of control.”

Malekith turned to look at him, his eyes gleaming in the candlelight. “You have nothing to apologize for. I know this is all new to you, and the power of the void can be . . . intoxicating. But you must remember what I said. You are in control of the shadows. They are not in control of you.”

Aric nodded, but he couldn’t shake the unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach. “And the other spells you showed me. They were . . .”

“Disturbing,” Malekith said, with a sigh. “I know. But you must understand, the void is not inherently evil. It is a source of power, like any other, and it can be used for good as well as ill. It is all in how you wield it.”

“I want to believe that,” Aric said. “But I also saw the strain it put on you. The way it twisted your magic, and the toll it took on your body. Is it worth it, to risk so much for that kind of power?”

Malekith tucked a lock of hair behind Aric’s ear. “I would be a hypocrite to claim that the lure of the void has never tempted me. But you are right. The cost is too high. For me, and for those around me. I would not see you fall into the same trap, my love.”

Aric covered Malekith’s hand with his own, the touch a soothing balm. “Then what is the point of it all? Why risk so much, for something that you yourself do not fully trust?”

“Mm. I have spent my life fighting a war that I no longer believe in. But it is all I have ever known. To turn my back on the path that has brought me to this point . . . it is a terrifying prospect. And yet, when I am with you, I can see another way. A future that does not have to be defined by bloodshed and betrayal. I only wish I had the courage to reach for it.”

“It is a hard thing, to turn from the path that has defined you,” Aric said, his voice gentle. “But you do not have to face it alone. I will stand by your side, no matter where this journey takes us.”

Malekith’s gaze softened, and he brought Aric’s hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. “You have already given me more than I ever dared to hope for. To have your trust, your compassion . . . it is a gift beyond measure.”

Aric’s heart swelled, and he shifted closer to Malekith, their bodies fitting together in the darkness. “It is not a gift. It is what you deserve.” He hesitated, his words fragile in the stillness of the night. “I care for you, Malekith. More than I ever thought possible.”

Malekith’s arms came around him, drawing him into a warm embrace. “And I for you, my love.” He kissed the top of Aric’s head. “More than words can ever say.”

Aric closed his eyes, letting himself be enveloped by Malekith’s scent, his warmth. In this moment, there was only the two of them, alone in the darkness, and Aric felt a sense of peace that he never wanted to let go of. He wanted to stay like this forever, wrapped in Malekith’s arms, his heart entwined with the demon’s.

“Malekith,” he said, his voice muffled against the soft fabric of Malekith’s tunic. “I . . . I want to know everything about you. Your past, your present . . . your hopes for the future. I want to understand the man you are, the man you wish to be.”

Malekith was silent for a long time, and Aric thought he might have overstepped. But then the demon’s fingers were carding through his hair, a soothing caress.

“I would like that, my love. But there are . . . things you must understand. Secrets that I have kept, for both our sakes.”

Aric nodded, his heart aching with the desire to know Malekith completely. “I trust you. And I will keep your secrets, as you have kept mine.”

Malekith’s arms tightened around him, lips pressing against his hair.

“You already know more of my past than most. But there is one thing I have not yet explained. The mark that I left on you, the sigil that bound us together.” Malekith’s voice was a low murmur, a vibration that sank deep into Aric’s bones. “It is a . . . magical link, of sorts. It allows me to . . . to send messages to you, to appear in your dreams and share my thoughts with you. But be warned, my love. It is a two-way bond, and if you are not careful, your own thoughts and dreams may be laid bare to me as well.”

Aric shivered, the implications of that sinking in. “I had no idea.”

“I did not tell you at first, for fear that you might reject it. But it is a part of the bond between us, and you deserve to know all that it entails.”

“I . . . I don’t mind. The thought of you with me, even in my dreams . . . it is a comfort, not a burden.”

“Good. But know that you cannot respond to me, not without risking interception. It is a safeguard, to prevent any from exploiting it against us.”

“Understood.” Aric laced his fingers through Malekith’s, holding on tight. “I don’t need to respond. I only need to know that you’re there.”

A soft, pleased sound rumbled in Malekith’s chest, and he drew Aric up to meet his lips. Their kiss was a slow, sweet exploration, the taste of it a balm to Aric’s fears. Malekith’s mouth was soft and warm, and he kissed Aric like he was something precious, something to be savored. Aric’s heart swelled at the thought, and he clung to Malekith, losing himself in the demon’s embrace.

Malekith’s hands were gentle as they roamed over Aric’s body, the touch of them leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Aric shivered, his skin prickling with a mix of nerves and anticipation. He had never felt so exposed, so raw and vulnerable. But with Malekith, it was a different kind of vulnerability, a sense of being cared for, cherished even in his most fragile moments. He trusted Malekith with every fiber of his being, and he knew that the demon would never hurt him, never take more than Aric was willing to give.

And yet, the intensity of his feelings for Malekith still frightened him. It was a kind of longing that went bone-deep, a sense of completion that he had never known he was missing. He wanted to lose himself in Malekith, in his darkness and his light, to be consumed by the fire of the demon’s passion. But he was afraid of what he might find in that darkness, of what he might lose of himself in the process.

But Malekith had promised to stand by his side, and Aric believed in that promise with all his heart. He was willing to take the risk, to step into the unknown, if it meant he could be with Malekith, even for a little while.

Aric stood before Malekith, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never been so open, so exposed, but there was no one in all the realms he would trust to be so vulnerable with. The demon’s eyes burned with desire as he looked at Aric, and a shiver of anticipation ran through him.

“I want you to know, Malekith,” Aric said, his voice steady and sure, “that I trust you. I want you to take care of me, to be rough with me if that’s what you need.”

Malekith’s eyes darkened with pleasure, and he smiled, a slow, wicked smile that made Aric’s blood race. “I will take proper care of you, my love,” he purred, his voice low and seductive. “You have my word.”

With swift, efficient movements, Malekith stripped Aric naked, leaving him vulnerable and exposed. Aric shivered, both from the cool air and the heat in Malekith’s gaze. The demon took Aric’s tunic and bound his wrists together with it, securing them tightly behind his back.

Aric’s breath came fast as Malekith bent him over a bench, his bare skin pressed against the smooth wood. He could feel the cool air on his exposed backside, and he shivered again, anticipation coursing through him.