“No, Malik. I will sleep in my office tonight, because if it were not for this set up I would be lying with you.” Altaïr's expression flashed with a sudden heat and Malik swallowed thickly and drily. He nodded afterwards, mutely and not without irritation. It had surely been a week since he had last indulged and been indulged by Altaïr's presence at his side, and he strongly wished almost now more than ever that he had never touched that damned artefact in Altaïr's office.

“I will bring you breakfast in the morning and we can talk then. Remember that you can always ring for Maria should you need anything. I only hope that Yusef sleeps peacefully tonight.” With a tired smile, constrained lust now visible beneath it to Malik's trained eye, Altaïr excused himself, muttering a few words to Maria before leaving her as well. Malik extinguished the flame of his candle with a snuffer and hunkered down to sleep.