Word Count: 2541

Kailor's manor is far more magnificent than what my imagination could ever muster.

It's similar to Tai's in design, although older and more classic, evocative of gothic mansions you would sooner see in the dark depths of the Scarlet Province. The entire building is shadowed by the trees that circle the area, the minimal amount of sun shining over glinting off the sweeping windows and grand archways.

"At any point you want, we leave," Tai tells me firmly, gripping my hand. I swallow uncomfortably, nodding. Tai is the one who should be worrying, since this moment means re-establishing a very broken relationship with his father.

At least this will take my mind off last night.

Tai and I didn't mention what happened for the rest of the journey here. We kissed, the feeling still lingering on my lips, reminding me of what I started. I want to be embarrassed, but I'm not. I wanted to kiss Tai, and for whatever reason, I don't regret it.

"I will be okay, don't worry about me," I say absently, brushing my slightly greasy locks from my hair. I feel like I haven't washed it in properly in days. I'm hardly in any state to approach Kailor, but at this point, I couldn't care less what he thinks of me.

Tai's jaw seems permanently clenched as we approach the front door, the intimidating height of it looming over me, shadowing me. The rest of the exterior is just as beautiful, in a strange, ethereal way. The columns that line the front are carved out symmetrically, vines creeping up them like dark tendrils.

I watch Tai hesitate before knocking twice on the door.

A young man answers the door, taking one glance at Tai before motioning us inside. The inside of the home is as magnificent as the outside. We are inside a long, wide hallway, tall windows allowing beams of light to gleam across the marble flooring. Our footsteps echo off the vaulted ceiling that's carved and painted skilfully.

From down the hallway, Kailor approaches, adorned in a dark green jacket, dark brunette curls slicked back against his head. Immediately his rich ebony gaze falls upon Tai, examining him intently before they sweep to me.

There's a formidable darkness that graces his eyes at the sight of me.

"Father," Tai greets flatly.

"You're alive," Kailor notes, somewhat grimly. "I thought Vaia got to you first."

"We managed to escape," Tai says curtly, clasping his hands behind his back. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the way his hands quiver slightly, still intimidated by his father. "I will explain all later. For now Akara needs rest. You and I can talk."

Kailor looks at me with a raised brow. Only a glance from him alone is enough to have fear and disgust dancing together in my stomach. For however long, I'm going to be under his roof, at his mercy. But right now, we don't have the luxury of being picky.

"Of course," Kailor murmurs, gaze shifting to the boy who let us in. "Show her to a guest suite."

Tai nods tightly at me, letting me know I can trust this.

With a sigh, I follow the boy down the hallway and up a flight of stairs, trying to make note of where the front door is. The last thing I need is to get lost in this place, especially with Kailor walking around. My mind wanders back to what he had once offered me...A night in his bedroom, accusing me of being a mistress to Tai and nothing more.

Ignoring the twist in my stomach, I follow behind the boy, silently admiring the work's of art hung on the wall. Instead of being infamous ancestors, they are portraits of landscapes, of vases of flowers of flowing rivers.

Where I a stranger, I would have no idea Kailor even had a family.

The sound of footsteps on carpeted floor in front of us causes me to look up, seeing who approaches. He pays the boy no mind, however when his gaze touches mine, he stumbles to a stop.

"Zavian...You're here," I exclaim.

He hasn't changed much from when I last saw him for Tai's ball. So much has happened since then, and seeing him is like a breath of fresh air, like witnessing a moment in my life where times were at least slightly easier. His eyes are such a dark blue, like the Golden Province ocean, hair ebony black, matching the shadows that haunt beneath his eyes.

"I came here after everything went down," he says, disregarding the boy, a single wave from Zavian sending him walking back the way we came. "What are you doing here?"

"Vaia tried to kill both me and Tai. We are going to stay here until we figure out a way to get her out of Tai's estate," I tell him.

The tension from Zavian's shoulders vanishes as he exhales slowly. He's been worrying about Tai, I realise, as one of his closest friends. As I look the man over, I realise he seems leaner than I remember, cheekbones and jawline more pronounced. Is he sick? His skin isn't sallow and his eyes are still vibrant, yet the thought plagues my mind.

"I still don't understand why she is doing this," Zavian mutters, running a hand through his hair. His fingers are littering with rings, all black.

"She wanted Tai's power, or hated him for it," I tell him with a shrug. "I got in the way I guess."

His eyes squint slightly, and I realise no one else knows that Vaia stabbed me.

"You will be safe here. Kailor has been more than hospitable," Zavian tells me smoothly, deciding not to question my words. "For once he has someone else to redirect his disappointment to."

"What happened to Arnix?" I question, remembering the charismatic friend who I didn't quite like.

I remember the words Zavian said to me on the night of the ball. Taius is a lucky man. I wonder if he meant is how it sounds, that he truly did find me beautiful that night. Zavian is not an unattractive man, no matter how hard this experience has hit him.

"Disappeared after it happened," Zavian says with a shrug, although his voice is tight. "I'm worried the man is dead, although I silently hope he returned to his home in the Golden Province. We are all threatened by Vaia."

I don't let myself forget that Vaia had relations with Arnix at one point.

"Does Kailor like you?"

"Not since him and my father had a falling out," he admits. "He was one of Kailor's Nobles. Once he lost his wife he got rid of all his male Nobles and replaced them with females. My father was sent back to the Scarlet Province, but I still have business here. Thankfully Kailor doesn't notice me so much."

"Being quiet works in your favour then?" I say softly.

That was what fascinated me so much about Zavian in the beginning when meeting him. He didn't have much to say, which only drew me in more, wanting to know how he gets along with Tai, who is more confronting with his emotions. Zavian almost reminds me of Marek in that way. Marek spoke rarely, and only to me.

"Absolutely," he says, a smile playing at his lips.

He motions for me to follow him down the hallway, making me realise he wants to lead me to my room. We only walk a few more steps before he opens a door, letting it swing open to reveal a bedroom inside.

"This must be your room then," he says simply.

Before I walk inside, I stop, leaning against the doorway as I look back at him. His hands glide into his pockets as he looks over me also. I wonder if he sees how much I have changed, how I have to make do with what Tai and I had. My hair is lighter in colour now from the Golden Province sun, although the rest of me lacks any vibrancy.

This has been a hard few months.

"It will be nice to have a familiar face here," I tell him, hoping him and Tai will be able to rekindle their friendship. Zavian would be good for Tai...A calm, kind presence.

"Feel free to find me if you need a talk," Zavian offers, his voice soft and tentative. "Tai can be...suffocating at the best of times."

I don't bother telling him how much Tai has changed since he last spoke to him. Tai is more careful, more articulate. He reads people better, understands sadness, grief and fear. Instead of being an ignorant King, he is gentle and kind. It took me long enough to realise that.

"Thank you, Zavian," I say, before closing the door.

With a wary body, I walk into the bathroom, examining my new surroundings. This is the neatest, most well-furnished room I have been in for quite some time. I forgot what wealth looked like, with it drenching this room. The colour palette of beige and white is calming, as I turn the bathroom light on, grateful to see the bath I so desperately want to glide into.

After my bath, I dress in clothing left on my bed, likely by the maids that are scattered about. The clothing is warm and fits perfectly, hugging my body with luxury I haven't experienced in months.

Just as I'm preparing for bed, unsure of whether I want to risk going downstairs, a knock sounds at my door.

Opening it slightly, I see Tai standing in the hallway. He's dressed in the same clothing as we came here in, still unkempt. Opening my door, I beckon him in, not worried of whether anyone is witnessing it or not. Nowadays, such a trivial matter doesn't bother either of us.

"How are you feeling?" Tai ask lightly.

The moment Tai's gaze sweeps over me, I note the slight release of tension from his shoulders, seeing I'm clean and dressed well. It's been awhile since he's seen me this way, and I can see how relieved he is to witness it.

"Tired," I admit, sitting on the edge of the bed. "But I'm content, strangely. I'm just glad to be somewhere safe."

"I spoke to my father, and he's aware of everything, from our faux engagement to Vaia's intentions. He's disappointed I let her gain so much power behind my back, but surprisingly, he's glad we are here," Tai explains. For once, he doesn't sound wary of his father's intentions, which is a relief.

Maybe we really are safe here.

"At least here Marek can't get to me," I breathe, glancing toward the balcony doors, I gaze across the top of the Jade Province forest. Here, I'm closer to Marek, yet so far away.

Tai stands in front of me, raking his hands through his hair.

"I hope not," he mutters, a darkness playing in his eyes, daring to encompass them. "Although I wouldn't be surprised..."

I shake my head, closing my eyes for a moment. Knowing that Marek can't haunt me here should be comforting, yet I feel somewhat hollow. Part of me doesn't believe it's this easy to escape him, that he's the most adept Hunter around, meaning if he wanted to get to me, he could...

"Don't say that...I won't be able to stop thinking about it otherwise," I tell him firmly, knowing I likely won't be able to anyway. "Also, we should talk about what happened."

Tai exhales slowly, inclining his head slightly. I watch him careful as he gets to his knees, movements smooth and graceful. Seeing Tai on his knees before me isn't a sight I'll ever get used to, my mouth drying in response.

"You kissed me," he murmurs.

His gaze is unflinching as he rests his hands on my lower thighs, touch burning my skin. As much as I don't want to confront this I have to. I don't regret kissing Tai, feeling his lips on mine, body pressed against me. He had stopped it, when I would have allowed it to continue.

I flush, ashamed of how brazen I was in that moment. "I was over-emotional, clearly."

"So you didn't want to?" Tai asks, tilting his head slightly.

Why does he have to be confronting with his emotions? He won't allow me to slip by without pouring my heart out to him first. Part of me loves that about him, yet the other wants to escape his fixed, intense gaze and firm hands holding my thighs tightly.

"I'm not saying that. I'm simply saying I wasn't thinking straight, and I let my emotions get the best of me," I say breathlessly.

"You don't have to explain yourself," he tells me calmly, although there's a hint of tightness to his voice, a sense of sadness. He knows that I acted out of impulse. "It doesn't have to mean anything unless you want it to."

I inhale, blinking to break the intensity of his gaze.

I want it to mean something, yet how do I tell him that? How do I tell him that I'm ready to delve into this with him, regardless of all this, or Marek. Yet the words fail me, unable to make sense in my mind. I desire Tai...I want the comfort of the love I know he has for me, and I want to reciprocate it.

I want it now, yet I can't say it. With the way Tai looks at me, he knows I want him, and he isn't going to stop pursuing me until I am his.

"Thank you," is all I respond with, knowing this isn't over. "So now what? What happens from here?"

"We wait, gain strength and then plan a way to get Vaia out of my territory. It won't be easy, but I imagine we will manage," he explains.

I'm not sure if all those words are sinking in, as his fingertips tighten their grip on my thighs, all thoughts vanishing from my mind as I concentrate on his touch, the way my blood lights up in response.

"If Marek is caught, what will happen to him?" I ask, voice shuddering slightly.

"Whatever it takes to ensure this never happens again," Tai says firmly, uncompromising fire rearing up in his eyes. "All those who crossed me will be dealt with."

And I believe him. Because if there is anyone Tai plans to destroy in this world, it's Marek. And I imagine it's the same way around.

🤎••🤎

If you guys want to read ahead, you can read more of KING'S SEDUCTION on Radish! It's chapters ahead of Wattpad (:

You'll will find it under KING'S POSSESSION on Radish, as season 2!

🍩••🍩

I'm officially rewriting Alpha Jasper's story now on Radish! It will be following the same storyline with the same characters, but with revised scenes and some new ones!

I love Jasper's story so much that I wanted to go back and rewrite it. I hope you guys will enjoy it, you can find it now on Radish (:

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~Midika 💜🐼