Word Count: 1789

~Akara

Surprisingly, Tyrien stood and listened to me explain the entire situation, not interrupting once.

With the last words of my recount passing my lips, I settle back into myself. I've done everything but go back and get Tai myself, and if this doesn't work, then I'm going to be left with only one choice. Even so, I'm just grateful Tyrien is willing to even hear me blurt out my struggles, essentially on the verge of tears at this point.

"I wish there was something I could do to help you, Akara," Tyrien responds carefully. I know he means it, that he can't just go marching into territories, resolving conflicts on behalf of people. It would create all kinds of rifts, and he has made it very clear he doesn't want to be the kind of King who controls everyone, and everything in this Kingdom.

Even if he very much so has the right, and power to do so.

"I know...the rules an all," I sigh, feeling the crushing weight of reality pressing down on my shoulders. I'm going to have to go back for Tai.

"By the sounds of it, you really love this King," Tyrien notes, steely grey eyes kind and curious.

I glance at Marek, but he looks away. "I care about his safety more than anything right now."

"We can sort you transport back to the Jade Province, but honestly that's the best I can do," Tyrien exclaims. On the other side of the room, Varian stands, listening intently to our conversation. It's as if he's about to step in at any moment Tyrien agrees to help us and deny his King of that.

"Thank you anyway, Tyrien," I say honestly. Would Tai have been so gracious and helpful when we first met him? He seemed to be under a lot of pressure from his father, but does that really excuse how he acted in the very beginning when we met him?

"We return in a few days," Marek explains, glancing at me. Mercifully, he doesn't seem affected by my earlier comment. "What's your plan to get in there?"

"I offer myself up in exchange for him," I say with a shrug.

Everyone, including the stoic Varian look surprised by my admission. It feels obvious, to offer myself up for Tai, or to at least try and go back to get him. He would do the exact same thing for me, and even though I'm terrified of the idea of having to go near Vaia again, after she made it obvious she had every intention of killing me.

"Nope," Marek shakes his head, narrowing his eyes on me. "Even if I allowed it, there isn't a single soul she would rather have in her possession then Tai, and she will do everything in her power to make sure he doesn't get away."

I hate that he's right. "Damn...We get weapons and threaten to kill her?"

"Sure. Would you be willing to kill her if it came down to it?" Tyrien asks. I know that he doesn't know me, but for Tai, there a lot of things I would be willing to do in order to save him. After everything Vaia has done, I might even take some pleasure out of ending her life.

"If it meant saving Tai, then yes," I reply simply.

The bigger, more important question is whether Marek would be willing to kill Vaia if it came down to it. It's not that he would have an issue with killing, but could I rely on him to not turn his back on me when I need him? My trust in him is still weak, even after everything he has done. This could still be a part of the plan.
'
"I can use my powers to change your appearance, make you look like someone else," Marek offers.

I smile. "Perfect."

"To do it I'll have to be elsewhere, so I can channel the power," he explains. That means going in alone, and if Vaia is accustomed to Marek's powers, there is a good chance she will see right through the disguise and kill me.

"You can't be in there with me?" I ask anxiously.

"Not without risking the façade," he explains. There's a look in his cloudy blue eyes suggest that he is doubtful of letting me go in, but after everything, he isn't going to tell me not to do. I would walk all the way back to Jade Province if I had to. "But I would be close by, and would come help you if anything went bad."

"You two sound like quite the team," Tyrien notes, sweeping a hand back through his hair. He wears black gloves, even though the rest of his person is dressed relatively casually.

"Funny you should say that, I've deeply despised him for the last few months," I admit. Despised is one word to explain it. Tyrien laughs, looking at Marek who shrugs.

He almost looks hopefully. "Not anymore?"

I release a long breath. "I haven't decided yet."

***

Kindly, Tyrien offered us up wonderful guest rooms to stay the night in. Marek is in the room next to me, which I've had my thoughts on since is stepped into the bath, and then out of it again.

Now I'm nestled in bed, staring down at the note pad I dug out of the side table. I haven't tried writing in a long time. Not since Marek betrayed me, and not since Tai and I got together. My mind has been too busy to think about anything else, especially a fictitious story. And even now, I stare at the blank pages and all I can see is Tai's face, imagining the horrors he might be going through right now.

A knock startles my attention up to the door.

Marek leans against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, looking concerned. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

"Just have a lot to think about," I admit, letting the pen roll out of my hand and onto the page. Marek's gaze shifts to it, something in his expression shifting, but it melts away quickly. Does he recall my mindless writing? Or has he forgotten about the small details from all those months ago, that I haven't seemed to be able to shake?

"I couldn't sleep for months after the night of the rebellion," he murmurs, as if a snapshot of my thoughts were suddenly visible above my head. "I thought for a long time you were dead. You were so hard to track."

Those months in the Azure Province mountains were some of the hardest I've endured. Tai and I were trying to figure each other out still, to learn how to rely and trust each other.

And I had to recover. Working kept the thought of the betrayal out of my head.

"Even though I was scared everyday of my life that you would show up and kill me, for a moment there I was quite happy," I say despite myself.

At times, I was happy with Tai. Even though he was uneasy living as a commoner, he was often taken by a simpler life, with less responsibilities. It made both of us realise that even though he loves his Kingdom, we want was is simpler, what is easier. And the both of us were happy, I think. At least when the looming fear of being found wasn't haunting us.

"I imagine you were," Marek sighs, sounding genuinely sorry for what happened, for how I felt, even if it was to keep me safe. He walks into the room, shoulders hunched, trying not to look too intimidating.

"So you're really going to help me?" I whisper, watching him come to sit down on the side of the bed.

"Yes. I owe nothing to Vaia. I never agreed to any of her beliefs," he affirms.

"You really did all that to save me?" I still can hardly wrap my head around it. I should have known, considering he never wanted to hurt me, and he admitted to still caring for me. Had he truly been indoctrinated by Vaia, there is no way he would have felt anything for me other than hatred.

His eyes are soft. "Without a second thought."

There's an intensity in the way he looks at me, to the point I have to lower my gaze. Everything would be much easier if he wasn't so attractive, and if he didn't speak in that tone. It stirs feelings inside me that I've refused to feel for months.

"I'm worried about my parents," I admit, knowing that if I don't change the subject, he's not going to stop looking me like that.

"They are okay," he assures me warmly. "They have always been safe, here in the Emerald Province."

"They are here?" I question.

"Yes. Would you like to see them?" he offers.

I almost collapse, even as I lay in this bed. It's been months since I've seen my parents, and even though my relationship with my mother was rocky the last time I saw them, I'm desperate to be reunited. Sometimes I wish I could go back to that naïve, inexperienced girl in my village who still believed in the Beast and wanted to please her parents.

"Of course," Marek exclaims. Sitting up in the bed, I'm barely able to contain my excitement. I can only imagine what my father is going to say when he sees me. "I want to say thank you, but-"

"Don't, Akara. I didn't do this for thank you, and I definitely don't expect you to forgive me overnight," he murmurs softly. I relax back against the headboard, grateful for at least that.

My legs curl up to my chest. "I should get some sleep."

"Alright," he breathes. As he stands, he leans forward and gently kisses my forehead. "Goodnight Akara."

Capturing my lower lip in my mouth, I watch him walk out the room. Now more than ever, I have no idea what my future holds.

🖤••🖤

For the COMPLETED version of this novel, feel free to head over to Good Novel (app available on App Store and Play Store) where it is finished!!

For more of my work, you can find my novel, HIS SIN on Wattpad, Radish and Good Novel (:

'One day, the Immortal Sin named Cian admitted himself into a mental care facility. Six years before Amolet started working there.

With hope to finally have independence, Amolet took the job without thinking much of it. That is until she meets the self-admitted patient, with unspeakable powers, shrouded in darkness and mystery.'

Thank you all for the support!!

~Midika 💜🐼