Word Count: 1888

~Akara

I stare at the cottage, quiet.

Beyond the faded doors, are my parents, as Marek has assured me. The place is nice, perfect for them. With father no longer going to the war, they needed a place like this to settle down, and once this is all over, I doubt they will want to move back to the Jade Province.

"Are you okay?" Marek asks softly from beside me. I turn to look at him, noting the wariness in his eyes. He has been almost too gentle with me since we arrived, probably trying not to crowd me after everything has been revealed. I'm grateful for that, as I don't think I have it in me to look at him the same yet.

"I'm nervous," I admit. "But I'm also so excited and relieved they are okay."

"They are more than okay. Your father is fully healed from his war injury," Marek assures me.

My eyes flutter closed. If there is anything to be overjoyed about, it's that. I worried father wouldn't get proper healing as Tai was unable to fund them once he lost his title as King, and I didn't want to push the issue considering everything going on after that.

"I'm going to assume you are to thank for that as well?" I ask, raising a questioning brow. With father injured, they wouldn't have been bringing in much money, especially for heal such a wound.

Marek shrugs, looking back toward the cottage. "I know a good healer around here."

I smother my smile with the back of my hand as I approach the front door. I still can hardly believe e did all this without me having any idea.

The door is answered only a few moments after I knock. My heart is thundering with anticipation, anxious to see my parents reaction. The last time I spoke to my mother, it was very obvious she still resented me for the Beast. Is she still harbouring that after all these long months since I've seen her?

"Akara..." My father gasps, stepping out onto the porch to sweep me into his arms.

Suddenly, this the happenings of the past year dissolve away, and I'm overcome with pure, untainted happiness; a feeling I have not felt in far too long. The feeling of my father's arms wrapped around me, pulling me tight against him, his clothing smelling exactly like how I always remembered him.

"You're okay...I can't believe you're okay," I hear myself saying, although at this point, I have little control of what is coming out of my mouth.

"I could say the same about you," father notes, wiping his own stray tears from his cheeks. His other arm is still banded around me, as if he can't bear to let me go. "Marek has been keeping us up to date with what has been happening."

Finally letting father go, I turn, meeting Marek's gaze through my own blurry one.

"You've been visiting?" I question. I'm surprised. How he managed this while still being employed by Vaia is a miracle, especially when Tai was convincing me that me visiting them would be far too much of a risk.

He shrugs his shoulders, as if it means nothing. "When I have the chance."

I want to say more, but that will have to wai until later. So tentatively, I follow father into the house, Marek trailing behind respectfully, allowing the reunions to happen without interruption. How he knows when the small things matter is beyond me.

We walk down the hallway and into an intimate living area, the fire blazing despite the balmy weather outside. And sitting before it, wrapped in a cotton shawl, is my mother. She looks up as we walk in, dark eyes wide as she drinks in the sight of us, looking between Marek and I. Without his marking, Marek looks a little more normal, although there is no escaping the magical air about him.

"Mother. It's me," I murmur, not approaching any closer in case she doesn't desire my presence.

Surprisingly, she stands, crossing the room to embrace me. For a moment, I'm just shocked still, eyes wide as I feel her squeeze me tight. Memories and emotions flood me, my throat burning as I try to keep them in, not wanting to ruin this moment. When she pulls away, she smiles weakly at me, before turning to embrace Marek.

"It's so good to see you two are safe," she exclaims, rubbing Marek's back before she pulls away. He smiles down at her with a familiar warm, almost like he is fond of her. I once thought he despised her, considering how she had treated me. Mother even seems to smile back, like he's an extension of the family, a son to them since their daughter abandoned them.

He has, after all, protected them better than I ever could.

"Am I missing something?" I ask, brows furrowed as I look between them.

"Marek has been visiting us a lot, letting us know that you're alive, that you've been okay," mother explains, looking relieved.

Marek shrugs again, dismissing mothers doting. I realise, like a tidal wave washing over my mind, that there is a good chance Marek is behind mother's sudden forgiveness of me. Knowing mother, it would have taken a lot of slow chipping away at her resolve, to convince her to accept his reasoning.

"I missed you guys. I felt terrible that I couldn't come see you," I admit. Father motions to the couch, so I sit, sinking into the old leather. The place may be small, but it's perfect. It's safe.

"We missed you to, we are glad you are safe."

"We are going back to get Tai. He's been captured by Vaia, so we need to save him," I alert them. Not that it is any of their concern, considering I will not be involving them in anything like that, but I want them to know that I may be going somewhere that I may not come back from.

Mother frowns, sitting in a chair across the coffee table while father goes to put some tea on. "Why would you go back to Tai? You know Marek has been doing everything for you, Akara."

My eyes widen as I glance back to Marek.

"I don't expect Akara to feel anything but hate for me after what happened," Marek corrects quickly, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. I never hated him, but I'm not going to tell him that yet. "I fully expect to have to earn her trust back."

I twist my handmade ring from Tai, feeling the metal glide over my skin. "Tai didn't do anything wrong..."

"But he's a King, his life is too complicated. You could live here, with us and be happy again." Mother sounds as though she can't quite grasp why I'm so willing to return to Tai. I know that Marek has done all this for me, and likely seems like the perfect suitor in their eyes, but things go deeper than that.

"I love him," I whisper.

When I look at Marek, he is looking down at his gloved hands, picking at the black fabric. His face, his eyes, they reveal nothing. He is far too good at that, but I get the feeling he is revealing more by doing that then by actually admitting how he feels.

"Stay here the night," father says, coming back into the room after an uncomfortably long silence, setting out a tray of tea before us. "We are happy you are safe, that's all."

Mother quickly excuses herself, grabbing father's arm, dragging him out after her, leaving Marek and I to sit uncomfortably on opposite couches. Quietly, I pour some tea, edging it closer to Marek for him to grab. He remains still, eyes on mine, blazing hot despite being icy in colour.

"I didn't know what was going on within that manor, so I didn't want to tell them anything that I wasn't sure on," he explains calmly.

"You knew I was in love with Tai...That I am, I mean," I remind him.

He was a hunter, but he was also a spy. I'm not foolish, he chose not to share with my parents how indebted I am to Tai. Either it's because he hates Tai that much, or because he held onto hope our relationship would end before he had to rescue me. I mean, Tai and I were even considering marrying against once Vaia had been dealt with.

"I know," Marek sighs, tipping his head back, the flickering light of the fireplace tracing the solid ridge of his jawline. "I just wanted to make sure he was in love with you before I got your parents invested."

My teeth grit painfully. "And you never came to that conclusion?"

"I knew he loved you, but not in a world-ending way." Marek leans forward again, resting his forearms on his thighs. "I never saw forever in your relationship."

"You're only saying that because you're blinded by how you feel," I snap.

Marek is quiet for a moment, sweeping a hand back through his hair. "Maybe."

Part of me wants to be angry that he feels that way about Tai and I. He has no idea what happened between Tai and I when he was pursuing us so urgently. And then after...Tai saved my life, he healed me, and I owe him everything, even though my wound still threatens to erupt at any moment.

"No, don't be so cryptic. Tell me what you're feeling," I demand. I hate that he can just sit there behind that calm mask, refusing to reveal any emotions to me beyond want leaks into those eyes of his.

"I'm feeling like you're going to get yourself killed just to save him. And I wonder if he would do the same for you?" Marek growls.

I lick my lips. "He would."

"You never had doubts?"

Yes. Just tell him, Akara. Tell him that you feel Tai is keeping secrets, that you have been warned about him. He would understand, he would help you.

No. Marek hates Tai too much for that. He would discard this mission before I have a chance to get Tai out of there and have him explain everything to me himself. In fact, I will demand the moment he is free to take me to his little workshop and show me what is behind that door. Then my mind will be put to rest.

"No..." I whisper.

Marek looks grim, as he falls back into the couch, crossing his arms over his chest. "Then we leave tomorrow."

💛••💛

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 💜🐼