Word Count: 1831

¬Akara

Tonight, there is going to be no chance for me to avoid Kailor.

Tai has already told me I can stay in my room tonight and not go, but the entire purpose of this event is to appear normal, so news will get back to Vaia and she will think we are no longer bothered by her rebellion. It's a long shot, but we hope her guard will lower as a consequence, which means that as much as I don't want to, I'm going to have to go. It's held downstairs, in the ballroom.

A knock sounds from my door, making me flinch. I've been awfully jumpy recently.

"Come in," I exclaim mindlessly, pulling my hair back around my face after putting in some earrings. I can't remember the last time I dressed up like this, in a gown and everything. The ring Tai gifted me is still securely placed around my finger, not having gone anywhere since it was first put on my finger.

"Out of respect for my friend, perhaps I shouldn't step over this threshold." I turn. Zavian leans against the doorways entrance, dressed neatly in a dark blue suit, his black hair swept back and styled perfectly.

"Oh, Zavian. I was expecting Tai," I note. "Come in."

Despite looking somewhat reluctant, he steps into the room. Tai knows Zavian and I have established a friendship, even if he doesn't know the grounds it started on. The understanding that Zavian and I have is one that goes beyond friendship though. We have mutual trust for our unique situations, and I feel confident I can confide in him with anything.

"He asked me if I could escort you," Zavian admits, meeting my gaze through the mirror as I face it. He's anticipating my disappointment, but I've learnt how to expertly hide it recently. "He's wrapped up with something going on with the guards."

I sigh. "You look very handsome."

"And you look very beautiful," he responds quietly. "Does Tai notice the dark circles under your eyes, your sallow skin and pale lips?"

I turn back to look at myself, at what Zavian has pointed out. Despite the makeup on my face, I've failed to hide what makes me look so unwell. At least my hair, all braided and neat looking, and my crimson coloured gown take away from my face...At least that's the intended effect, since tonight, I don't think I can handle Kailor criticising my looks.

"Ouch Zavian. I thought I looked nice," I retort, smiling at him in the mirror, even though I can't muster up enough humour to make it look convincing. Zavian doesn't return the smile, looking grim.

"You always do," he responds. "You look sick."

I turn back to him, smoothing down the non-existent wrinkles in my dress. "That's what happens when you're dying."

Any moment now, I could throw up blood everywhere and be on the edge of death. Were it not for Zavian, I don't doubt I would be dead by now, Tai's magic having failed me. He's shouldering a lot of guilt for it, but had he not healed me that night, with Vaia, I would be long gone now anyway. I just hope I have enough time left to find a cure.

"Do I need to bring you some blood?" Zavian's body is tense as I sit next to him. He doesn't look so well himself, the symptoms of withdrawals taking a slow but tortuous toll on his body. It's obvious he hates sharing it with me, hates increasing the chance I'll become addicted like him, but there's no other choice other than to let me die.

"Later," I exclaim, glancing at the door as if Tai may appear and overhear our conversation at any moment. "I haven't been feeling addicted, which is a relief."

Zavian looks down at his hands, twisting at a silver bracelet on his wrist. I wonder if Tai made that for him. "What a wonderful feeling that would be."

"Do you need help? I can help you detox, if you're willing," I ask awkwardly.

Zavian stands, nodding for me to join him. He clutches the sides of my arms tightly, forcing me to meet his gaze, the blue in his eyes fading into an almost grey colour.

"I'm not the one everyone is worrying about."

I shrug him off. "Don't worry about me."

He clears his throat, but doesn't push. Grabbing my shoes, I slip them on, silently praying tonight will be quiet and uneventful, and will work in our favour. I just need to sit, eat dinner and maybe dance with Tai, and go back up to my room. Most of my plan is relying on Kailor not interrupting and saying something to me that will anger me. I'm already beyond infuriated at him for what he did to Nesrin.

"So what's up with Marek?" Zavian questions sternly. Looking over my shoulder, he's closed my bedroom door, looking at me with a quizzically raised brow.

Swallowing uncomfortably, I turn back to the mirror. "Hmm? Help me with my necklace?"

Zavian approaches, examining my expression. Silently, he takes a hold of each side of the necklace, and patiently waits for me to lift my hair. The mood in the room has shifted, a slight gasp slipping past my lips as the cool weight of the necklace rests on my chest, Zavian adeptly clasping it in place.

"You kissed him."

He meets my gaze in the mirror, but I look away, trying not to wince. How does he know? Guilt rakes through me, my skin flushing as he rests his palms on my bare shoulders. His grip is tight, but he doesn't sound accusatory, or even mad at me for betraying his friend.

"No one else knows," he assures me.

"He kissed me, mind you," I mumble. "I don't feel anything for him, I was just foggy from the blood. And we were both very emotional. It was stupid."

"You don't hate him anymore."

"Now that I'm dying, I don't hate anyone, even Vaia," I admit. Nesrin's death made me realise that all of this hatred and anger isn't worth it anymore, that we should get Tai's throne back, and then get Vaia some help. "Doesn't mean I trust him."

"He's not going to stop until you tell him to. And even then I doubt he will back off," Zavian sighs, finally pulling away from me, giving me a chance to breathe again. "But you need to tell him there will never be a chance for you two."

I nod. "I know that Zavian. But if everything goes the way I hope, he's left for good."

Zavian looks grim. "You and I both know that's not true."

"Walk me to the dinner?" I ask, deciding we aren't going to get anywhere continuing to talk about this any longer. Zavian nods, extending his arm out for me to loop mine around, tugging me in closer to him. His cologne is overwhelming, masking the scent of Tani blood.

"I have a feeling this is going to be a wonderful night for everyone," he exclaims merrily.

I smile warmly at him, nodding mutely. Zavian is my friend, above anything else, and I'm grateful for that.

***

It didn't take long, being seated across the table from Kailor, for things to start becoming tense.

All the royals and their Nobles have been seated at this table, which at this point, only includes Tai and myself, Kailor, Nakoa and Zavian. Clea is across the room on a raised dais, playing a soft, pretty melody on the grand piano. The rests of the guests sit around us at separate tables, enjoying the dinners before the dancing starts.

"You could make it less obvious you hate me, Akara," Kailor mutters, holding my gaze sternly from the other side of the table. I shift under the weight of his scrutiny, knowing this conversation was going to arise at some point. I've been avoiding his gaze and attempting to change the subject every time he speaks, which hasn't gone unnoticed by anyone at the table.

"And what would be the point of that?" I ask sardonically, my sweeter than honey.

"Nesrin was a traitor, just like the Hunter," he growls in response. He has let himself go over the past few months, his dark hair starting to grow, having been left uncut and unruly recently. He's even acquired more frown lines on his forehead, his skin starting to sag with age. But his eyes are as alive as ever, burning dark with a fiery hate.

Tai sighs from beside me, looking exquisitely handsome in his fine black suit. "Father, perhaps we should just leave it for tonight."

All of a sudden, the lights flicker, and then everything is cast in a thick, impenetrable darkness. The entire room gasps, chairs scraping as people stand with confusion. I blink, trying to see something, anything in the darkness, but I can't.

"Akara...It's okay, I got you." Tai has my arm in his grasp, pulling me closer to him as we both stand. No one is moving now in the room, people protesting through the darkness, asking what is going on. My entire body remains tense, anticipating something...Anything.

"What's happening? Are we being attacked?" I ask into the air. I wish I could see something.

From across the table, the sound of some kind of alteration arises, fabric moving, a glass tipping over as the whole table is bumped. Kailor growls, and then yells, but it's cut short. Everyone goes silent with the sound, the lack of sound chilling my blood more than the King's screams.

"Father!"

Tai lets me go, fighting his way through the darkness to get to the other side of the table. I just stand, stunned, until the lights flicker back on, blinding me momentarily.

Blinking, my gaze readjusts, and the first thing I see, is Kailor, slumped back in his chair, blood gushing from his neck, which is bent at an unnatural angle. It takes everything within me not to throw up at the sight, knowing it will be nothing but blood to join what is streaming from Kailor's body, a thick pool of it gathering on the marble floor.

And behind him, is an unmistakable figure, wiping blood off a thick, jagged edged knife onto the fabric of their sleeve.

Evolet.

💗••💗

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 💜