Word Count: 1810

Time feels as though it's passing at a strange rate.

Over the past few weeks, I haven't had anymore bleeding. I've spent every night being walked to my room by Tai, who would linger at the door frame, ensuring my safety, then return in the morning. The healers still have no idea how I've managed to escape death, and I've avoided sharing how with Tai. He's got enough on his plate recently, he doesn't need this as well.

I lean against the window sill in my room, noting the gloomy weather outside. Low cloud lingers across the top of the forest, crawling through the foliage toward the estate. Somewhere in the distance, Vaia and Marek are living their lives oblivious to what is happening with me.

Would Marek care if he found out that I almost died? He didn't seem to care that Vaia stabbed me in the first place...

A knock on my bedroom door makes me jump. Looking over my shoulder, I'm surprised to see Zavian standing there, looking better than I've seen him be in weeks. I've been incredibly lucky to not have any side effects of drinking Tani blood, including not becoming addicted. In no way do I crave it - in fact, just thinking about how it felt to drink it makes my stomach queasy.

"How are you feeling?" he asks softly, motioning for me to come outside into the hallway. He likes to act like he hasn't been checking up on me, but I know he is as worried as Tai is. If I become addicted to Tani blood, he feels as though it's on me.

"Back to normal," I comment, closing my bedroom door behind me. "I never want to drink that ever again."

Zavian smiles, looking genuinely relieved. "I'm glad to know there are no cravings there."

We walk outside, the mid-morning fog creeping it's way across the formal lawn now, swallowing up the sight of the forest beyond. Shivering, I sit with Zavian on the front porch step, considering running into that fog to not look. Even though I've managed to avoid Kailor, I still feel anxious walking through the halls at risk I'll run into him. Honestly it's the last thing I want.

"Do you feel cravings?" I fold my arms over myself, tucking my cardigan closer against me. There has been a bitter chill haunting the estate recently, settling everyone into a cooler mood. Even Tai has been tense, although I feel like I haven't seen him as much, as he has been working with Kailor, both trying to figure out how to deal with Vaia. I've been at some meeting's, although each time I'm there, not much progress seems to have been made.

"Every waking moment," he admits, looking out across the fog. "It's been a couple days since I've had any, so I'm a little tense. I'm trying to avoid it, though."

I want to tell him he looks better since he has taken a break from drinking Tani blood, but I'm not convinced he wants to hear that from me right now. "Good."

"How was it, with Marek?" he asks. I know he is referencing when I gave myself into Vaia. Memories that I've been trying my best to shun anyway flood me again. Not thinking about Marek recently has been the best thing for me, even if he still creeps into my dreams sometimes.

"Weird," I admit. "I think he actually still cares about me, that it isn't some act."

Zavian tilts his head, looking concerned, but not judgmental with what I'm divulging to him."Does that bother you?"

"Yes...It's easier to hate him knowing he wants nothing more than for me and Tai to fall," I sigh, brushing a piece of lint off my leggings. "Whatever his reasons are, he has nothing against me."

"Yet you still want to be with Tai?" Zavian questions.

I narrow my eyes on him, expecting him to be teasing me, but there is nothing but seriousness in his expression. Maybe he just doesn't know how deep my feelings run for Tai. Marek may not want me dead now, but he still betrayed me and Tai, which I can't forgive him for, whether he cares about me or not.

"Yes, absolutely. I'm so happy with him," I express firmly, not wanting Zavian to walk away from this thinking there is any chance of me having feelings for Marek. "Do you have anyone in your life?"

"It would be selfish for me to love someone when I'm addicted like this," he murmurs quietly, looking down at his hands. My heart aches looking at him, his dark fringe of hair hanging down over his eyes. If there is anything I know for certain, it's that Zavian doesn't deserve this.

I grab his hand, squeezing tightly. "You're a good man, Zavian."

"Thank you," he breathes, smiling weakly. And for once, since Jessa, I feel like I have a friend.

***

Zavian follows behind me as we emerge into Kailor's office, having been summoned by one of Kailor's assistants.

Tai, Kailor and Nakoa sit around Kailor's desk, all looking solemn. Kailor looks up as we walk in, a devious glint to his eye as he drinks in the sight of Zavian and I walking in together.

Tai motions for me to sit next to me. "Everything okay?"

"Zavian and I were just getting some air," I reply.

Kailor watches us with a keen eye as the both of us sit, looking for anything to use against me."You two have been getting close."

"I trust him. He's a friend," I respond, meeting Zavian's sapphire gaze. The edge of his lip tilts up in the slightest smile, but only for a moment. Under Kailor's scrutiny, we are all on edge, not wanting to give him any reason to distrust us. Once Vaia has been defeated, I can imagine most of us want to be out of the King's life for good.

Tai rests his hand on my knee. "We have a plan."

"Go on," I swallow nervously,

"Marek has invaluable knowledge that we need to tap into," Tai explains, to which I nod, already figuring as much. If anyone knows the inner workings of Vaia's mind right now, it's him. "Vaia will know there is no way Marek will ever get caught, so has likely indulged a lot with him."

I tilt my head back and forth, considering that reasoning. "He knows a lot, yes."

"We need you to get that information from him," Kailor cuts in, not offering that up as a suggestion, but as a mission he is putting on me that I don't get a say in. I'm not sure what worth they think I have in this. I know Marek trusts me the most, but he still won't give any information up to me without a price. Even when I thought he was in love with me, he still wouldn't tell me anything about him.

"How, exactly?" I ask, looking at every in the room for some kind of answer. Nakoa looks away, a frown etched deep between her brows. "Because trust me, I've tried."

Tai clears his throat, looking down at his hands. I narrow my eyes, sensing there is something he is holding back from me that he doesn't want to be open about.

"Tai, what's going on?"

"The Hunter is still in love with you, to say it frankly," Kailor sighs when he realises Tai isn't going to tell me. "The best way to approach this is for you to get the information out of him. Whether that be to seduce him, or some other form of manipulation...I don't care, but you need to get it done."

"Do I even get a choice from here?" I question, already knowing that isn't going to work. Marek is beyond manipulation at this point. If I act any different to how he is used to, he's going to get suspicious of me, and Vaia will know we are weak enough that we are using Marek to get information.

Tai looks at me kindly. "Of course, Akara."

"If you don't do this, then we have an option that is far less reliable," Kailor mentions, resting his elbows on his desk as he leans forward, not letting me break from his cruel, dark gaze. "Once you two are in an intimate setting and his guard is down, you will inject him so we can take him into our custody."

"Seriously?"

"That's only if you can't get information out of him," Tai offers, trying not to push me, although I can tell that after all the work him and his father have put in, he is desperate for some other lead. But what am I agreeing to?

"If he doesn't say anything to me, then there is no way he will talk for you," I remind them. Marek in their custody is the worst option. He will go quiet and allow himself to die before he says anything that will negatively affect him. Kailor may think he is strong, but Marek's resolve is stronger.

Kailor's tone is dark and uncompromising. "We will make him, trust me."

"It's our only option right now," Tai adds.

"And how will we lure Marek back here?" I ask. We can't exactly contact him in any way, and since I escaped Vaia, he has been wary about coming around here. It's been weeks and I haven't seen or heard anything from him.

"We have a few people we suspect are feeding information to him," Kailor explains. I've been wondering if that's the case too, since he seems to know everything that is going on in here. Recently though, we have been keeping things very private, including my infliction that I've just recovered from. "We will spread a rumour that you and Tai are fighting and that you plan to leave."

Tai squeezes my leg. "It's not perfect, but it's all we have."

"Are you willing to help us, Akara?" Kailor presses. I look at him, mustering a breath. I don't want to do anything to aid Kailor, but if I do, I'm also helping Tai. And I'll do anything for Tai...

I swallow drily, nodding. "Okay. I'll do it."

🧡••🧡

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 💜🐼