Word Count: 1696

The next few days were a blur.

Most of Kailor's men have been investigating what has happened to Elan, but haven't found answers. I've been interrogated on multiple occasions upon Kailor's request, which also hasn't lead to anything being accomplished. Tai has made me speak to someone seeing Elan dead, but that also hasn't been able to rid of the constant feeling of dread sitting in the pit of my stomach.

Tai has been sleeping in my room, albeit on the floor. He's insisted on it, not wanting to push me. Nights have been the most frightening, so I've liked having Tai near me in case I wake up in a panic.

But tonight is different. Tonight I want a moment alone.

The depths of Autumn now grip the Jade Province, and although the climate remains mild, there is a bitter chill to the air tonight, numbing my skin. Crimson foliage laces within evergreen pine, turning the forest into a sight worthy of admiration. It makes my stomach flutter as I walk across the grounds.

Finally, I'm not scared of being near the forest. I couldn't hold a grudge against it for very long, although if I stare into the velvety darkness for too long, I can see Elan's face, the image of his body hanging...

I look back to the manor, knowing Tai is sleeping there, unbothered. However, something catches my eye on the roof.

Is that Zavian?

He's sitting on the roof, staring back at me. I pause in my step, knowing that I need to speak to him. With everything that has been going on recently, I haven't had a chance to speak to him about that night, when I saw him drinking blood from a Tani.

It doesn't take me too long to get on top of the house, clambering onto a gardener's shed and onto the manor's sloped roof. I scramble across the warped shingles, this estate far older than I first realised.

Zavian is sitting with his legs dangling over the edge of the roof, shards of moonlight illuminating him.

He doesn't look at me as I come to sit beside him.

"How are you feeling?" he asks softly, his tone deep, sounding tired.

"Empty. You?"

"Me too. Nothing unusual, though," he sighs. When I look at him, dark shadows shroud his eyes, making him look frightfully ill. Either's he's just drunk Tani blood, or he is coming down from whatever high it causes. How have I not noticed this about him before? Does Tai know?

I kick my feet out, watching them swing around freely, the ground quite far down, making my heart flutter. "I feel like I haven't had a chance to talk to you about all of this."

"The blood, you mean?"

I look at him, unable to be angry or upset. I'm just confused. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

"I wanted to be powerful, to be stronger and better than everyone else so maybe someone would care about me," he admits. I frown, not expecting him to be so vulnerable with me all of a sudden, especially since I'm not very close to him. "Instead I've developed an addiction I can't shake."

I grab his hand, which is surprisingly cold to the touch. "I can help you."

"It's more complicated than that," he mutters, watching my fingers skim along the surface of his skin, his complexion mesmerising under the moonlight. I want to be a friend for Zavian, to be someone who can care about him...

"Does Tai know?" I whisper.

Zavian swallows, looking pained, dark hair hanging down over his eyes. It's clear that he's embarrassed by this, that him being addicted to Tani blood is not something he wishes to divulge to Tai unless absolutely necessary. And I wouldn't never betray his confidence, if he didn't not wish me to.

"No," he mutters. "No one but you."

"You don't want to be anything like those Tani..." I tell him firmly. And by those, I mean one's like the Beast, like Marek. Predator Tani, which do nothing but hurt, lie and betray anyone who dares get close to them.

Zavian tilts his head, the milky tinge of moonlight glazing over his eyes. "Elan was a good man, from what I could tell."

"He tricked me into thinking you were..." I trail off, not wanting to say those words. I know now that Zavian wouldn't have forced himself on me like Elan did, even if he is addicted to Tani blood.

"He was just following orders," Zavian assures me. "And I wouldn't push myself on you like that, Akara. I hope you know that."

I don't bother telling him I know that, hoping that me sitting with him right now is proof of that enough. Although I'm curious as to why he id defending Elan so much. Maybe he too feels guilt that Elan was killed.

"I like you Zavian," I tell him assuredly.

"Seriously? I drink Tani blood in the depths of night before..." he pauses, brows furrowing as he looks down at his hands, closing his eyes for a long moment.

"Before what?" I press.

"Before I fall into an endless slumber of horrid nightmares," he sighs. He winces recalling it, knowing it brings him great pain. I can only imagine being stuck in such a vicious cycle with no hope of escape. Magic is so powerful, so unique, that it's all I can do to sympathise with him. "Then I wake, and I feel as though I could face that Hunter and win."

I think of Marek, of what he would say if he knew about this. He's a Tani himself, so I have no doubt he would likely kill Zavian.

"I won't tell Tai, don't worry," I assure him, squeezing his hand tightly.

Zavian raises his gaze to me, the slightest shimmer over his eyes, but he doesn't allow a single tear to slip. Despite this being the first time he has been able to share this with anyone, he is holding himself together very well.

"I know," he affirms. "He really likes you, you know."

"I'm aware, yes," I breathe, looking out over the forest. It seems I'm always aware of what Tai is feeling about me, which gives me no place to hide with him. He expects me to be as open with him as he is with me, which is admittedly something I struggle with. Sometimes I can't help but be undecided.

"When I first arrived I could see it in the way he looked at you, in the way he spoke to you. He's completely enamoured, and has been for awhile," Zavian explains. Was it really that obvious to everyone around? No wonder Marek never pretended to like Tai.

"It's a lot to handle," I admit.

"He doesn't want anything but you," Zavian continues. I can't help but smile. Even though I already know this, it's funny hearing it coming from Tai's best friend, as if he set him up to say that. I know that though, that Tai would put me before almost everything in his life, even if I wouldn't want him to.

"And has he convinced you to tell me all of this?" I voice.

"No. He is my friend, and I trust him," he admits. His tone is odd, all of a sudden, as if he is trying to convince himself of that fact. "You should let go of Marek and accept Tai's desire for you."

I exhale, refraining from rolling my eyes. I wish it were that easy to completely rid of him from my life. Marek is the one who keeps coming in and out of my life like it means nothing to him...Well, obviously it doesn't.

"I feel nothing for Marek," I tell him firmly, this time being the one who is trying to convince themselves of something.

Zavian's eyes glisten mischievously. "Liar."

"I'm not lying. He betrayed me," I remind him. I doubt I will ever be able to get over Marek's betrayal, although the first step toward it is ensuring Marek no longer matters to me. "I can't even look at him without feeling ill."

"And how often are you looking at him?" Zavian questions. The way he looks at me suggests he knows more than I'm willing to divulge to him. How would he? Maybe someone around here is gossiping. But if Zavian is capable of being honest with me, then I can be honest with him.

"He won't leave me alone," I admit, wondering if pulling my hair out right now will numb some of this frustration.

"You can never trust him, do you understand? Don't let him play with you like he does," Zavian insists, suddenly so serious it takes me by surprise. The look in his eyes suggests the thought of me speaking to Marek under any circumstances troubles him greatly.

I eye him suspiciously. "You talk like you know him."

"I know that you and Tai are destined to be together. Do not let the Hunter compel you," he insists, softening slightly.

Smiling weakly, I nod, plucking at some grass growing out of the gutter. Maybe Zavian is trying to look out for me, knowing Tai is what is best for me, and I should try harder at distancing myself from Marek.

If only if were that easy.

"I should probably go get some sleep," I muse. Zavian nods, giving me a tight-lipped smile as I get to my feet.

Something tells me Zavian and I are going to be good friends.

❤️••❤️

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 💜🐼