Keial stood at one side of the room, and I stood on the other side.

We hadn't spoken in over twenty minutes, all because I didn't know what to say.

I couldn't leave, not when he had just told me that I was his mate, and the only reason I didn't know was because I was branded a traitor and rogue, thus making my ability to find my mate impossible.

I was mates with Keial, and it didn't matter how much time passed, I still couldn't believe it.

He wanted to be with me, he wanted me to stay, and I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do.

Keial said he'd accept the bond if I stayed, but what if I left?

He'd be able to have a queen and an heir if I rejected his mate bond, I'd be able to go and live my life however I wanted.

I wouldn't be in his world again, wondering when the next time my life would be in danger.

I wouldn't feel the pain either, and Keial... I don't know, he's so strong, he managed to act normal around me despite me being his mate.

On the other hand, if I ever did leave... I wanted him to feel it, because he lied to me, from the very moment he met me.

"Did you know this entire time?" I broke the silence, despite already knowing the answer.

"Yes." He said, leaning against the door, his eyes watching me across the room.

Of course, he did, he could read my damn mind, I should've realized the moment he told me that, but like a fool... I didn't dig into it.

"I wasn't planning on this happening Felix, I didn't pick you because you were my mate, despite what you think of me, I wanted to clear your name."

I looked up at him and wanted to believe him, but at this point, everything that came out of his mouth felt like a slap in the face and a punch in the gut.

"I convinced myself that as long as you didn't feel the bond, I could ignore how I felt and I could eventually let you go, even now I... I don't enjoy giving you an ultimatum."

I couldn't help but snort, and look away from him.

"Sure you don't, you were just being nice by not kicking me out of here." I said sarcastically.

"Or when you knocked me out and made me soil myself, and thus became a laughing stock with a nickname I can't get rid of."

I was furious, and getting even more annoyed by the second, but this was still Keial, and I didn't want to make this situation worse by throwing something sharp or heavy at his head.

"I can read your mind, Felix, if it would help, feel free to hit me, throw something, anything at me." Keial sighed and moved away from the door.

Keial moved to stand in the middle of the room, and once I looked at what he was doing, my eyes widened in disbelief.

"Stop." I moved from the window, as he picked up a knife on top of his desk.

"No." Is all he said, as he put the knife between his teeth and then in one swift motion, ripped the shirt from his chest and dropped it somewhere near his feet.

"Here." He took the knife from his mouth, and held it out to me, a stoic, emotionless look on his face.

"I know you want to, I know you at least a few times thought about it."

What did he expect me to do, to hurt him?

This man was an idiot and a very dangerous one now with a knife.

"I'm not going to hurt you, just because you lied to me from the very moment I laid eyes on you." I sighed as Keial watched me quietly.

Then, in a swift motion, Keial had gripped the knife and put it to his chest and in one single swipe, had cut his chest, without a single flinch.

"Stop, have you lost your mind?!" I move over to him, to grab the knife from his hands, as blood starts to cover his chest.

His eyes were empty, and as I took the knife from him, he didn't put up a single fight to try and stop me.

"Okay." He said quietly, as I put the knife back on his desk.

"What?" I looked over at him, to see that he was now pressing his hand to his head with his eyes clenched.

"I will not force you to stay, and I could never harm you, so if this is what you really want, I won't stop you from leaving."

"Just do one thing for me." Keial mumbled as he opened his eyes, now bloodshot and filled with despair and sadness.

"Reject me, and never come back here."

My chest clenched painfully tight; it felt like I had just been stabbed as the words pierced my ears.

I had never seen Keial like this before.

He was serious.

How did we end up here? Not only an hour ago I was so happy to see him, I thought that eventually he'd see me as a real lover, now look at us.

Everything was such a mess.

The worst thing was, I didn't really want to leave, I wanted to stay, but how can this work between us?

Keial was who he was, and I... I didn't know how to talk to him, knowing that he kept something important from me.

"Do it now, before I change my mind and force you to stay here against your will, I don't want to but, I don't want you to leave anymore."

This was madness... and as much as I had thought of leaving to start fresh... I couldn't.

Keial was my mate, and as messed up as he was in so many different ways, I was falling in love with him.

I can't leave.

I don't want to.

Moving, I walked over to where a towel lay and then walked back to where Keial stood, watching me quietly as I gently pressed the towel against his chest.

He had bled so much, but thankfully the cut had healed almost and all that was left was blood on his chest.

"Felix, you don't need to do this." Keial stopped me patting his chest, as his hand wrapped around my wrist.

"I'm... doing it because I want to." I shrugged his hand from my wrist, not before glaring at him then began cleaning the remaining blood from his chest.

"Same reason why I'm deciding to stay..."

Keial's eyes widen, and his mouth opens, but before he can speak, I speak first.

"But I need time to think, I..." I release a shaky breath and then look up at his beautiful face.

"I can't accept you right now, but I'll stay... as long as you leave me alone until I'm ready to... talk about this again."

I wanted this to be a mistake, but leaving was no longer an option, and as much as rejecting Keial would make him feel better, it would only destroy everything I stood for.

I wanted a mate... and if I was going to give Keial a chance to make this first, I wanted... this to work.

"Thank you." Keial moved his hand to touch me but stopped once he reached my face.

He stepped back and then moved to the side to lean against his desk, without saying another word.

I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying anything else, and then I leave, walking across the room until I reach the door.

Keial didn't follow me this time, as he watched me from his desk.

With my hand on the doorknob, I noticed the ring on my finger with Keial's signet, and without saying another word, I opened the door and left his bed chambers.

With the ring he gave me, still on my finger.

This was a good first step... even if I won't see him for a while.

We needed space, only then can I know for sure if this was what I wanted and if Keial was worth the pain, and the pleasure...

...And everything that came with knowing Keial, the devil King.