Word Count: 1626

~Akara

We walk for a while, in tense silence.

Eventually, Vaia's complaints become too frequent, so we have to stop, dead in the middle of the forest, with no civilization for at least an hour's walk from here. It doesn't bother me, though, because while I'm here, I'm not locked away in Tai's estate, and if I wanted to, I could run in a single direction and get far, far away from him.

"We are going to have to sleep under the stars tonight," Marek says, shrugging his long hunting coat off, laying it down across the forest floor.

"We don't have anything to sleep on?" Tai turns in a circle, looking distastefully at his environment.

I stare at him blankly.

Has he already forgotten what it was like to live in hardship? We did it for so many months together, and he rarely complained. It's as if those moments are lost on him now, having disappeared into an inescapable void.

"What do you want? To go to a village and maybe be torn apart by people who may not like you any longer?" Marek asks, kicking away at branches that stick into the small clearing we will be sleeping the rest of the night in.

Tai looks around. "Is one close by?"

Marek almost laughs. "No...So much for knowing your Province."

"Everything looks the same. How am I meant to know?" Tai demands, his tone raising, echoing through the forest, filling the silence. I wince. We could be in this forest for days. How am I meant to deal with these irritating three?

Marek steps forward, something in his demeanour having shifted. Even I shudder looking at him, knowing there is a weapon on him somewhere.

"Had I not been following you, you would have led Akara to her death out here, and for that, I would have stopped at nothing to kill you," he growls lowly. He doesn't get any closer to Tai, like he doesn't trust himself not to lash out.

I clap my hands together softly, tearing their attention away from staring each other down. "Okay, I'm exhausted. Shall we get some sleep?"

"Great idea Akara, because that's totally possible when it's freezing out here," Vaia snaps, rubbing her arms warily. She's only wearing her loose, thin jacket from being in the prisons, but I don't feel bad. Her suffering only makes me happier.

"You have no other choice," I remind her, pulling my own coat off, sitting down on Marek's laid down one.

Marek sighs, rolling his shoulders back. "I'll take the first watch to keep an eye on Vaia."

"Whatever," Tai mutters. He sinks to the ground, adjusting a few pieces of underbrush so he can lie down on it. Vaia remains sitting up, resting back against the trunk. I doubt she will sleep tonight, but once again, I don't care.

"I'll light a fire," I offer.

I take my time, collecting enough resources to get it started, with Marek's help. Once it's lit, Vaia inches closer, lured in by the warmth. Marek staying up to keep an eye on her tonight probably isn't worth it. She isn't going anywhere, not in the cold, and not with all the unknown Tani in these forests.

Marek grabs my arm, tugging me onto his coat with him. "Come here."

We lie down together, my back flush against his chest, his arms wrapping tightly around my torso after draping my coat over the top of us. I sigh in relief, breathing in the smell of him, feeling his warmth envelope me.

"Do you mind doing that in front of all of us?" Tai growls, turning his head from where he lies to stare accusingly at us with narrowed eyes.

"It's cold. I'm going to keep Akara warm," Marek responds quietly, no bite to his tone.

Vaia smirks, firelight flickering over her face, burning in her soft green eyes. "So what, it's official now?"

"I've been in love with Akara since I met her. I don't think that's a surprise." Marek pulls me closer, as if he can protect me from their scrutiny. I'm so tired, I hardly care about their spite. I'm not willing to hide how I feel about Tai anymore, even if it compromises my plan.

I look toward the King, holding his gaze. "And you Tai, out of everyone, know how I feel about Marek."

He shakes his head, focusing on the man holding me. "You won't win."

"And you think you will?"

"Akara and I will be married next week, whether we are at Zavian's or not," Tai exclaims steadily. I frown. I thought this happening would have put the wedding off, but it's clear what Tai's next most important objective is. And that's pinning me down under his control, so I cannot escape him. Ever...

"Tai, you can't make me marry you in times like these," I hiss.

"Now is better than ever."

I sigh, exhaustion tugging at me, knowing I'm not going to accomplish anything until we are out of this forest. "We will discuss this when we get to Zavian's."

Tai holds my gaze for a long moment, before he turns his back to me.

"For now, we sleep," Marek murmurs in my ear.

***

It takes a few days of mindless walking to make it to Zavian's.

After the second say, no one spoke, too exhausted and desperate to make it to civilisation that we didn't argue once. Even Vaia kept her mouth shut, deciding there's little point to complaining.

The moment I see the manor Zavian has taken up residence in, I almost break down, so relieved.

The place is beautiful. Old, but the architecture is an older style that must have been around before the Province was split into various Territories. And just seeing it makes me overwhelmingly happy, knowing Zavian has finally found his footing, after years of floating around, belonging nowhere.

The moment we make it inside, Zavian rushes over, nearly tackling me over as he grabs me, swinging me around.

"You're here. You're alive."

I clutch him tightly, not sure I ever want to let go, finally reunited with my friend. "Zavian...I have so much to tell you."

He lets me down, and I sway steadily on my feet. My entire body aches, and there are sores everywhere. I'm in desperate need of a good bath and a long sleep.

"You all look exhausted," Zavian notes, stepping back to look over us all. He looks so well put together. His addiction is clearly long behind him, as skin bright and healthy, his hair cut tidily and his clothes...well, he looks like a King.

"My estate got taken over. We are unsure who did it. We will need to stay here for a while," Tai says curtly, shifting uncomfortably. He doesn't want to have to ask for help, considering what his and Zavian's last meeting was like. Unfortunately for him, he has no other choice.

Zavian dips his head. "Understandable. You are welcome to stay here for as long as it takes."

"Thank you Zavian, seriously," I tell him, smiling softly. I knew he would take us in, regardless of how he feels about everyone...Including Vaia.

"My staff will take you upstairs to your rooms," Zavian offers, motioning behind him, where two figures lurk silently, awaiting their instructions. "Akara, can I talk to you privately?"

"Sure..." I breathe.

Marek gives me a lasting look, before following the rest up the stairs. By how closely one of the staff follows Vaia, I get the feeling she isn't going to be spending her time here in the same living conditions we will. I'm certain she will be under constant supervision.

"What's going on?" I ask gently.

Zavian sighs, rubbing his hand through his dark hair. "I took over Tai's estate?"

"What?"

"I had to, okay? His project is finished, and he's injecting soldiers...it's going to go off soon," he explains, trying to hush me, glancing up the stairs anxiously. I gape at him, shocked. After I said all of that to Tai, it turns out Zavian really is the problem...

"Were your soliders going to kill him?" I ask, barely above a whisper.

"They only had express orders not to kill you, although I'm glad he is alive. On further thought, it would be political suicide," he sighs, resting his palm against his forehead as he thinks. Had Tai and I stayed in there for much longer, there is a good chance he could have been killed, and although it's not as if I'm opposed to that, it may only complicate things.

Shaking the thoughts from my head, I step back so I can get a proper look at my friend. "So you really are a King?"

"This was what I was bred to do. My parents were Noble's, they would have wanted this." He sounds so proud, as he adjusts his jacket, although he still smiles unsurely.

"It looks good on you, friend."

He laughs breathily, but then quickly sobers. "You have to help me, to stop Tai."

"It's not that simple...I'm about to be married to him," I say. And by the sounds of it, I'm going to be married to him soon.

Zavian looks away, deep in thought, dark brows furrowed. I watch him, seeing him try to find a way out of this. I've spent so many nights awake, trying to think about what I could do to get around the law I'm barred by.

Suddenly, Zavian straightens, looking at me with widened eyes. "Akara. Marry me instead..."

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Remember that you can always find this story 10 chapters ahead on Radish (:

You will find it under King's Possession Season Three!!

~Midika 🐼💜