Word Count: 1649

~Akara

I sit at the dining room table, stirring my spoon mindlessly through my soup.

"Had a good day?" Tai asks.

Raising my gaze, I stare him down. He sits at the end of the table, watching me. It's been a strange day, becoming reacquainted with the manor. Old memories have haunted me all day, including this afternoon, where I sat in the bedroom, staring at the desk where I once wrote often, for my enjoyment. I can't imagine what I would write about these days.

Rolling my eyes, I look back down into my dinner. "Not really."

"I let Marek go," he murmurs, settling back in his seat. I shrug, already figuring he had. My heart aches still, knowing Marek is no longer on the property, but I doubt he has gone far. He wouldn't leave me here like this, without being close enough if something happened.

"I didn't get to see him before he left, though," I mutter, blowing on my spoon to cool down the soup.

"I'm sure you will see him again, knowing you two." He pins me with his accusatory gaze, but I don't flinch. I'll see Marek if I want to, and him and I agreed Marek could come and visit if I want, which I do, as soon as I can.

I glower at him. "You have no right to be jealous, or spiteful."

Tai exhales quietly, as if he is trying to keep himself calm. "You got over me very quickly."

"I was never over Marek, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been with you, and I take full blame for what I put you through. But you had no right to lie to me," I tell him. I wish I never gave into those feelings that kindled for him. We both needed each other back then, but it wasn't worth what we are going through now.

"The only reason you're alive right now, able to be with Marek, is because of me," he growls, before he straightens, shaking off that anger. He knows that if he gets angry at me, I'm going to walk out, regardless of the consequences.

I tap my fingers against the table, challenging him. "So had you known I would leave you, you would have let me die?"

He goes silent, eyes tracing over me.

"I'm trying to have a nice dinner, Akara," he murmurs. He may as well admit it. He only saved me because he thought we would stay together, otherwise he would have done the same for everyone else in his life, including Evolet, who was willing to work with us, to die for what we wanted to achieve.

"You're used to murder, aren't you?" I push my dinner away, deciding I can't stomach anymore with Tai watching me like that.

"What happened to my brother was an accident. I was pushed by my father."

"One day you're going to have to stop hiding behind your father's actions. You also had a part in the unease within your Territory," I remind him. Maybe I'm being unnecessarily cruel, but I'm so angry at him keeping me here that I could a say a myriad of horribly mean things to him, just to get some of it off my chest.

The door opens, and I glance up, watching with horror as Grey walks in.

Tai pays him no mind, assuming he is nothing more than another staff member. Grey doesn't even look at me as he walks in with a pitcher of water, examining the table instead, appearing completely inconspicuous.

Tai shakes his head slowly. "There will be no more unease soon, I can assure you."

"Is that right?"

"It is. People will be happy we have been reunited, our love story have thrived through all that has happened with the rebellion. This Territory will be stronger than ever," he explains, having the audacity to smile as if he believes the crap that he is spewing. Our love story is a sham, but I'm not surprised Tai is willing to base his entire reign off a lie, once again.

My jaw clenches. "They will see through this soon."

Grey approaches the table, leaning over the start filling my cup. I shift uncomfortably, before he moves towards Tai.

"Not if you keep up your end of the deal," he notes, pointing his fork at me, grinning like a maniac. I roll my eyes again, gripping my own utensil tightly in my fist before I let it drop onto the table with a loud clatter.

"There is no deal, Tai. You dragged me into this against my will," I snap.

All of a sudden, Grey slips, and water splashes all over Tai's front and lap.

His chair shoots back as he stands up, most of the water dripping off, while the rest soaks his fine clothing. I could laugh, if it weren't for the anger that flashes across his face. Grey obviously did that on purpose, motivated by...who knows, at this point.

"I apologise sir, I didn't mean to," he exclaims worriedly. Does he not care if he loses his job? I've never seen Tai be violent toward his staff, but I'm still concerned.

Tai flicks water off him, gaze stony. "It's fine, just go away, please..."

Grey glances at me, but I refuse to let my expression reveal anything, as he dashes from the room.

Tai sits down in a huff, muttering something under his breath. My hand ghosts over my mouth, trying to force a smile away, amused by Tai's irritation. That's only a small portion of what I want to do to him, but for now, it's a nice way to end the evening, tearing his ego down a little in the most perfect, unsuspecting way.

I watch quietly as Tai reaches into his pocket, and places a small glass vial onto the table. Blinking, I squint to see the foggy white liquid that floats around in it.

My stomach drops. That can't be good.

"Do you know what this is?" He asks quietly.

"Am I meant to?" I hope he can't see how frightened of that I am. It's bad, I know it. Nothing that Tai just reveals from his pocket can be positive, and there's a mischievous glint to his eyes that has me shifting uncomfortably in my seat.

"It's a poison. One I developed myself," he grabs the vial, turning in his grasps, examining it closely. Even from here, I can see the ivory liquid has a green tint to it.

Horror digs into the pit of my stomach. "You're going to poison me?"

"No, I would never do that." He shakes his head, looking at me like I'm the bad one for presuming he would ever put my life in danger. "However, I cannot say the same for Marek."

"What have you done?" I growl.

"The poison can't kill him. At least not until I want it to," he says with a shrug, slipping the poison into his pocket, as if he's concerned I'm going to use it against him. I do store that information away, even through the mist of my anger. Tai has more of that poison, and to ensure he doesn't use it against me, I could use it against him.

I run a hand back through my hair. "You're threatening me, aren't you?"

"The poison is only triggered by another piece of technology that I've developed. And I won't need to use it, unless you help me," he exclaims, extending his arms as if he's offered something impressive and generous.

I grit my teeth. "I already promised to be engaged to you."

"I know that, but I have a speech to make tomorrow, to announce my reign, and subsequently, my marriage to you," he says. That means going into a village, revealing more of myself. That wouldn't worry me so much if I wasn't apparently in danger.

"And?"

He waves his hand. "And appearances need to be maintained."

"I'll be fake, I'll pretend, as long as you give Marek the antidote," I murmur. I'll do anything he wants. I'll get on all fours and beg for him to save the hunter. He won't, unless he gets something in return, so I'm willing to give up all I can.

"Marry me, and I will," he offers gently. His lips are quirked up, knowing his bait has been laid, that he's close to getting exactly what he wants. But Vaia is right. Once I'm married to Tai, the laws will not release me from him for the rest of my life.

Frantically, I shake my head. "I...Not yet."

"In a month's time. And the antidote is his," he offers.

There is no guarantee that Tai will keep to his word, but what other choice do I have? In a month's time, I may have figured out a way to get out of this mess, and a way to get the antidote behind Tai's back.

I rest my palms flat on the table. "Fine."

He smiles, triumphant, unaware of what I'm silently plotting. "Thank you, Akara. For being so willing to see my side of things."

"You're a monster," I snap.

He slides his chair back, rounding the table toward me. I stiffen, watching him cautiously as he stoops down beside my chair, forcing me to face him.

"I'm giving you a life of luxury. And it's not as if you are marrying a man who doesn't love you," he tells me softly. He looks as though he wants to touch me, although thankfully he makes the right decision for once, and holds back.

"Well I don't love you," I growl.

He smiles, winking as he stands back up. "We'll see, Akara..."

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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 🐼💜