Word Count; 2095

Days have passed, and I'm still avoiding Marek.

What I've come to realise in his absence is so unnerving, I dread the moment we cross paths again. I have feelings for Marek, in a way that twists in my stomach, warms my cheeks and has my heart racing when the thought of him crosses my mind. I've been attracted to him this entire time, since I laid eyes on him, but now it's deepened to something dark and dangerous.

I can't think about this, not right now. Not when I'm on my way to see Tai, after he requested to meet me in his gardens. Tai and I are engaged, at least for now. If we are going to make this work, I have to act pleasant with him, to not arise suspicion.

Tai meets me outside, bathed in the golden sunlight as midday draws closer.

He's not dressed like a King today, which admittedly, I much prefer. As I approach, I note how the deep green of his tunic darkens his eyes, turning that emerald green into a colour far more consistent with the hues of the forest looming behind him. He never wears a crown, opting often for glittering rings on his fingers, all depicting ancient legacies I couldn't begin to understand. Yet today, as I stand in front of him, I notice his fingers are bare, his entire body stripped of all evidence of his royal position.

"I'm hoping this isn't a date," I say carefully, falling into step beside him as he motions toward his gardens, protected by a thick layer of hedge.

He angles his head toward me, the faintest hint of a smile brushing at his lips. "Would it be a sin if I said I hoped it would be."

Yes. The biggest possible sin, in my book.

"We may be engaged, but it's merely a formality until your father arrives," I remind him. The last thing I need is for him to start thinking there is a possibility for more between us to blossom. And I don't feel that way just because I've come to terms with how I feel about Marek. Messing around with a King isn't on my current agenda.

Tai smiles, eyes glittering warmly. "Ouch. Tear me down, huh?"

"Shouldn't you be mourning the father you're about to kill?" I question, as we step through the entrance of the hedge maze, the gravel crunching under our feet as we wander around aimlessly. Tai offered a walk, and I obliged. I'm not sure what he has planned.

"No, I won't mourn him,"  He murmurs, his sigh releasing along with the teasing delight we shared. "He's not exactly a good father."

I shiver, suddenly uncomfortable as the air around us turns cold despite the warm gusts of sun soaked breeze that brush past us. More royal drama, no doubt. My relationship with my family has always been so simple, aside from my fathers recent absence due to his participation in the war. My mother and I share a joint love for our Tani that has forged deep into our relationship.

"Why doesn't he rule here?"

"He gave me his throne when I was young. He wanted to expand territory, to split the family line to keep growing. His goal is to take over the entirety of the Jade Province, and challenge Tyrien," he tells explains as we delve deeper into the garden.

Tai's lips quirk up slightly, as if he knows how ridiculous it sounds that his father wants to threaten Tyrien's reign. He's the most powerful King to exist in this land, ruling over every Province. Despite his rule being so powerful, there are still conflicts between Provinces.

"I wasn't scared to be near him, but I suppose I am now," I admit. A older, far wiser King sounds dangerous...Especially if he's being lured here by the mention of me.

"You don't have to worry, I wouldn't let anything happen to you. Especially not involving him," he assures me softly. Releasing a long breath, I share his smile. As long as Tai doesn't allow his father to order my death, I should be fine. Or maybe I'll be lucky enough to flee before he arrives.

As we round a corner, revealing a mass of raised flowerbeds full of voluptuous bushes and vivid coloured flowers, I consider a question I've been desperate to know. "After this, the engagement will be off, right?"
A shadow drifts across his features suddenly.

"Even if I kill my father, the pressure from the Noble's will still be strong," he says solemnly, looking at me as if anticipating an explosive reaction. "I think it will be my best option."

I've anticipated that, and I'm surprised I'm not angry. If my reality is either King's fiancée, or thrown into a prisoner so I cannot utter a word about this to anyone, I'll talk being by Tai's side. If I escape, he will hunt me down, my knowledge too imperative to his reign as King to be known by the general public.

"What if I agreed to marry you, for something in return," I provide, eyeing him carefully as he stops before a topiary shaped like a wolf.

He startles. "Anything in particular you desire?"

"Freedom," I demand. What I want is so simple, the sacrifice of my life in return for those I love is easy to give over when what I'm receiving in return is a life of luxury, despite it coming with union to Tai. "The ability to see my family, to leave as I please, and for Marek to get a promotion."

Tai takes a moment to respond, contemplating my very direct offer. My throat tightens as I anticipate his response. He's been kind so far, generous, in fact, despite all that happened with the Noble's. Since them, I've come to terms with his reasoning for why he did it. There's so much at stake, and it took a Summoner attack for me to realise that.

But is he kind enough to pity me, to give me what I want when he has no real need to?

"Seems reasonable enough. But what if my darling wife never returns?" he asks, threading his hand back through his curls, his smile deceiving him. It's a genuine concern that I suppose I don't blame him for having.

"And risk having you chase me down for the rest of my life? I don't think so," I assure him, even if just saying it turns my blood cold.

"And the Hunter...what would his promotion be?" Tai asks uneasily. Tai didn't need to tell me that Marek was brought into questioning the other day after the Summoner attack. Jessa, who seems to be integrating perfectly into the manors society had overheard it from another servant girl. Being that Marek is the only Summoner in vicinity, it makes for him to be interrogated.

"My personal guard."

"Not to be jealous or anything, but I don't think I can allow it," he mentions, his face drawn. "He has pulled too many stunts here for me to trust him."

I know what he is alluding to, and it has nothing to do with the Summoner attack. He almost witnessed Marek kissing me outside in the forest that night, before he proposed. Now that I know how Marek feels about me, there is no doubting what his intentions were.

"You can't expect him to be loyal to you, but he will be loyal to me. He can protect me," I tell him firmly. I believe that, of course, but I'm mainly focused on ensuring Marek has a better job, where he doesn't have to go back to hunting my Tani again. "He's not going to do anything. Those are my terms."

We round the corner as Tai considers it, sitting down on a wooden bench shrouded with long stemmed flowers and thick hedge like bushes dotted with delicate white flowers.

"And you will marry me?"

"For now. Until we find a better option," I sat through a sigh. I'll think about the true implications of this later. "Oh, and I want my father to return from the war, and to never be allowed to go back. He is so proud, he wants nothing more to be there, but my mother needs him home, safe."

"Absolutely, with no hesitation," Tai says assuredly leaning back against the bench, extending his arms over the top edge. The way his skin glimmers under the sun warmly is flattering on him, but I refuse to spend more than a quick glance on noticing that.

With the thought of getting more out of this, I risk milking it for all it's worth. "And compensation, to them, for the loss of their daughter. I had a duty that I can no longer uphold."

"Naturally."

Releasing all the breath in me, I rake over the reality of what I've stepped into. Suddenly my life has changed, and I'm allowing it. I went from being kidnapped by a vengeful hunter, to being a King's prisoner...And now, his wife. The oddness of it all has my head spinning, but I don't stop to think too deeply into it in fear I might panic.

"I really can't believe this is my life," I admit, looking toward Tai, who is smiling warmly at me, the gentle tenderness of it making my heart flutter. I could have been paired with a far worse, far less handsome King.

"Neither can I," Tai murmurs, the trees above us casting a cascade of moving shadow across us, dousing my skin in sudden chills. "I never thought I would be so lucky as to have a girl like you as my wife."

"I'm not exactly special, but I suppose I will do," I say with a shrug.

I'm not royal, and I don't improve his status, but that is why I work. No doubt Tai's father will be disgusted at the idea of me, a commoner. But admittedly, hearing his praise warms my skin, even if I don't want it to. I don't need to feel unworthy for Tai purely because he is a King.

"You are special. To me," Tai says softly.

Tilting my head toward him, I'm suddenly aware of how close he is. While we were talking, it seems as though he has moved closer, out hips and legs touching. I want to flinch away, to put some distance between us, however I'm paralysed, stuck to my seat in fear of frightening Tai away with all we have just accomplished.

Looking up into his pure emerald eyes, dotted with the finest hints of burnished gold I hadn't noticed from a distance, I notice how entranced he appears. Under the glittering beams of midday sun, Tai looks almost God-like, away from his position as King for a glorious, magical moment.

I'm so involved within my own head that I don't notice him leaning in until he rests the palm of his hand against my cheek gently.

I'm stunned as his lips touch mine, painfully gentle and soft. The kiss only last a fleeting moment before he pulls away, leaving me breathless with a head full of whirling thoughts I can't make much sense of.

"Taius...you can't do that," I breathe, the forefront of my mind flashing with images of Marek, and the kiss we shared. I can't have Tai kissing me to complicate everything more.

"I'm sorry," he replies, although the smile on his face suggests he isn't sorry at all.  "I had to try, at least once."

The tension between us suddenly breaks, as someone approaches, their footsteps on the gravel alerting us. It's a servant girl, who startles at the sight of me sitting beside the King on the bench. Surely she's heard the rumours buzzing around that I'm suddenly engaged to Tai.

"Sir...your father has arrived," she says quickly, before ducking back out through the hedges.

Tai and I exchange glances, my heart plummeting to my chest. Here is where it begins.

💗••💗

If you guys want to read ahead, you can read more of KING'S POSSESSION on Radish! It's chapters ahead of Wattpad (:

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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 💜🐼