Word Count: 1658

I was sent back to my room that night with a bandage taped to my head. Like I suspected, it was nothing more than a surface wound, so I fell into a Summoner filled sleep with little pain to accompany it.

Now I'm awake, a threadbare shawl wrapped over my shoulders as I make my way downstairs. My steps are tentative as I warily keep my eye out for any suspicious activity. The Summoner that came for Tai will be miles away by now if they haven't already been caught, which is both an unsettling thought, but also a comforting one.

Walking down the stairs, I pause as I hear voices, realising one of them is Tai. Ducking down, I look around to where he stands with one of his guards, his brow furrowed with concern. Above him, the large mullioned dome ceiling allows the morning sunlight in, alighting the King and his guard in an angelic glow despite their solemn tone.

"I want as many of my men investigating into nearby towns," Tai orders, that curt King-like tone making me shiver. The gentle, soft nature I experienced yesterday has vanished as he steps back into that role.

"Yes sir."

"If you find any hint of rebellion, bring people in. I don't want anyone slipping through my fingers," he demands. Rebellion? He speaks lowly, to the point I almost don't hear him, meaning this exchange isn't meant to be shared. Are they hiding something?

"Of course, your majesty."

"And please, ensure that an event like that doesn't happen again. Do whatever is necessary to stop intruders from getting inside." The guards nods, his expression as dark and sinister as the clothing he dons. Tai's guards have never appeared ordinary, wearing only black while they watch from the shadows, rather than stand in the open as a visual deterrent.

The guard crosses his hands behind his back, his stance firm. "The guards are concerned about the intruder being a Summoner."

I know what the presence of a Summoner means here, in the Jade province. Summoners are not accepted in other Provinces, so it's uncommon for one to leave, especially to the Jade Province, where people are far more traditional. If  Summoner's are leeching into this Province, it could put more people in danger, as in this province, people aren't educated about the abilities of Summoners.

"As am I. What's an Azure Province native doing here? I know we are close to the border, but this is ridiculous," Tai says, starting an errant pacing.

My fingers reach up to brush the soft bandage on my forehead, considering how foolish I must look. Quickly, I peel at the adhesive, letting the supple padding fall away. It's just a cut, hardly visible to the naked eye.

"We have a team investigating the incident thoroughly," I hear the guard say, just as I turn around to slip back up the stairs.

Turning around, I stalk back up the stairs, deciding that today it might be better if I stick to my room. However the moment my feet touch the second level, I see Marek approaching, dressed in his hunting clothing, hair brushed back by his hand.

Of course.

Lowering my eyes, I don't breathe, especially as his shoulder brushes mine as he passes. I'm not ready to talk about that night, to relive what I have been desperately trying to shut out. If I think about it, it becomes real. I kissed Marek...

"Woah, Akara..." he breathes, pausing in his spot. Inwardly cursing, I turn around, plastering a soft smile onto my face. "We should talk."

Without my control, my eyes wander down to his lips, sinful thoughts I refuse to explore suddenly appearing at the forefront of my mind.

"Not right now. You know Taius how is going to react if he sees us together," I tell him quietly, glancing over my shoulder anxiously. Marek leans against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest as he examines me, focuses a concerned gaze upon the mark on my forehead.

"You cut yourself," he murmurs, brows furrowing. He reaches up, troubled by what I can only imagine is a seeping wound I didn't want to cover with that bandage any longer.

I take a wary step back, brushing him off dismissively. Right now, I don't think I could handle his touch; even the way his eyes brush over me is difficult to stand without my cheeks flushing at the resurfaced memory of the other night.

"Not on purpose," I breathe. "A Summoner broke in last night."

Darkness shadows his face, amongst confusion. Word of another Summoner is not only strange, but will put Marek's role here near the King into question. Tai may not have uttered it yet, but I know he will even more skeptical about Marek.

"And they hurt you?"

"They kind of got the jump on me. I'm not exactly well-accustomed to seeing myself right in front of me," I explain, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.

Marek angles his head, sweeping a hand back through his bronze strands. He's tense, I can practically see him summoning explanations for why a Summoner is here, and why I was targeted by one. Had it a moment longer, perhaps it would have slit my throat, and I would be dead.

"I should have taught you how to react to a Summoner earlier," he mutters, a rushed sigh signalling his frustration. I glance over my shoulder, anticipating Tai walking around the corner, catching us together once again.

"It's not exactly like we could have predicted this," I reply. "Tai is dealing with it."

It seems too late to settle Marek down. The hunter mindset has settled over him, his gaze dancing around, as if the Summoner might appear before him, fists clenching and unclenching incessantly. Marek has confirmed my suspicions that Summoners have no particular duty toward each other; I have no doubt Marek would have killed the intruder without a second thought, had Tai demanded it.

When his gaze falls on me, he's controlled the glimpse of feral rage. "No one knows a Summoners patterns like me. Let me teach you."

"You know what will happen-"

"If the King sees us? I don't think I care that much about him," he mutters dismissively. He knows Tai is now bound to keep me in his favour, so I don't go running to the Nobles, even if that would get me killed. "Let me teach you how to protect yourself, so you don't have to rely on him. On anyone."

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" I ask anxiously. Of course I don't want to feel what I felt last night, like I had no control. But allowing myself to spend time around Marek again...Who knows what will come from that.

His eyes burn, a mesmeric, passionate blue. "Don't let what happened between us determine your safety."

"Fine, but only because if you pull anything, I'll be prepared," I say, only half-joking. There is a very real possibility Marek could turn against me in order to secure his own freedom, even if it seems unlikely.

He smiles. "Come to my room after midnight. Taius won't expect that."

With a look in both directions, Marek nods at me before departing, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway as if he didn't exist. Thankfully I managed to escape that conversation without a mention of what happened the other night, although I know it's coming. What could I say to him? I'm engaged to a King.

Speaking off, the soft footsteps on plush carpet fill the hall, Tai rounding the corner. I shudder, the sound a very real reminder of how lucky I was to have the attack interrupted by Tai's appearance. The moment he sees me, those green eyes fall upon the cut I've left exposed, no longer wanting to be bound by the bandage.

"How are you feeling?" He asks, voice right as he falls into a tense stance before me. Examining him quietly, I recall the urgency in his tone during the conversation with his guard. This Summoner is a real threat, and not one they can pinpoint, if I'm correct in my assumptions.

"Okay. The medicine is helping." The King's arsenal of very adept nurses with equally proficient medicine were hard at work last night. They muttered and murmured as they fed me pain medicine and something foul tasting to quickly close the wound. So far, the results have been miraculous, the cut near healing already.

Tai chews on his bottom lip, a movement I don't allow to go unnoticed. "I'm sorry that happened to you while you were in my home."

"I'm just a prisoner, right?"

Tai doesn't flinch, although a flicker of surprise taints his eyes as a frown dips into his dark brows. "You're my fiancée."

"Who cannot leave," I say, before releasing a slow, torturous breath. "I'm sorry. I know I'm getting as much out of it as you are, I'm just shaken. I still hate living here, amongst royalty."

It's half-true, but not what's been plaguing me. With Marek's kiss on my mind, and the attack of the Summoner...It's all too much to bear.

Tai swallows once, straightening his shoulders. "No I understand. I know you wouldn't be here if you didn't have to."

He doesn't let me respond as he turns around, walking away curtly.

🖤••🖤

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

🎱••🎱

I'm officially rewriting Alpha Jasper's story now on Radiah! 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 💜🐼