Word Count: 2456

~Kiva

I stare up at the grey ceiling, tapping my fingers against my stomach.

I've spent a great deal of time contemplating my own thoughts. Through this, I've managed to come to a single conclusion.

There may be only one way of getting out of here, and that is through my mate.

My door is left unlocked at all times, but I hear the scuff of feet constantly outside, reminding me that any attempts to leave would be thwarted.

I'm used to having guards outside my door, but this is a different sensation. These ones are to keep me in, rather than keep others out.

The door opens, scraping against the concrete floor. This room, this building, hasn't been erected with comfort in mind. They clearly always intended for me to be held captive here, although the nature of my dwellings showed that they don't care about comfort.

I don't look toward the door, already aware of who it is.

"You haven't eaten," he says softly, noting my tray of untouched food on the floor.

My lack of eating isn't a form of protest. I genuinely have no appetite, constantly sickened by my circumstances.

"I'm not hungry," I mumble.

He pulls up his usual chair. "It's been a week, Kiva."

I turn my head, glaring at him. He looks stressed, dark shadows lingering beneath his eyes, tension in his arms and shoulders.

"You haven't bothered to come visit me."

"Every time I stop by you seem to be sleeping," he notes, looking over me. "I should never leave you side, but your father is trying to get you back so I've been busy ensuring he doesn't learn of your whereabouts."

I roll my eyes. At least my father is trying to hunt me down, which means there is a possibility he will free me before I escape. I can't rely on that, though.

So to escape, I'm going to have to gain Ark's trust. I just can't make it obvious yet.

"I'm so used to this I'm not even surprised."

"Once you learn what is happening, you will understand why being near him is not in your best interest," he tells me, repeating the notion that has been overexplained to me recently.

They love to tell me my father is a bad man, but not why.

I roll over, adjusting the pillow beneath my head, letting my eyes flutter closed. "Whatever."

Sleeping has been the only way for me to escape this reality. It's far easier than staring tiredly at the walls, or reading the books that Ark has provided me. I don't feel like taking any favours from him right now.

"I'll tell you soon. I promise," he soothes.

I squeeze my eyes tighter shut. "You can leave now."

"Eat. Please," he encourages. He sounds on the brink of desperation, so obviously worried about my condition. "You not eating is why you're sleeping so often."

I roll back over, meeting his gaze. "I'm a prisoner here, Ark."

He blinks, not liking the term prisoner, but he knows that is what I may as well be. My charge: being related to an allegedly despicable man.

"This will be over soon."

I sit up, taking him by surprise. I'm suddenly overwhelmed with a flurry of frustration, brought on by my sudden awareness of my enclosure. I've managed to avoid the thought of these four grey walls closing in on me so far, but now, it seems impossible to avoid.

"Please just kill me. Please. I can't handle this," I beg.

He draws the chair closer, reaching for my hands. "Hey, don't say that."

I let him take my hands in his. His touch is so soothing, his fingers linking through mine, strong and sure.

When I touch him like this, I'm reminded of how weak my strength is when confronted with the power of the mate bond...I want to believe I am above it, but it's virtually impossible.

"Everything is ruined. My whole life is over," I bite out, fighting past a sudden wave of emotion. My throat is burning from the pressure of holding back tears, but I don't want to come off weak in front of him.

"Things are changing, yes, but these will be positive changes," he assures me gently, brushing his thumb along the top of my hand.

Against my will, a tear slips down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away, embarrassed that I've let my emotions get the better of me.

"I've lost you," I choke out.

I've lost my mate. For the past few months, I grew an image of him in my mind that wasn't real. Now, I will be forced to move on with my life without him, and that thought is just as horrifying.

"No, Kiva, you haven't. I'm still the man you knew in that place," he tells me forcefully.

I shake my head. "You carried a lie with you forever. I know nothing about you."

"I fell for you very fast in there. It took me by surprise, because I've always been good at withholding overwhelming emotions, so when I came to know you and felt what I did, I didn't know what to do," he explains earnestly, tightening his grip on my hand.

"Don't-"

"There were many times I begged you to run away with me. I meant it. I was willing to forgo this entire operation to be with you. That's how in love with you I was and still am," he insists.

I stare back into his deep, dark eyes, brimming with true emotion. I can acknowledge that he loves me, that he is being truthful about being run away. This also means the reason for him leading this rebellion is as empowering as how he feels about me.

"I have some questions about your time in there," I decide, wanting to steer the conversation away from divulging any more emotion.

He draws in a breath, letting go of my hand. "Ask anything."

"That night you broke in and we first touched. What did you think?"

He looks thoughtful, a crease forming between his brows. "I was horrified. I had tied you to what happened to me, and I was scared and angry."

"You took a beating. Why?"

I shudder, remembering how horrible those early days were. I remember having doubts myself about Ark, and when I saw him beaten within an inch of his life, I figured my concerns were nothing more than my own dramatics.

"Some staff were whispering about the rebellion, about me potentially being involved. My second in command beat me enough to diminish suspicion," he explains, wincing at the memory.

I raise my brows. "No one can say you're not dedicated to the cause."

"No. They can't." His gaze is steady, firm. He displays nothing that can be interpreted as anything other than assuredness, confidence. He's decided he is doing the right thing, and that nothing can sway him to think otherwise anymore.

I lean forward. "Why bother training me if you were planning on kidnapping me? Doesn't that make your life harder?"

"It was part of the ruse. Plus it was a good thing. You needed something to focus on, and even though I didn't care for you in the beginning, I'm glad I took training you seriously," he notes.

The slightest smile curves at my lips. "You're going to regret that when I escape."

"Hmm. Maybe." His smile is playful, although a little wary. He believes there is a chance I may be able to escape here, which gives me hope.

At least he doesn't underestimate me...

"All those times I snuck out...You never made it seem like it was you I was sneaking out to see," I say, trying to make sense of it in my mind. That was a confusing time for me, considering I was led in multiple false directions.

"I got lucky many of the times we met in the forest. There were times I had to step in and stop it...myself, I mean," he exclaims awkwardly, rubbing a hand through his hair.

"Why did you act like you hated it so much?"

"I was trying to deter you. I didn't trust myself not to see you, and I thought persuading you out of it would work, but it clearly didn't." He laughs breathily, as if ridiculing his own naivety.

"So why leave me a note to meet you and then stop me even going out?"

"Things changed that night. Your father kept me longer than I expected asking me if I knew anything. I barely had time to intercept you." He shakes his head at the memory.

My head falls into my hands as I let out a frustrated groan. So much was happening while I stupidly frolicked around, trying to seduce Ark when he was conspiring behind my back, crafting a web of lies so masterfully it's ridiculous.

"I feel so stupid."

"Do you understand how much I care about you?" He shifts so he is sitting next to me on the bed. I don't shy away, even if I probably should.

"Less than I thought."

"No. More than ever I want to look after you, and every moment I feel like I'm failing you as a mate," he says breathlessly, tilting his head so I cannot escape the intensity of his gaze.

"I don't know your reasons for doing this. In my mind, nothing will ever make me feel better, and yet I wonder if I'm wrong about that," I mutter.

I would be a fool if I didn't consider the likelihood that what Ark is doing truly is the most moral thing. I must consider that my father is some manner of a monster, and that forgiveness to my mate may be possible in the future...

But what if I am wrong for thinking that, too?

"My reasoning may not be sufficient enough for you, but it is to me. You will see that soon."

I steady my breathing. Honesty seems to have overcome me, because for the life of me I cannot consider why I should have my wits about me right now.

"Why don't I hate you more?"

"I want to say it's the special bond we shared prior to this. However, I think it's just the mate bond," he admits, saddening himself by the mention of what may be the truth.

"It may be both," I admit.

He frowns a little, picking up the tray of abandoned food that I've left on the floor. "Eat, please."

I shake my head, repulsed by the sight of it. "I can't. I feel nauseous, tired and angry. I just want to feel good again."

Slowly, he sets the tray back down again. He clearly understands, finally. This isn't about me wanting to make a statement to him, it is just that I genuinely feel all mixed up inside, and I cannot yet make sense of it.

"You will," he says gently.

I swallow thickly, hating the thought that has come to mind, and that I can't chase it down. "Can I ask for something I'm going to regret?"

"Of course."

"Can you sit with me for a while? I'm scared and alone feeling and I just want someone here to lay with me," I say quickly, before I can regret it.

He blinks, taken aback, before he nods slowly.

I back down the bed, laying my head on the pillow. Ark joins me, taking his time to adjust himself, wary that I may change my mind at any moment.

I can't bear another moment in this room without some company, at least for some time. I'm too tired to care about who I am sharing that company with, and that I am meant to hate him.

"I'll stay as long as you need me to," he assures me gently.

The tension between us suddenly pulls tighter than ever, nearly suffocating me. Silence falls over us, as we stare at the same spot in the ceiling, trying not to think too much about the sudden proximity.

There has always been this overwhelming heat between Ark and I...

It has most definitely not gone anywhere.

The problem is he still smells divine, and he still looks incredible. Resisting him would be far simpler if he didn't...

I turn my head slightly to see that he is looking back at me. My breath catches in my throat, immediately sucked into his gaze, wanting to be closer to him.

I'm not sure who moves first, but suddenly his lips are touching mine, and he's pressing me against his body.

Everything important vanishes from my mind. All I can think about is him.

Anger, frustration and tiredness dissolves into a desperation to have him as close to me as possible. Just feeling that familiar touch of his lips against mine, brings me back to when I wanted him so desperately it hurt.

And now, kissing him is just as forbidden as it was all those months ago.

He leans over me, one hand on my waist, one hand tangled in my hair as he kisses me with enough force to knock the breath out of me completely.

I accept the intensity of his passion, clawing his back as if to keep myself afloat. His tongue sweeps through my mouth, claiming me, reminding me of the bond between us and how it cannot be easily severed.

Even if it should be...

I squeeze my eyes shut, the dark claws of reality creeping their way into my consciousness, just as Ark draws his mouth down to my neck, his hand tightening its grip on my waist.

I push at his chest. "Stop..."

He immediately pulls back, honouring my sudden need for space.

"I'm sorry."

"You're confusing me," I grit out, rubbing my eyes. It's not entirely his fault, I should have had my wits about me. I have to be careful around Ark. I may want his company right now, but I can not let it blossom into anything more.

At least not until I put my plan into action...

"You're right. Why don't you get some sleep," he exclaims, sitting up.

I snag his shirt, frowning. "You're going to stay?"

He examines my face, looking momentarily breathless before he nods curtly, laying down next to me.

"I'm not going anywhere," he assures me quietly.

I can feel him watching me as I close my eyes. For a blissful moment, I'm not scared.

But I don't think that will last very long.

❤️••❤️

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! and as always it is available 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

THE DARKEST TEMPTATION— OUT NOW ON WATTPAD!!

~Midika 💜🐼