Word Count: 1754

~Kiva

This is bad. Really bad.

Ark has taken me back to the compound again, letting me calm down. I haven't slept, unable to stop replaying the events of the other night over in my head.

Caspian is free. I'm free from him, although not free from Ark.

But that is the least of my concerns. Ark's accusation rings in my head. His sister is dead, and somehow Caspian is involved, and so is my father.

Did they kill her? My stomach churns at the thought.

Rolling over in bed, I tuck my knees to my chest, wanting to sob. I have no reason to trust Ark, and yet I believe him. Seeing his expression, hearing the way he spoke has made it clear to me that whatever is going on is terrible.

I just can't wrap my head around how my father is involved.

The sound of voices drawing near has me sitting up. The guards that are usually posted outside my room don't speak much, and don't dare come in.

Not like Ark did...

It's strange to think that he once guarded my door as these people now do. I don't even know their names. Now Ark is too busy running this operation to waste his time keeping me from escaping.

"You're not going in there, are you?" A soft, feminine voice trills from the other side of the door.

I tense. What is going on?

"Of course I am," another voice responds. It's Ark, by the sounds of it. He seems irritated, like he's in a rush and he's being distracted.

"You'll keep a clearer head if you stay away," the girl exclaims.

I frown. Her voice almost sounds sultry. I wish I could see what she looked like, how close she may be lingering to my make.

I shake my head. What am I thinking? I shouldn't care...

"I've been in close proximity to her for months. I can handle the mate bond," Ark responds.

"Oh really..."

"We talked about this. Kiva deserves redemption, and that is what she is going to get," Ark snaps. There's the sound of stumbling, like Ark pushed off this unknown girl.

I grit my teeth. Is she trying to convince him to hurt me? Or is she jealous that his attention is on me so often?

"But does she deserve it?" She questions.

Ark pauses, but not as if he is considering what she said, but as if he is regarding this girl with what I hope is disgust.

"What's your game?"

"You and I started something before you left, Ark. From the first day you were there you changed. You didn't want me anymore." She sounds like she is pouting.

My stomach aches a little. I shouldn't be surprised that Ark had a lover before he came to work for my father. I mean, I did too. It still makes me uncomfortable to think about.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," Ark says softly to the point I almost can't hear him. "Kiva is my weak point, she's special. I'm tired of pretending like she isn't."

"She sounds like more worth than she actually is."

"We agreed from the beginning that if Kiva was not involved with her fathers business, then she would be spared," Ark growls.

I shudder, knowing he always intended to kill me. Had my father so much as disclosed anything to me, then I would be dead by now.

I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, leaning down in an attempt not to throw up.

"She's never going to forgive you," the girl insists, voice muffled through the door.

"This isn't about that. It's about keeping her safe," he says.

He sounds only slightly dejected. He knows that until he tells me what's going on, or gives me proof, I'm not going to trust him. In his voice alone I can hear how disappointed he is.

"And what about us?"

"There was never an us," Ark tells her coldly, giving her no chance to misread his intentions. "I will not justify how I feel about her, and what I'm willing to do to protect her."

"Got it," she grumbles, her disappointment and sadness evident even through the door.

"Good. Spread the word," Ark mutters.

Sensing him incoming, I quickly lay down and roll over, closing my eyes to pretend as though I was sleeping. Ark doesn't need to know that I've been listening into his private conversation.

The door opens, light blooming over me before it is quickly cut off.

I roll back over again, blinking warily at Ark.

"Did I wake you?" He asks tenderly.

"Doesn't matter." I straighten, rubbing my eyes to make it seem as though my sleep was disturbed.

"How are you feeling?" he asks.

He's been wary of me since we got back. He checks on me every hour it seems, trying to decipher my thoughts. I haven't felt much like talking, especially when I have no idea what I should be feeling right now.

"Hopelessly betrayed, lost and confused," I admit with a pitiful shrug.

"The Caspian issue is dealt with, Kiva. You are not tied to that monster any more," he says, sitting on his usual chair in front of me.

I'm grateful for the space between us. It makes it easier to think when his perfectly sculpted body, handsome face and thoughtful eyes aren't within my reach.

My jaw clenches painfully tight. "He isn't half the monster you are."

Ark doesn't flinch. He understands where my ire is coming from.

"I had to be brash with him. I needed him to be scared," he explains, twisting a ring around his finger incessantly.

"You've ruined my reputation," I growl.

Ark shakes his head grimly. "He won't dare speak out. And you've been kidnapped, the people will be more concerned for you than worried about your corrupted nuptials.

I hope he is right, but I somehow doubt it. Even so, if Ark is successful in taking out my father, then some kind of horror will be revealed and my name will be attached to it.

Then I will be thoroughly ruined.

"In three days, I am going to reveal our plan. Once it has been completed, then you will be free," he murmurs. I'm tired of hearing that. I'm tired of the empty promise that I will soon find out.

I swallow tightly. "But I'll always know who you are."

And I will always know he is my mate. Always. No matter how far away I get from him, I will always know

"It doesn't matter," Ark exclaims dismissively.

"Why? Because you're going to run and I'll never find you again?" I ask, trying to act as though that reality wouldn't hurt me.

He shakes his head, reaching out to grab my hands. "No. Because you're going to understand why this is being done, and you will not blame us for our actions."

I pull away, wrapping my arms around myself. "Yeah okay."

He sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. He doesn't look like he's slept much either. At least he's being kind and gentle now...seeing how he was with Caspian disturbed me.

It reminded me of what he is truly capable of.

"Or, you'll hate me regardless, and I'll back off," he says, meeting my gaze. His expression is pained. " But Kiva..."

"What?"

"I will never leave you alone. I'll never abandon you," he says. It's soft, but it's firm. If there is anything I've learnt about Ark, it is that he does not back down from a challenge easily.

Especially involving his mate.

I rest my hands over my stomach, feeling ill. Every time I speak to Ark I feel conflicted. I want him so badly it hurts, and yet there is a chance all will be revealed and it won't excuse his actions.

His lies.

"What is wrong with me?" I breathe.

He frowns. "What-"

I lurch forward and off the bed, pressing my lips to his. He responds immediately, sensing my desire as he forces me back and onto the bed.

My fingers wind through his hair as his tongue sweeps into my mouth, claiming me. I need to stop wanting him, giving into him even when he isn't trying to seduce me.

However, just as quickly as he answered my desires, he pulls away, putting a great deal of distance between the two of us.

"We can't," he exclaims through gasping breaths. "It's not fair on you."

I rest my palm on my sweating forehead, trying to make sense of what I'm doing.

"Y...you're right."

He closes his eyes for a moment, tense. "I know I'm right. Soon you will learn about terrible things, and I cannot make another mistake of being with you when you don't know the full truth."

He doesn't wait to hear my response, turning on his heel to barge out of the room.

I fall back onto the bed, slapping my hands over my face. What a mess. At least Ark has some sense about him and backed off before I could tear his clothes of and demand he have his way with me.

I need to be more careful. I need to protect my heart for what is incoming.

Voices outside grab my attention once again. This time they sound hushed, hurried. It's not Ark and the girl, but a group of people.

Clambering out of bed, I ignore the thumping of my heart against my chest.

Something doesn't feel right.

Looking around the room, I note a glass half full of water. I grab it quickly, bundling it into a blanket before placing it on the floor. I stomp on it, over and over until I hear it shatter.

Carefully I pluck the sharpest shard of glass from the lot before stuffing the rest under the bed.

This may be nothing, but I don't trust these rebels.

With a loud crash, the door to my room is kicked open, a group of four rebels stalking in. They take one look at me and smile, their target right in front of them with nothing more to defend themself than a pathetic shard of glass.

And in there hands...rope, tape and a hood to shove over my head.

I brace myself. If I don't fight, I'm dead.

💝••💝

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 💜🐼